On Monday the entire fifth grade went on our annual field trip to a local YMCA Camp. We spent our day exploring water ecology, archery, and team-building. I knew it was going to be a great day when I got to school and realized that Bus 8 actually got to school on time! Bus 8 is late almost every day!
When we got to Camp, we split up by classes and rotated through the activities. Our class went to Water Ecology first.
Here we all are listening to Miss Taylor telling us all about.....LIVING THINGS and non-living things....Working Together! Insert cute shuffle dance here!! She also told us about all the living organisms we might possibly find in the lake and creek. She told us which ones could handle being around pollution and which could not. Then she told us some specific things about each organism so we could play a Pollution Tag game.
Here we all are listening to Miss Taylor telling us all about.....LIVING THINGS and non-living things....Working Together! Insert cute shuffle dance here!! She also told us about all the living organisms we might possibly find in the lake and creek. She told us which ones could handle being around pollution and which could not. Then she told us some specific things about each organism so we could play a Pollution Tag game.
To play the game, a few people represented pollution and everyone else was a critter of some kind. Each critter had a special characteristic that had to be incorporated into the game. Then we had to run from one end of the field to the other without being "attacked" by pollution. Strongest Critter wins!
Uh oh....looks like pollution is winning!
Then we got to head for the lake and the creek and start looking for some living things. Here are a few classmates scooping up the lake "gunk". I think these guys found a huge tadpole.
Looks like this salamander has made a friend!
Looks like this salamander has made a friend!
Here was the "catch" bucket with all the little critters we found. Check out the size of that crayfish! There are also several newts and tadpoles in here as well.
After Water Ecology, we headed to Archery. Here we are listening to Miss Hannah teaching us the finer points to shooting a bow and arrow. The key is to keep your bow arm straight out in front. I wish I had more pictures of students shooting, but I was helping you guys with your archery form. Some of you were naturals...Brenda got a bulls-eye! MehReh and Guillermo both got 2 arrows out of 3 on the target! Several others had at least one hit. I was so proud watching you guys shoot!
After Archery we took a lunch break. I told you that Camp Food was better than cafeteria food. We had burgers with cheese, lettuce, and tomato, onion rings, and grape Kool-Aid. There was also a salad bar and ingredients to make sandwiches. For dessert we had popsicles. Again, I wish I had some pictures of the dining hall, but I was enjoying the food as much as you guys were!
After lunch, we headed for our final activity...Team Building. Here we are listening to Mr. HB telling us some survival tips in case we ever get lost in the woods. Then he told us our mission....divide into two teams and build a shelter that can hold the entire team.
Each team had a base log set up between two trees, and had to build their shelter off this base. Here is one team's shelter as they are adding logs to serve as a "wall".
Here's the other team's shelter....looking good Team Jelly!
A finished product...a shelter with walls, and a fire pit by the door, made by yours truly!
I look forward to this field trip every year. The students have fun, the teachers have fun, and we all learn a little something too! I was so proud of how well you all behaved and participated on the trip!
Now, I want to hear your memories of our Camp Day. What will you remember most about this trip....and don't just talk about the food! :-)
