Looking back on last weeks adventure into the Adirondack's is something much different than what I expected it to be. Growing up my family wasn't about going camping or spending time outdoors to say the least. The week spent in the Adirondack's has changed my view on many things. It also allowed me to gain an experience that I feel allowed me to grow as an individual.
For starters from this experience, I gained friendships in which I never thought would have happened during that week. All the team working activies I feel made it as if we have known these people for a majority of our lives and we were just coming together again. I think that coming together has a group and doing this such as the ropes courses, and KP allowed us to see how one another works in a team and it allowed us to share the experience so we didn't feel alone.
Another thing that I had gained from this experience was the knowledge and history of the camp. Although I had been to Raquette Lake before, I didn't obtain as much information on the camp and surroundings as I did in this week. I think that going to the Nature Center and the Adirondack Museum gave me a bigger picture at what the Adirondack's was all about. Another thing such as climing Black Bear Mountain gave me in insight on how things are becoming depleted as to what they were before. Seeing the tree bottoms gone from the deer, and barley any other wildlife in the trees as we were hiking up the mountain really opens your eyes as to finding a solution to the problems that are found in the Adirondacks.
As I returned home, alothough the entire week was filled with many memories the camp also has come home with me. It gave me a wide range of things that I can do to take seriously the outdoors and come up with a solution to my carbon footprint. This past week at Camp Huntington as made me become a stronger person while taking a look at the enviornmental issues that we are facing and will be facing in the future. I feel as if this course is very useful and I would definitely do it again if I had the choice.
In conclusion, I want to thank everyone for making my experience in the Adirondack's memorable and very exciting. I don't think that the week would have been the same with a different group of people. I want to give a special thanks to Beth, Karl, Tim, and his family for all the time and effort they put into this course and activities that we completed throughout the week together. It was a very successful week and although I am happy to be home, I truly enjoyed my wilderness experience.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Thursday, July 29, 2010
July 29th Day Five
Today was another day full of activities; however we stayed here at camp Huntington. We had several visitors come to talk to us about engaging kids in outdoor activities. Rob took us to the first activity of the day. Here we got to do a number of activities in small groups that I feel were very relaxing while we got to work with others an testing our trust. Next Rob took us to the low ropes course. Since this is the first time that I have ever done this I thought it was a create way to build team working skills and see how well everyone works together in the group. The group that I had been in was really great. Not at one time did we ever second guess one of the courses and we were all encouraging as one person was completing their turn. Another thing that I like about this activity was the reviewing at the end. Once we all came back as another group, Rob had us reflect on what we had learned and what we thought about the teamwork. Although we had kept a card of points for our group, I like how he didn’t go around asking each group which had what amount of points. I think that this was really good because in the classroom, most students will feel as if this were a competition to see who could get done the fastest. I liked how he told everyone they did a good job and had the groups share the strengths and weaknesses with everyone.
Another activity we did today was the high ropes course. This gave us a chance to challenge ourselves into something that we aren’t regularly used to. For those who completed the high ropes course, people were always down below encouraging one another to keep going and giving them ways that they could get themselves across the ropes. I thought this was a really good technique especially because we were so high up and they could see things from the ground that we weren’t paying attention to while up there.
Over all today I feel that it brought many people closer and it showed us that team work needs to be within the classroom in order for it to be the best learning environment. With someone helping you and always giving you encouragement to succeed, it gives you the confidence you need to almost do anything.
Another activity we did today was the high ropes course. This gave us a chance to challenge ourselves into something that we aren’t regularly used to. For those who completed the high ropes course, people were always down below encouraging one another to keep going and giving them ways that they could get themselves across the ropes. I thought this was a really good technique especially because we were so high up and they could see things from the ground that we weren’t paying attention to while up there.
Over all today I feel that it brought many people closer and it showed us that team work needs to be within the classroom in order for it to be the best learning environment. With someone helping you and always giving you encouragement to succeed, it gives you the confidence you need to almost do anything.
July 28th Day Four
Today we went back into civilization and got to see two different places. The first place we arrived at was The Wild Center. Here we got to see different living forms that are found out in the wild. I thought that it was pretty interesting that they had little exhibits set up throughout the center so that we got to actually see and feel the different textures and sizes of these types of living things. Another thing that we did today at the Wild Center was the presentation that Judith did on the visual thinking skills. Although this is something that could have been done here in the classroom, it allowed us to see a connection between what we were doing and thing’s that the museum was doing as well.
