Mar 15, 2008
Friday
What an amazing week! A special thanks to all the chaperones who bravely spent their week helping make OPI a reality for our 6th graders. Enjoy the final photos.
Mar 13, 2008
Thursday AM
Our last full day began with a hearty breakfast of French toast and turkey sausage. It was GOOD! Today group who have not been to Dungeness Spit boarded busses and were on their way shortly after 9:00. The remaining students stuck around to go canoeing, hike to Marymere falls, or finish up some research. Although the kids are getting pretty tired, they are beginning to realize that camp will soon end, and it is a bittersweet feeling.
Dinner tonight is teriyaki chicken, rice, stir fry veggies, sesame slaw, and ginger bread - YUM! After dinner students will clean their cabins and pack up ( big job for some!), and then attend the final evening program - the campfire! We depart OPI tomorrow after some closing activities
Dinner tonight is teriyaki chicken, rice, stir fry veggies, sesame slaw, and ginger bread - YUM! After dinner students will clean their cabins and pack up ( big job for some!), and then attend the final evening program - the campfire! We depart OPI tomorrow after some closing activities
Mar 12, 2008
Wowzer Wednesday
Here we are - halfway through the week. Today was awesome! Students ate a great breakfast of scrambled eggs, biscuits, cereal, and fruit. They packed up for the day and were off on another adventure! We had a visit from Ms. Lee who brought out some letters and much needed rain gear - Thanks!
Half of the kids went to Dungeness Spit, about 1 hour away. The weather was dry and overcast - perfect for a great day. At the park groups payed some great games and continued research for projects. The goal is to learn the story of something. One group did research to answer the question, "Is this an old growth forest?" they divided an area into quadrants and counted downed wood, undergrowth, large trees and small trees.
Another group headed straight to the spit (the longest sand spit in the world!). The checked out the cool driftwood, the enormous stretch of sand, and Vancouver Island, across the Straight of Juan de Fuca. More soil sampling, a bit of beach art, and checking out the layers of sedimentary rock. Awesome!
Back at OPI, the other half of students continued exploring the environment and gathering data to help tell the story of Barnes Point. Some canoed across to the other side of the lake, others hiked up to Marymere Falls, just 1.5 miles into Olympic National Park.
After a long and engaging day we had a great pizza dinner. Students worked on their journals, cleaned cabins, and got ready for a cabin presentation/contest tonight. Students who finished were invited to play in a flag football game. All students had excellent sportsmanship and a good time was had by all.
An amazing evening program presented by geologist John Cornish followed. He is a dynamic speaker, and really excited and encouraged kids to be excited by their passion for something. Don't be surprised if your kid asks for help finding meteorites in your gutters!
Students who went to Dungeness Spit will stay at OPI tomorrow, while the others will head out to the spit. Our final full day will be busy!
Thanks for all the comments!
Half of the kids went to Dungeness Spit, about 1 hour away. The weather was dry and overcast - perfect for a great day. At the park groups payed some great games and continued research for projects. The goal is to learn the story of something. One group did research to answer the question, "Is this an old growth forest?" they divided an area into quadrants and counted downed wood, undergrowth, large trees and small trees.
Another group headed straight to the spit (the longest sand spit in the world!). The checked out the cool driftwood, the enormous stretch of sand, and Vancouver Island, across the Straight of Juan de Fuca. More soil sampling, a bit of beach art, and checking out the layers of sedimentary rock. Awesome!
Back at OPI, the other half of students continued exploring the environment and gathering data to help tell the story of Barnes Point. Some canoed across to the other side of the lake, others hiked up to Marymere Falls, just 1.5 miles into Olympic National Park.
After a long and engaging day we had a great pizza dinner. Students worked on their journals, cleaned cabins, and got ready for a cabin presentation/contest tonight. Students who finished were invited to play in a flag football game. All students had excellent sportsmanship and a good time was had by all.
An amazing evening program presented by geologist John Cornish followed. He is a dynamic speaker, and really excited and encouraged kids to be excited by their passion for something. Don't be surprised if your kid asks for help finding meteorites in your gutters!
Students who went to Dungeness Spit will stay at OPI tomorrow, while the others will head out to the spit. Our final full day will be busy!
Thanks for all the comments!
Mar 11, 2008
Our First Full Day - Tuesday
We are truly in the Washington- It rained almost all day! Students experienced the small drip sound of water falling into the trees and then making its way to the ground. Rain in the forest sure sounds different!
Breakfast this morning was pancakes, turkey sausage, cereal, and fruit. Most students ate well in preparation for their day on the trails.
For many groups today the topic was "the story of..." trees, rain, the lake, soil... Students are beginning to put together a big picture of OPI and the surrounding environment. For example, did you know that it rains over 200 inches per year just a few miles in one directions, and less than 14 in another? Did you know that the inside of a tree is actually dead?
Although it was rainy, some students were able to get out into canoes today. OPI recently installed a dock which make embarking on a paddle much easier. Some groups visited Marymere Falls, a 1.5 mile hike into Olympic National Park. Other students experienced the microscope lab, the skins and skulls lab (did you know a dolphin's spine comes out the back of the head, not the bottom!), and the wondrous environment.
