The third, fourth and fifth graders at Aveson are lucky enough to be participating in a year-long project centering on water issues for their Projects class. The curriculum incorporates several field trips including a series of hikes in Eaton Canyon — a gem of a local resource. The trips are ambitious with no fewer than 50 kids, two teachers, two aides and as many parent volunteers as we can muster. Ezra’s first trip was on warm, sunny October 4th and it went surprisingly well.
After a few delays getting all the kids ready (checking backpacks for essentials like lunches and water bottles and making sure their notebooks were ready for the activities), we started off about 10:00 am. We walked north from campus, then west on Loma Alta walking a bit before we found a shady spot for the first activity — a watercolor project of lines and a page of senses observed.
When everyone had done the project and eaten a quick snack, we packed up and headed up the mountain.
Here’s Ezra and his teacher who created the program, Ms. B.
We hiked for quite a while, winding our way in and out of the canyon. Eventually we passed back by high above our campus which the kids really enjoyed. It was recess time, so we tried a coordinated shout to get the kids at school to look up. It didn’t work; they couldn’t hear us at all!
Finally we reached the bridge and headed for a shady spot with what little water was available. It’s been a very dry year.
Of course, Ezra went right for the water, leading his friends in some rock dam building.
After lunch and play time, the second activity started. The kids were instructed to find a place they liked that was somewhat separate from the other kids. (Not so easy of a task since we had so many kids on the trip!) They were then going to observe their “special” place and do another watercolor. In future hikes they will come back to that same special place and observe the differences that come with the different seasons. It’s a lovely idea but I was skeptical of how successful it would be since the kids were pretty amped up after playing in the water.
Much to my amazement, though, after a few minutes of crazy every single kid settled down and did the project. It was nearly silent in the canyon as they worked. Here’s Ezra’s place.
Here’s a picture of Ms. B.’s group.
And here are shots of Ezra’s artwork — a little worse for wear after the hike back.
I think he did a really nice job on the trees.
