The Rookery

We had a near perfect day at Caron Park.  It was wonderful to have so much time together – and the warm weather kept everyone cheerful.

We began at the Motherland – a waterfall where three creeks come together in the center of the park.  Exploration teams headed in three different directions along each creek to map their territory, name landmarks along the way and establish a settlement. They gathered natural resources then returned to the Motherland to trade for supplies.  The inhabitants of the Motherland had customs which were different from each exploration team and the team had to figure out how to communicate in order to trade.  For example, one had to put one's hand on one's head when one was talking and one hand one's stomach to indicate one was listening attentively.  Teams brought clay, fossils, jewel weed, shells, horsetail plants, ferns, and acorns as trades and all of these were incorporated into wild crafts in the afternoon.  We also made a trip to a huge glacial erratic to learn more about the geology of the area.  Many students chose to learn about knife safety and do some (very) basic whittling while others tried to construct a raft and a contraption they were calling "the water pulley."  We could have used another four hours before the potluck, singing and Skittles.

Of course, the exploration and mapping fit with our first geography theme of creating our own worlds.  However, their is a more central purpose for the campout:  I know no better way to solidify the Heron's identity as a class.  During the day, we form new connections, struggle together and make memories together that sustain us during our work as a class.  The rest of our year will be peppered with "remember when…" and "that's just like…"  We've put clay on our faces and danced in a waterfall — and that makes it a lot easier to share an idea at meeting, venture an answer in math class or communicate honestly when there is a conflict.

Learning necessitates risk.  We must try to do something new and there is a good possibility our first attempts will be failures.  If we as teachers do not create a safe classroom in which students know and trust each other, students will not take risks.  Their growth is stunted.  Being together in the woods gives us a shared history and a deeper understanding of each other.  And knowing each other makes it a lot easier to raise one's hand to try an answer or ask a question.  We must know each other to learn together.

Thanks to everyone who pitched in a hand at the potluck and thanks especially to our intrepid daytime volunteers whose adventurous spirits made the day possible:  Kirsten Fjeld-Zilmer, Carolyn Joyce, Lizzie Lathrop, Jenny Wilson, Mary Poole, Amanda McBrady and Dave Pennock.

Because I have over 60 pictures I want to share, I created a photo album instead of loading each one individual into this page.  Enjoy!  Caron Park Photos.