Sonora - Six Grade Camp

I don't know about other areas in the country...I know in Southern California this was not an event we were able to participate in...but in the Central Valley Six Grade Camp is a BIG deal and everyone goes to Sonora. Three years ago Derek was able to go with Devin and this year was my turn to go with Cherise. What an awesome experience for these students. It is a week long, hands on, outdoor, educational experience, except ours was squeezed into 3 long days. They had us starting at 7am, which meant if I wanted a hot shower I was up at 5am, and we did not rest until 9pm...sleep on the other hand did not commence until about 1am. They learned about wildlife, made shelters, walked miles (1 mile they had to walk silent - try to silence 70 11-12 year olds at one time - go ahead try - we somehow were able to accomplish that), learned astrology, watch parents make fools of themselves, and completed several tasks that need teamwork/cooperation with no instructions - just a goal and rules. With no teacher participation...it was a vacation for them. The parents were responsible for their group from the time we entered the Charter buses until we returned in the Charter buses. (One of the rules was that we were not allowed to be a part from our group at anytime - Someone had to go to the bathroom - we all went. I had 7 girls, then we were attached to three other groups (2 groups of boys and 2 groups of girls - made of 7 to 10 students). At times we were grouped with 4 other groups of boys and girls (that's a total of 8 groups - approximately 56-80 students to 8 adults. To top it all off it rained 90% of the time we were there. As a treat at the end of the trip we were able to tour the city of Columbia, which is a small town that was founded during the gold rush of California. They were even able to sit in an old school house and learn what was expected of children in those times - By a teacher dressed in the period, acted as if she was from that period, and expected the students (and parents) to obey every rule...some were to sit up straight, look forward, both feet on the ground, and no talking. At the end of this experience they were asked which time period they would have rather lived in and why...you'd be surprised to find out that not all of them wanted to live in 2007...they actually liked the discipline and respect of the 1900's. I was so glad I could share in this experiance with Cherise and her friends.

(At least we had a dry place to sleep and a great group)