Environmental camp builds awareness and self-esteem

By Meg Heaton

The goal wasn't always the top of the climbing tower. Students climbing in pairs chose how far they wanted to go up the tower and reaching that goal was just as important as hitting the top. Climbing together are parent volunteer Malene Svensgaard, left, and Catie Plummer of Willow River Elementary. The cost of the three-day program is underwritten by school parent groups.

For more than 120 fifth-graders from Willow River and Prairie Elementary, last week's experience at Camp St. Croix will likely be remembered as one of the highlights of their grade school years, not just because of what they learned about the environment, but what they learned about themselves and each other.

This is the fourth year that Hudson students have participated in Camp St. Croix's Environmental Center, located just south of Hudson on County F. The camp offers students a three-day, two-night residential program and, for some children, is the first residential camp experience they have ever had.

The days at Camp St. Croix are filled with small group experiences with names like "Prairie Pathways," "Forest Ecology" and the "Riverwalk" all within the grounds of the camp. Each of 10 groups made up of about a dozen students was led by a professional environmental education instructor from the camp and was assisted by a teacher and parent volunteers. Students learned to look and see things they may have previously overlooked in a prairie, forest or along a river. And along with seeing things, they began to understand how life works in each environment and what happens when things go wrong or change.

Students from both schools made up the individual study groups so that many of students didn't know one another. At meals and in the cabins, students from the same homeroom were together. There were also several times during the day students had open recreation and had a chance to touch base with old friends and get better acquainted with new ones. The favorite games on the playing field were football, soccer, basketball and Red Rover. No electronic games, radios, CD players or Pokeman cards were allowed.

In the evening, students learned to howl as part of a program on wolves, took a walk under a very clear night sky and gathered for some storytelling and singing at an "eco-campfire." Every student attending the camp performed in skits about environmental issues. And the camp's lead teacher, John Mueller, told stories, led the singing and taught the students how to simulate the sound of a rainstorm by simply using their hands.

One of the highlights of the camp for the participants wasn't from the natural world but was manmade. Every study group had the opportunity to "climb the tower," a wooden structure 30-feet tall for climbing.

The experience was a team-building and goal setting exercise for the groups. Students were shown how to put on a safety harness. Students climbed in pairs and together decided on a goal - to go up halfway, three-quarters or to the top. Students left on the ground formed two lines and manned the ropes connected to the climbers. Climbers could decide at any time to stop and come down.

But along with the physical tasks associated with the climb, students were told to support the climbers with words of encouragement. They needed little prompting. Once a climb started, students on the ground gave it their all - right along with the climbers - offering cheers, advice and encouragement in abundance. When a climber wanted to stop, their group mates tried to encourage them toward their goal. But if the climber wanted down, there were no recriminations, only pats on the back and phrases like "good job" and "great try."

The experience seemed to tie the kids together and not just physically with the ropes and tethers. There was no distinction when it came to cheering climbers on. Girls cheered for boys and vice versa. Students who hadn't known each other just a day or two before clearly wanted a successful experience for everyone in their group. And if tears came to a climber who didn't make their goal, lots of hands reached out to offer comfort and encouragement.

Anna Jaeger, director of Environmental Education for Camp St. Croix, said the purpose of the camp is to help students appreciate the complexity of the natural world, feel more comfortable in it and learn how to take care of it. But she is quick to add that it, this camp experience, isn't just about science and nature. "It's about community and learning to work together to be successful whatever they do. We hope the kids that come out here leave with a sound platform to build on for the rest of the school year."

By the happy sounds all over Camp St. Croix last week, it seems like "mission accomplished."

This week students from Rock Elementary School will be at Camp St. Croix.