WASTING TIME

Sitting here this morning, wasting time, waiting to take Jake to Space Camp; they check in at 8:45--still another 1/2 hour to departure. Last week, Anna's class was gone to Camp McDowell somewhere here in Alabama--about a three hour bus drive. It's an Environmental Science Camp. They took two to three mile hikes everyday, climbed walls, enjoyed waterfalls and wildlife, as well as, learned survival skills, camped out one night, plotted constellations and tracked the International Space Station in the clear, night sky. By the end of camp, their three-school team had reduced their food waste in the mess hall down to 1/2 a pound, which must have been a big deal b/c that's all they talked about after getting back to school. The camp aspired to the Theory of Evolution and the kids were able to use their Science class knowledge and debate skills to frustrate the leaders to the point of not taking anymore questions on the subject and pointing out that Evolution is, after all, just a Theory.

The camps are an expense not covered by the activity fee but I have found it's definitely worth the money, both for the experiences they encounter w/people that have different views on the world but mostly for the relationships that are strengthened with classmates and teachers through these camp experiences. I respect that the school is not afraid to expose our children to the world and help them get their footing while the kids still have adults to fall back on for help. It's, in my opinion, a very valuable experience to not be sheltered from it all.

The kids' school starts taking 3-5 day class camps every year from fifth grade on that ranges from Environmental camps to Space camps to Marine Biology camps at Dauphin Island in Tennessee. It's something new to us and, of course, our kids love it--it's the culmination of their entire year.

The school also takes many, many field trips--I've counted them this year and they average around two per month, per class in Elementary school. I've seen my kids learn things about Alabama and American History, as well as, Science and Math that they wouldn't have paid attention to in class. Most schools limit field trips but here they are encouraged and it benefits all the students, but specifically, those kids who are tactile learners and need hands-on to "get it".

It's just another example of this school's purposeful strategy to accommodate every learning style so that no one child lacks in his educational experience.

Can you tell that we love the school?

Well, I've wasted enough time that it's now time to drive Jake over to the Space & Rocket Center. Traffic should be pretty light by now--cross my fingers. It's about a 15-minute drive and pretty much anywhere you go here in HSV, you cross paths with the Space & Rocket Center.

If you happen to be in the HSV, AL, Nashville or TN Valley area, you should stop in for a visit--we have much to do here from Hiking, Cycling and Sports to Art Galleries, Music Halls and Ballet--anything "artsy". HSV was built much around the German rocket scientists we "acquired" as part of the WWII Peace Treaty w/Germany. Since Europeans are heavy into the arts so, too, is HSV. We are a very culturally diverse city being heavy into Science and Math, Engineering, Space and Aeronautics. I've been told we are one of the most diverse cities in America, ranking up there w/some of the biggest cities.

Weird, huh? Alabama, who would've thought.