Mr. Richards stopped by and dropped off some supplies and letters. He was able to see many of the students before he left.
Dinner was a burrito feast! Yum! custom made, healthy, and fulfilling burritos made everyone happy. After dinner, the evening program...Night Hike!
This is a trust and confidence building exercise with a healthy dose of learning. IT takes a long time for eyes to adjust to the darkness, but once they do, students are amazed by what they can notice in the "dark" forest. No flashlights are allowed while teams navigate the trails in the camp.
Tomorrow we are expecting a visit from Ms. Lee. About half the students are going on the field trip (yes, a field trip within a field trip!) to Dungeness Spit. Some students will be conducting investigations to gather data to compare OPI with the unique environment there. Still others will canoe, hike, and use the classrooms! Another busy day, plus, the weather is supposed to get better!
Click on the slideshow for full size photos:
Breakfast this morning was pancakes, turkey sausage, cereal, and fruit. Most students ate well in preparation for their day on the trails.
For many groups today the topic was "the story of..." trees, rain, the lake, soil... Students are beginning to put together a big picture of OPI and the surrounding environment. For example, did you know that it rains over 200 inches per year just a few miles in one directions, and less than 14 in another? Did you know that the inside of a tree is actually dead?
Although it was rainy, some students were able to get out into canoes today. OPI recently installed a dock which make embarking on a paddle much easier. Some groups visited Marymere Falls, a 1.5 mile hike into Olympic National Park. Other students experienced the microscope lab, the skins and skulls lab (did you know a dolphin's spine comes out the back of the head, not the bottom!), and the wondrous environment.
Mr. Richards stopped by and dropped off some supplies and letters. He was able to see many of the students before he left.
Dinner was a burrito feast! Yum! custom made, healthy, and fulfilling burritos made everyone happy. After dinner, the evening program...Night Hike!
This is a trust and confidence building exercise with a healthy dose of learning. IT takes a long time for eyes to adjust to the darkness, but once they do, students are amazed by what they can notice in the "dark" forest. No flashlights are allowed while teams navigate the trails in the camp.
Tomorrow we are expecting a visit from Ms. Lee. About half the students are going on the field trip (yes, a field trip within a field trip!) to Dungeness Spit. Some students will be conducting investigations to gather data to compare OPI with the unique environment there. Still others will canoe, hike, and use the classrooms! Another busy day, plus, the weather is supposed to get better!
Click on the slideshow for full size photos:
Mar 10, 2008
Monday - Arrival
"I can't wait! I can't wait! I can't wait!", cried a student as we got ready to go this morning. We left Sidney Glen about 10:15 on two big busses. After a brief stop for lunch at Sequim Bay State Park, we wound our way to Lake Crescent and Olympic Park Institute!
If you would like to leave a comment, please do so!
When students arrived, the luggage was all unloaded from the truck. After a brief meeting, students got it all put away and went on a brief tour. Then it was time to meet their instructional group leader. There are 8 instructional groups of 10-11 students each. Although we had steady rain, students had an excellent time on the trail today. They saw mule deer, heard the lonesome cry of an owl, and marveled at the gigantic trees. There were also team building activities to help create a "team" out of the "group".
Around 4:30 students finished up their groups. They went back to cabins, unpacked their stuff, wrote in their journals, cleaned stuff up, and took a quick shower if needed. Cabins are competing for beads this week. They can earn them with excellent journal entries, teamwork, and cleanliness. Teachers are rewarding beads throughout the day. One cabin had a particularly great journal presentation tonight and earned a few extra!
Dinner was pasta with sauce with ground turkey, salad, garlic bread, and chocolate cake. Many students cleaned their plates completely off!
Tonight students are listening to a wonderful presentation from Elaine Grinnell, a local Native American elder. She brought many important artifacts and delights listeners with captivating stories about respect and responsibility. After the presentation students will head off to their cabins for a final clean up and then time for bed. Get a good night's rest for a bust day at OPI tomorrow!
Around 4:30 students finished up their groups. They went back to cabins, unpacked their stuff, wrote in their journals, cleaned stuff up, and took a quick shower if needed. Cabins are competing for beads this week. They can earn them with excellent journal entries, teamwork, and cleanliness. Teachers are rewarding beads throughout the day. One cabin had a particularly great journal presentation tonight and earned a few extra!
Dinner was pasta with sauce with ground turkey, salad, garlic bread, and chocolate cake. Many students cleaned their plates completely off!
Tonight students are listening to a wonderful presentation from Elaine Grinnell, a local Native American elder. She brought many important artifacts and delights listeners with captivating stories about respect and responsibility. After the presentation students will head off to their cabins for a final clean up and then time for bed. Get a good night's rest for a bust day at OPI tomorrow!
If you would like to leave a comment, please do so!
Mar 5, 2008
Luggage Drop-Off
For your convenience, please come by Sidney Glen on Sunday, 12:00-1:00. Drop off the duffel bags, sleeping bags, and pillows. This is also the last chance to get medication turned in. Otherwise, we'll see you Monday morning!
Feb 15, 2008
OPI 08 - March 10-14
6th grade is headed off to outdoor education soon! Keep an eye on this blog during the week. We'll post photos, stories, and messages from students. Check back in a bit!
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