PlayThinkery

 

Anna Kyle Elementary’s Science Camp in the Redwoods

     

   “Topaz” led us up the hill, in the dark, to explore sight, sound, touch, taste and feel. “Bear Cub” vectored us through the forest to a 165-foot tall gentleman who quit growing up
decades ago. As the Anna Kyle 5th graders ascended into the redwoods protected by a helmet, a belay and the professional hand of “Breeze,” they learned a bit about their comfort zone and why the magic happens when they escape it for their stretch zone. The nature-nicknamed science instructors at Alliance Redwoods made nature, science and discovery accessible, dynamic and fun. 

Principal Araceli Lopez, a group of Anna Kyle teachers, parents, family members and retired teachers joined the crew as chaperones for the trip to Occidental, CA to the Alliance Redwoods Conference Grounds. The smiles were 24/7. Well, almost. The science campers did sleep in their cabins a bit, but the energy of each day and the anticipation of the next one made sleep a low priority for the eager Eagles of Anna Kyle. Even so, they always rolled into the spacious dining hall rested and ready. The sound of excitement from a couple hundred excited students in the dining hall for breakfast was just more fuel for the day. During every meal chaperones, teachers and smiling youngsters recounted their solo night hikes, zip line experiences, banana slug sightings as well as the absolutely majestic surroundings and the feeling that we may never want to go home.

    I certainly didn’t want to go home. As that retired teacher who was lucky enough to be on the team with the cabin mates Adolfo, Alan, Jesús and Max, I witnessed them enjoy the pure love of learning, of enjoying nature and of being a happy kid around other happy kids. I too experienced the magic of the redwoods transporting us away from our frenetic lives and thoughts and allowing us to live & learn in the moment.

“Bear Cub,” our “Forest Encounter” guide, let the students take several moments under the 165-foot tall, 900-year old redwood tree they call “Walter.” The students learned that the tree is not especially tall for a redwood because lightning struck Walter and stunted his vertical aspirations–although he continues to get wider and wider. Bear Cub's Socratic method had the kids (okay, me too) 100% engaged with the exception of watching people walking through the trees near us on rope bridges suspended between redwoods.

 

     Back in the forest that night, we had more to learn. Have you heard of triboluminescence (if not, look it up!)? Have you hiked in complete darkness in the woods as a 9 or 10 year old and then learned about triboluminescence while laughing and watching your friends experience it? That is learning that you just don’t forget.

  

     As the boys began to gather around the fire pit on our last night, I had my first thoughts about the experience coming to an end, but in the distance a new memory was marching towards us.

The young ladies of Anna Kyle Elementary were coming up the hill and through the trees and it sounded like they were singing or calling out military jodies. I have learned they weren’t but the infectious sound of community came marching into the boys’ camp and suddenly we were all one around the fire. The groups from each cabin performed short skits and the laughter was absolutely contagious. Yes, these are digital-world kids but gathering around the fire, storytelling, enjoying family and nature is something deep within all of us. It was good to be reminded of that.