Volunteers crucial to event’s success
Inyo County Office of Education recently finished hosting all countywide sixth-grade science campers at the Bernasconi Education Center and it was deemed a great success by students and staff.
Students, counselors, instructors and teachers all shared laughs, good food and, of course, some truly engaging hands-on science.
Some highlights of the trip together included:
• Learning about Townsend Big Eared Bats with Evan Standifer of the Bureau of Land Management on Crater Mountain where the BLM actually studies this very special bat species.
• Summiting Crater Mountain and learning the rock cycle along the way – students loved using hydrochloric acid to test the marble at the top.
• Wading through the creeks and ponds to search for aquatic life that could indicate the health of the area’s water after its big water year. Students discovered that the ecosystem up at Bernasconi is healthy and thriving.
• Tie dying after a long hike day – something to remember science camp, and the students were wonderfully gifted tie-dye artists.
• Celebrating a week of learning outdoors with a cozy campfire. On Thursday, participants sang songs, played games and shared skits about all they learned throughout the week.
A huge “thank you” was expressed to all of the teachers who made the outing possible and the volunteer high school counselors.
The high school counselors took time from their own studies, homes, jobs, and families to stay at camp to be role models and support for the sixthgrade campers.
The counselors were Ellie Crall, Alyssa Falk, Terra Bogie, Crystal Morales, Ellie Safarik,
Alexa Morales, Haiden Mull, Grady Schaniel,
Karen Rivas, Alyssa Falk, Amaya Hayes, Ruby Vandehoven, Clare Haverstock, Wayland Schultz, Sydney Norcross, Kianna Braithwaite, Maria Ponce, Dakota Kibler, AB Ruelas and Will Mairs
Organizers also wanted to thank the bus drivers, aides, and school principals for stopping by, and to Mary Ellen and Ilissa for helping on the day the power went out.
“What a joy it is to work with such a wonderful team in this community,” organizers noted.
At the closing campfire, all of the camp instructors got together to sing “Rivers and Roads” for the students as they reflected on their time together at camp, all they had learned and all they had accomplished.
Precious new friendships were celebrated and old friendships rekindled.
Organizers said putting on science camp for these students “feels like the greatest gift in the world, thank you to everyone who helped make Science Camp a great success!”