Hiking with the CSU students up "B Bluff"
On the first day there, the director of the camp took us all up a bluff. We climbed through this chimney up to the top, and once up there talked about reasons for being at High Trails for the week and what we hoped to learn. I mentioned that I wanted to learn from the 6th graders as I felt they had a lot to teach. It was nice listening to other people's goals as well :) . The director also talked about what we would do the following day, and talked about the 'special spots' that the kids would find. Once they found a spot, they would be responsible for writing in their journals and thinking quietly. One thing that really caught my attention was when he said "Some kids will sit there and think and be reflective, and some will play with sticks, and that's okay too" I never want to forget that...I think that too often we forget that not everyone is the same and that we need to recognize that.
Setting the Mood Activities
We did a few things with our 'group'
1. Hiked up to an aspen grove...had them taste an aspen leaf and pine needle...touch the ground, smell things, etc.
2. Put the kids into 4 groups of 4 with a High School counselor
3. Sent them on a blind hike with their HS counselor who dropped them all off at a tree...picked them up from it...took them back to their starting place and then allowed them to find there tree (all of our kids found their tree!!)
4. Let them find a special spot...write there and think and/or play with sticks
-They were also to write a quote here
Indians Discovery Group
I was in this group all week, which was awesome! We got to let the kids name themselves and paint their faces, which they really seemed to enjoy. My name was "Ram who hunts buffalo" ...haha. Then, we took them on a fairly short hike to "Tipi Village" where they learned about Religion and Rituals, Village Life (my segment), Archery, and Games. We had help from the HS counselors, and the kids really seemed to enjoy it. In the afternoon of the first day, I was able to lead the entire set, and a teacher from Challenger filled in for our wonderful High Trails Staff. It was fun leading the kids with the help of another CSU student who mostly focused on archery...I think it went smoothly and the kids had a good time!
One night was the "discovery cookout" where the kids did archery and played games...I helped cook and also took on a homesick girl which was a huge challenge for me. I'm not very good with the criers - but by the end of the night she was doing much better, which made me happy.
The last day was an "all-day" discovery group...meaning we could do more things with the kids. I ran the normal village life...which turned into a history lecture due to some earlier mess-ups...and the sweat lodge. I thought the kids would think that the sweat lodge would be a little stupid, but they loved watching the steam come off of the rocks. We even talked about why steam is made...which they liked.
It was a really fun group to be in!
CSU Bonding time
We spent a lot of time in the evenings bonding, which was awesome. I didn't know very many kids going in, but I feel like I have a set of wonderful new friends. We had to kind of put ourselves out there, which is always hard - but worth it when you're with a good group of people.
We had to share our goals both personal (selfish ones!) and professional with the rest of the "class" and reflect upon our time there. Everyone seems a little stressed out and worried about student teaching (among other things) and it was nice to have some company in that department. One evening we went through everyone and our professor said something good about all of us - which felt amazing - and four other people also said things about us - which also felt amazing. It took a long time to get through everyone, but I think it was well worth it and it is something that I'd like to get into my classroom somehow. I'm not sure how yet, but I think that it is important.
Interbarn
So, this place is awesome!! They have all of these "stations" that the kids can visit (they get to pick 3) and I worked at the furs station. Before the kids are released, we do commercials for them to get to come to the station. We did a rap and the kids loved it!
I put this pelt of a fisher on my arm and danced like some strange rapper as we sang
(me): On my arm is a fisher
(HTstaff): In my hand is a trap
(all): If you want to know more, just listen to us rap!
When it's cold outside, don't say "brrrrr"
(HSstudent): Just come on down and put on my fur!
I loved that fisher.
They eat Porcupines...isn't that weird/cool??
The Hoedown
Okay, perhaps one of the best things we did because we got to:
-Dress up in costumes
(I wore yellow rain slicker overalls, a grass skirt, and a mining helmet)
-Dance around weirdly
-Watch 6th graders cringe at having to choose to dance with a member of the opposite sex!
(This was really funny!! I can laugh too, because I was just as, if not more awkward when I was at High Trails!!)
Closing stuff
The entire staff and students went on a silent hike to the Sunday Rocks where everyone climbed up and sat. Reflecting in the quiet was wonderful! Then, the staff read some of the quotes that the 6th graders wrote about nature, and they were awesome! After that, one of the staff members sang a song:
"The World's Greatest" R. Kelly
Who´s the worlds greatest
Who´s the worlds greatest
The worlds greatest
I am a mountain
I am a tall tree ohh
I am a swift wind sweeping the country
I am a river down in the valley ohh
I am a vision and I can see clearly
If anybody asks you who I am
Just stand up tall
Look 'em in the face and say
I'm that star up in the sky
I'm that mountain peak up high
Hey I made it
Mmm..
