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As education becomes more testing-driven, time for hands-on school activities continues to diminish. Luckily, students at Canoas Elementary School still have the chance to hike through the forest and examine wildlife.
At Camp Campbell, an outdoor school in the Santa Cruz Mountains, Canoas students from one fifth-grade and one combined fourth-/fifth-grade class spent March 1518 in the redwoods discovering nature.
For these students from the San Jose Unified School District, it was a rare opportunity amid budget cutbacks.
Not all elementary schools can attend science camp, says San Jose Unified School District spokeswoman Karen Fuqua. And those that do make the yearly science camp trip, like Canoas, Galarza and Willow Glen elementary, are funded by the Kiwanis Sunrisers.
Canoas Elementary School Principal Carol Garcia visited the Canoas students during the week they were there and said, "Our kids are having a ball."
Fifth-grade teacher Lisa Causey said students who loved science came back even more excited about the subject and students who are less outdoorsy received a greater appreciation for nature.
Causey added that the students were able to retain what they had learned and "they were even teaching me things," she said.
She credits the camp's field teachers with transferring their knowledge and enthusiasm to the students.
"A lot of the kids want to go back in the summer," she said.
Ten-year-old Yocelin Macias said she learned to respect nature when one of her classmates wanted to kill a mosquito eater because it was ugly, but the field teacher used the opportunity to teach the children that mosquito eaters served a function in the environment.
Yocelin also said her favorite part was the all-day hikes. "You were learning, but we were having fun," she said.
Besides discovering science in a hands-on fashion, students gained experience working in teams to earn points for their cabins and grew in independence being away from home, Causey said.
"For many kids, it was their first time away from home," she noted.
Pierre Hemphill, 10, said he enjoyed the change of pace and learned how to get along with children from other schools.
"It feels like school, but in a fun way," he said.
Tricia Harbidge said she bonded with the girls in her cabin from other schools and was sad to leave at the end of the week.
On the last night, the camp held a talent show during which students performed skits and dances.
"We got to dance around," Tricia said. "I didn't expect that."
Causey said that the week away was a good outlet for her class.
"It enhances the science curriculum," she said. "And it's a good alternative for students who aren't successful in a normal classroom environment."
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