Another place we had gone today was the Adirondack Museum. Although some people did not attend thing, I feel that it was a good experience that we got to see different types of buildings that were throughout the past times. I enjoyed walking through the museum and going through the different buildings and seeing how people had lived back then. One thing that I had seen there that really caught my eye was the school. Its amazing to see how small the school was inside and the children learned back then. Also seeing the lack of technology inside the classroom also amazed me. It's weird to think that back then all these people were educated using books and a simple chalk board.
With this course almost coming to an end there are many things that I have enjoyed. This week is something that I feel everyone should experience in their lifetime at some point if they have the opportunity.
Another place we had gone today was the Adirondack Museum. Although some people did not attend thing, I feel that it was a good experience that we got to see different types of buildings that were throughout the past times. I enjoyed walking through the museum and going through the different buildings and seeing how people had lived back then. One thing that I had seen there that really caught my eye was the school. Its amazing to see how small the school was inside and the children learned back then. Also seeing the lack of technology inside the classroom also amazed me. It's weird to think that back then all these people were educated using books and a simple chalk board.
With this course almost coming to an end there are many things that I have enjoyed. This week is something that I feel everyone should experience in their lifetime at some point if they have the opportunity.
July 27th Day Three
Today we took the boat back to Antler's and we hiked up Black Bear Mountain. It wasn't what I was expecting at all, for I have never climbed a mountain before or have gotten the chance to do so. I did not except such a rigorous trip up, although I did enjoy the experience. It isn't everyday that we get to climb a mountain like that and see the view below from a much higher elevation. Although it was a lot of work getting to the top, I think it was most definitely worth the experience and seeing the great outdoors from atop that mountain. Although we were in the woods, we did not see as much wildlife as I saw, so that got me thinking that maybe there aren't enough resources for these animals to live on in these woods of the mountains because resources are becoming depleted. It kind of made me realize we really do need to start taking action in cleaning up the environment and making it a better place for animals to establish their habitats again.
Another thing that we got to see today that I have never seen was Ferd's Bog. Although we got there late, we did get to see the different types of plants that grow there through the seasons. Ed the guide of the bog, also explained different animals that we could see there if it was the right time. I thought that this was interesting because I never really thought about the different species of birds that are out there. Also, his showing of the pictures in Carlson classroom was quite interesting. We got a chance to see images that he has seen before and is description of them and their natural beauty. The last thing that he had made us do was creative writing activity. I thoroughly enjoyed this, because it almost makes you create an image in your head as your writing details down about things that are going on around you using your senses. I definitely think that this would be very useful in the classroom because it allows children to be creative and make their own interpretation of things such as nature.
Lastly we met the author of Adirondack Green, John Slade. He made a huge realization that us as Americans need to actually take part in action to start making this a better place. He shared with us his thoughts on energy and the wind turbines and I strongly agree that we could be saving much more energy with these things. Although some people make not like to look at them, there are many things out there that people don't like to look and that use fossil fuels and still have them put around them such as industries and highways that are the backyards for some people.
Another thing that we got to see today that I have never seen was Ferd's Bog. Although we got there late, we did get to see the different types of plants that grow there through the seasons. Ed the guide of the bog, also explained different animals that we could see there if it was the right time. I thought that this was interesting because I never really thought about the different species of birds that are out there. Also, his showing of the pictures in Carlson classroom was quite interesting. We got a chance to see images that he has seen before and is description of them and their natural beauty. The last thing that he had made us do was creative writing activity. I thoroughly enjoyed this, because it almost makes you create an image in your head as your writing details down about things that are going on around you using your senses. I definitely think that this would be very useful in the classroom because it allows children to be creative and make their own interpretation of things such as nature.
Lastly we met the author of Adirondack Green, John Slade. He made a huge realization that us as Americans need to actually take part in action to start making this a better place. He shared with us his thoughts on energy and the wind turbines and I strongly agree that we could be saving much more energy with these things. Although some people make not like to look at them, there are many things out there that people don't like to look and that use fossil fuels and still have them put around them such as industries and highways that are the backyards for some people.
July 26th Day Two
Well it's Monday here at Camp Huntington and we went on a nature hike to camp Kirby. Throughout the hike we got to see how the different types of trees an other nature features that were located on the woods.
One of the first stops we made were to see how the deer had destroyed the undergrowth of the tree. To be honest I never really stopped to ever look or think about that before. I actually never really saw it as a problem until today. The deer population have eaten the entire under growth of the trees leaving almost no leaves at the bottom and just branches, and it doesn't seem like there is much that we can do about it unless we begin to start the control the deer growth population.
