Each April our middle school students participate in a week of experiential learning. For several years I accompanied the 7th graders to DC and Harpers Ferry. Then I spent a few years going to Philadelphia with the 8th grade class. But I had never experienced the 6th grade week, which focuses on water in a local setting. So I took the opportunity this year to chaperone the 6th grade and spend the week with Hannah's class.
Day 1: We started with journaling at school in order to let the temperatures rise out of the 30s... brrr! Then we spent the day at Lake Shenandoah where students participated in four different stations: canoeing, fishing, hiking, and tie-dying. We were fortunate enough to encounter biologists from the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries who showed us what fish they were catching, measuring, and tagging that day.
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| Journaling at school |
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| Bus selfie! |
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| Tie-dying |
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| Biologist showing us the catch |
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| Canoeing |
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| Fishing |
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| The one catch of the day! |
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| Hiking |
Day 2: This was my favorite day. We went to Riven Rock to do stream study, which included the same DGIF biologist that we ran into at Lake Shenandoah yesterday. He was really excellent with the kids both days. After lunch at school we went to Seasons Bounty farm to learn about water management on a local farm and do stream study in Linville Creek. I enjoyed the farm tour so much that I went on it twice and was inspired to renew by CSA subscription for this year!
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| Mr. Martin taking guesses on who would fall in the river |
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| Catching and identifying critters in Dry River |
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| It was cold and wet so we warmed by an illegal fire! |
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| Waiting to watch the fish shocking |
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| The biologist used an electric current to shock the fish and catch them |
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| Then he told us all about the various species found in Dry River |
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| Farmer Radell Schrock told us all about his vegetable CSA |
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| Mr. Martin looks cold! |
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| Testing the water in Linville Creek |
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| Catching more critters |
Day 3: This morning we took lots of tours! First we toured New Community Project / Vine & Fig with Tom Benevento, which was my favorite part of the day. Then we toured the water and sewer treatment plants before having lunch at the park in Bridgewater and then heading over the mountain to Fort Seybert for the afternoon. We were supposed to camp overnight there, but the wet conditions and forecasted lows in the 20s changed our plans. So instead the students did 3 stations: tomahawk throwing and fossil hunting, a hike through the property, and playing Beckon. Then we returned to school for a dinner prepared by parents and a lock-in in the 6th grade rooms.
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| Tom Benevento introducing us to Vine & Fig |
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| A spiral herb garden outside one of the community houses |
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| Outdoor shower with water heated by compost |
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| The students also volunteered in the garden |
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| Touring the water treatment plant |
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| All the girls! |
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| Touring the sewer treatment plant |
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| At the end of the treatment process the water is released back into the river |
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| Tomahawk throwing |
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| Mrs. Melendez' father showed us how to throw the tomahawks |
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| Even the parents got in on the fun! |
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| After dinner the students wanted to play Beckon again |
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| Then Mr. Martin led games in the commons |
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| Before we finally settled into separate rooms for a movie and sleeping |
Day 4: A short day, which is good because we were all worn out! We served breakfast, had students clean up the rooms and pack their things, and then they played another game of Beckon in the gym before heading home by 9:30am. Whew, what a week!
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| Breakfast in the FCS room |
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| A final game of Beckon in the gym |
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| The pile of sleeping bags and other belongings waiting to go home |
