Grade Six Field Trip
Undaunted by the remnants of Hurricane Jeanne’s presence, the intrepid 6th Grade students, accompanied by their less intrepid advisors and teachers, embarked on their annual Field Trip. Dr. Brindley managed to snatch a day from his busy schedule and spent time at the camp with the students. Our destination, the Blue Ridge Environmental Center in Toccoa, Georgia, was to afford us the chance to see, experience, and touch processes at work in the world around us and to help us realize that we all share a special place in the environment. Through the expertise of the camp counselors, students and teachers alike were challenged, our awareness helping us to gain knowledge of our world.
Using critical thinking and problem solving skills, we were challenged to climb The Tower in a safe and controlled atmosphere. We were taught to distinguish between fact and fiction while improving verbal skills and empathy for others’ opinions during an Environmental Debate, and we developed land navigation skills while learning to interpret map scale and use of a compass. We hiked in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains as we learned more about Georgia’s geological history and physiographic regions -just to name a few of our activities! Rumor had it that Mr. Kukielski had, more than once, absent-mindedly wandered off the beaten track during his hike, but he was ably “rescued” and returned to camp by his students.
In the evening after a Twilight Walk, students reflected on the days’ activities by journaling, making connections to the science and geography AIS curricula. Further work in classes will require students to recall their experiences and make reference to material covered during the trip. The return journey was made with an increased awareness of our environment, a heightened understanding of our individual skills, and new empathy for others and the world in which we live.