Page 30 - 1994

"It (camping) teaches kids how to be away from home."

What do 44 Ralston sophomores, in the Ralston High School pool fully trip had to be postponed on a couple of
juniors and seniors accompanying 6th clothed in order to learn canoe safety. occasions. "I was excited to go
graders from five different elementary “We did confidence things—like we because it was canceled two times and
schools on a three-day camping trip and held out our hands and let the kids fall on the third time, we got to go; it was
40 Ralston juniors and seniors taking a into them to build trust," Wendt said. super nice,” said Heather Wilke, a
day to canoe and cook-out have in Peter Jenkins, a junior who was a junior on the trip. Other activities the
common? They are both programs that counselor for Seymour Elementary, students became involved with were
have taught the students to be more said there were many activities to do. frisbee, football, volleyball, horseshoes
aware of the outdoors through an Jenkins thought the highlights included and tanning themselves.
outdoor education program. looking at plants, drawing pictures, and Most students involved with these
The three-day camping trip consisted playing hide-and-go-seek with the sixth two programs found them to be
of 6th graders from Blumfield, graders. Wendt’s most memorable rewarding. “It (camping) teaches kids
Mockingbird. Wildewood, Seymour times included four different nature how to be away from home. It teaches
and Meadows Elementary schools. The hikes and square dancing at night. them about nature instead of just
high school students filled out The Outdoor Education class, taught textbook learning,” Wendt said.
applications, along with two written by Mr. James Hinze, had taken a full Jenkins believed that he would try
teacher recommendations, and were day to test their abilities at canoeing again the following year to be a
selected by a committee. Senior Kari and cooking on the grill. In preparation counselor. Jenkins and Wendt both
Wendt, who was a counselor for for this outing to Cunningham Lake, agreed that the kids seemed to look up
Meadows Elementary, said there were a the students also had to swim the length to them. “I see them (the sixth graders)
few preparations for the trip. They of the pool and back while fully afterwards at baseball practices and
included visiting the school to get clothed. they say, ‘Hi Pete!”' Jenkins said.
acquainted with the kids and jumping As a result of bad weather, the canoe

On order for the students to be able to
canoe on Cunningham Lake for Out
door Ed. class, they needed to learn
the correct procedures in case one of
them was tipped. Senior Aaron
Bamesberger demonstrates what
to do when the canoe is tipped, photo
by JA M IE W ILLEY B]ne of the many activities the sixth
graders and high school counselors
were able to do was ride the zip line.
Junior Aaron Sm ith takes the
wooden seat back to its starting po­
sition. photo by BECKY DUSEK How, row, row your...canoe! Junior tipping over, photo by JA M IE
Jennifer Hasselquist and Monica W IL L E Y
’4 "'•*
S m i t h try to paddle to shore without
26 O u td o o r £ cHuc<Uum.