I'm the world's greatest
I'm that little bit of hope
When my backs against the ropes
I can feel it
Mmm..
I'm the world's greatest
the world greatest,
the world greatest, forever
I am a giant
I am an eagle ooh
I am a lion
Down in the jungle
I am a marching band
I am the people ooh
I am a helping hand
I am a hero
If anybody asks you who I am
Just stand up tall
Look 'em in the face and say
I'm that star up in the sky
I'm that moutain peak up high
Hey, I made it
Mmmm...
I'm the world´s greatest
I'm that little bit of hope
When my backs against the ropes
I can feel it
Mmmm...
I'm the world´s greatest
In the ring of life, I'll reign love (I will reign)
And the world will notice a king (Oh Yeah..)
When there is darkness, I'll shine a light (Shine a light..)
And mirrors of success reflect in me
I'm that star up in the sky (uh, uh)
I'm that mountain (peak up high) peak up high
Hey I made It (hey I made it)
I'm the worlds greatest (I'm that little bit)
I'm that little bit of hope (uh, uh)
When my back's against the ropes (oh yeah
)
I can feel it (I can feel it)
I'm the world's greatest
oooohhhhhhhhhhh
I'm that star up in the sky (star up in the sky)
I'm that mountain peak up high (oh yes I am)
Hey I made It (I made it)
I'm the worlds greatest (I'm that little bit of hope)
I'm that little bit of hope (ohhhhhhohhhh)
When my back's against the ropes ohhhhhh (when my back's against the ropes)
I can feel it ( I can feel it)
I'm the world's greatest (repeat)
It's the greatest
Can you feel it
It's the greatest
I saw the light
At the end of a tunnel
Believe in the pot of gold
At the end of the rainbow
And faith was right there
To pull me through, yeah
Used to be locked doors
Now I can just walk on through
Hey, uh, hey, hey, hey, yeah
It's the greatest
I'm that star up in the sky
I'm that star up in the sky
I'm that moutain peak up high
Hey, I made it
I'm the world´s greatest
I'm that little bit of hope
When my backs against the ropes
I can feel it
I'm the world´s greatest
I'm the world´s greatest
I'm that little bit of hope
When my backs against the ropes
I can feel it
I thought it was a powerful song - and I can't stop thinking about what a good choice it was.
This isn't the only song to define my trip...on the last night there, all of the CSU students sat in a "clump" and were silent for time, feeling the energy of our peers - all future teachers - about to embark on a journey that will define our lives. It was one of the most powerful things I've experienced in my life to date, which sounds odd in some ways, but it is quite true. After sitting in silence for a bit, we then listened to the following:
"What about everything?" Carbon Leaf
Holiday quiet on these streets, except for some stubborn leaves
That didn't fall with the fall, and now they clatter in vain
Holiday sky, midnight clear
Wind is high, hard to steer
Old muffler rumbles like an old fighter plane
In search of some rest, in search of a break
From a life of tests where something's always at stake
Where something's always so far
What about my broken car?
What about my life so far?
What about my dream?
What about.....
What about everything?
What about aeroplanes?
And what about ships that drank the sea?
What about...
What about the moon and stars?
What about soldier battle scars
And all the anger that they eat?
I am not in need
Get away and come with me
Come away with me and we'll see
If I was right on that night, that a future was made
Before time takes each year, like a knife cuts it clear
It's school, then work and then life that just sharpens the blade
I think about time for fun
I think about time for play
Then I think about being done, with no resume
With no one left to blame
What about fortune and fame?
What about your love to obtain?
What about the ring?
What about....
What about everything?
What about aeroplanes?
And what about ships that drank the sea?
What about...
What about the moon and stars?
What about soldier battle scars
And all the anger that they eat?
I am not in need
Holiday quiet on these streets, except for some reason me
The hometown harbor lights bright, the sailboats clatter in vain
Holiday sky, midnight clear
Wind is high on this pier
I find it hard to complain when compared with what about...
What about everything?
What about aeroplanes?
And what about ships that drank the sea?
What about...
What about the moon and stars?
What about soldier battle scars
And all the anger that they eat?
What about...
What about aliens? What about you and me and...
What about gold beneath the sea?
What about...
What about when buildings fall?
What about that midnight phone call...
The one that wakes you from your peace?
Well, I am not, I am not, I am not in need
I liked this song so much I had to go buy the CD and it is now resident in Jack (my car).
I wish I could write for hours about this, but I can't.
I have to do work for other things... but it was very powerful.
I feel more confident and more at peace with my life and my self than I did when I left.
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