Last week, fifth grade students from St. James School visited Camp ASCCA for a three-day science camp. The schedule of programs was designed by Outdoor Education Director Cody Graham, and the students were divided into groups of at least ten to rotate from program to program. The goal of the week was for students to have unending fun while also brushing up on their knowledge of science.
The programs offered were Living Streams, Step Out & Fish, Ziptower, Canoeing, Group Elements, Nature Jeopardy, and Forestry. Most of the programs were led by Camp ASCCA full-time staff members, but Living Streams and Step Out & Fish were directed by Mandi Milford from the Tallapoosa County Conservation District and Doug Darr from the Alabama Department of Conservation & Natural Resources.
At each activity, students were taught how different aspects of science are incorporated, the importance of critical thinking, and they were also encouraged to show support for their fellow classmates through each challenge. At Living Streams, students spent time sifting through the leaves and dirt of streams connected to Lake Martin and learned about each “critter” that they found. Mr. Darr taught the importance of proper fishing techniques and the protection of the ecosystem at Step Out & Fish. Canoeing offered opportunities for students to work together and learn interesting facts about Lake Martin and the Tallapoosa River. After each rotation, students also left Nature Jeopardy with new knowledge about Alabama wildlife.
The games at Group Elements are designed to challenge students to work together and be open to sharing ideas so that the best outcome can occur. One game involves students forming a circle and figuring out how to get a ball from classmate to classmate in the shortest amount of time, and each student can only touch the ball once and must say their partners name. After a few rotations of passing the ball in a big circle, the students talked to each other, shared their ideas, and came to the conclusion that they can all stand close together, touch the ball all at once, and say each other’s names before the stopwatch can even begin.
At the Ziptower, students challenged themselves by climbing up a vertical rock wall and riding down the zipline for a thrill of a lifetime. It was such an exciting experience that some parents even took the challenge. Finally, at Forestry each student was given a specific leaf pattern and tree to discover during a nature trek across the ASCCA campus. They were quizzed about the differences between deciduous and coniferous trees, the importance of the veins in a leaf, and much more.
After dinner each day, students and parents came together as one large group to enjoy evening programs like fun games, scavenger hunts, and a campfire. After a final rotation Friday morning, students and parents packed their cars and made the trip back to Montgomery. A few teachers praised students for their good behavior and encouraged them as one of the best groups to ever attend.
It was certainly a week to remember, and students left with a new appreciation for their classmates and the impact science has on our day-to-day lives. Thank you to the volunteers that helped out throughout the session and to the students and parents for making it one of the best St. James Science Camps in history!
Located in Alabama on Lake Martin, Camp ASCCA offers campers a wide variety of traditional recreational and educational activities with a unique design for accessibility.
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