Another thing that I enjoyed today was canoeing along the shore on the lake. Although it gave us a chance to relax and just look at the features here at the Adirondacks we were also learning about how to maneuver a canoe and just looking at the trees and other outdoor features was interesting. This allowed us all to work together and build a sense of bonding and community while we were learning as well, which I feel is very important in the classroom.
One of the first stops we made were to see how the deer had destroyed the undergrowth of the tree. To be honest I never really stopped to ever look or think about that before. I actually never really saw it as a problem until today. The deer population have eaten the entire under growth of the trees leaving almost no leaves at the bottom and just branches, and it doesn't seem like there is much that we can do about it unless we begin to start the control the deer growth population.
Another thing that I enjoyed today was canoeing along the shore on the lake. Although it gave us a chance to relax and just look at the features here at the Adirondacks we were also learning about how to maneuver a canoe and just looking at the trees and other outdoor features was interesting. This allowed us all to work together and build a sense of bonding and community while we were learning as well, which I feel is very important in the classroom.
July 25th Day One
Today was our first day here at Camp Huntington. At first I was a little nervous about coming here, but after meeting everyone it made it much easier to enjoy myself here. Although I have been here once before for another class, I learned many things today about the historical aspects of the first great camp here in the Adirondacks.
As we toured the camp we got to see a lot of historical buildings that were created here. I enjoyed seeing all of the art work that was done using wood. I like how everything here is a site to see. It makes it much easier to want to be out here and enjoy the scenery. Also learning about the history of this place makes it interesting and eager to look around this camp. I thoroughly enjoyed the boat ride here, and touring around the camp and learning about new things that have gone on here in the past. I look forward to this weeks activities as well as learning more about the Adirondacks.
As we toured the camp we got to see a lot of historical buildings that were created here. I enjoyed seeing all of the art work that was done using wood. I like how everything here is a site to see. It makes it much easier to want to be out here and enjoy the scenery. Also learning about the history of this place makes it interesting and eager to look around this camp. I thoroughly enjoyed the boat ride here, and touring around the camp and learning about new things that have gone on here in the past. I look forward to this weeks activities as well as learning more about the Adirondacks.
July 22nd
Hello, I am Amanda Van Kuren and I am enrolled for the July 2010 ADK course. I am currently still doing my undergrad work in Childhood Education, and am taking this course to fulfill my concentration classes in environmental studies. I am interested in this course, because for and education class I have previously taken we were required to spend three days in Raquette Lake. It was a really good bonding experience, and just the things to do out there are amazing while working together with others.
Since I can remember I have always wanted to go to school to be a teacher. For a summer I had worked with four year olds, and that inspired me into wanting to teach childhood ed. Since I have been in the classroom doing my practicum work throughout my last year, it as opened my eyes a lot to why I want to be a teacher. I want to be a teacher to inspire and encourage kids into wanting to learn. I want my student's to want to be at school and always engage them into their learning experiences. In the fall I will be student teaching in Manhattan with other Cortland students that I am really looking forward to getting to know. I think that my placements in the city will be an experience that I cannot wait to have.
With this being said, my goals as a professional when I become one, is to inspire children and encourage them to learn. I want to make the classroom a friendly and fun learning environment so they can acquire the knowledge they need in order to entire the real world later in their lives. As many people say, I want to create an impact on a child's life and have them know that I am there to teach them in the best way that I can.
My goals for this course during the week that I am there is to make new friends and learn from the people that are around me. I think that this is a great experience for everyone, and it will truly be a great week getting to know everything and completing activities.
Since I can remember I have always wanted to go to school to be a teacher. For a summer I had worked with four year olds, and that inspired me into wanting to teach childhood ed. Since I have been in the classroom doing my practicum work throughout my last year, it as opened my eyes a lot to why I want to be a teacher. I want to be a teacher to inspire and encourage kids into wanting to learn. I want my student's to want to be at school and always engage them into their learning experiences. In the fall I will be student teaching in Manhattan with other Cortland students that I am really looking forward to getting to know. I think that my placements in the city will be an experience that I cannot wait to have.
With this being said, my goals as a professional when I become one, is to inspire children and encourage them to learn. I want to make the classroom a friendly and fun learning environment so they can acquire the knowledge they need in order to entire the real world later in their lives. As many people say, I want to create an impact on a child's life and have them know that I am there to teach them in the best way that I can.
My goals for this course during the week that I am there is to make new friends and learn from the people that are around me. I think that this is a great experience for everyone, and it will truly be a great week getting to know everything and completing activities.
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