As soon as we arrived at 7th grade Science Camp at Mt. Rainier Institute, Naturalist Adam lead us into the Pack Forest Camp, where we would stay for the next four days. He entertained us as we hiked with his wealth of knowledge. When we came upon a swarm of coupling beetles, he started to explain reproduction. I thought to myself, "This is going to be a long four days...." Well, we did hike the "Long"mire trail, but the days flew by, and to be honest, they were some of the most fun and instructional days I have experienced with kids in a long time.
Every time we sat down to eat, we were challenged to be conscious of our food consumption and waste production by setting waste-reduction goals. We hiked in the old growth forest with 500-years-old douglas firs, where the 7th graders did field studies on moss and lichen. We learned about the geothermal pools and observed the incredible strength of beavers while they carved away on cedar trees. The kids reenacted the lives of the first settlers around Eatonville, Elbe, and Mt Rainier. Kids in costumes with flowing beards shared remarkable stories of the first ascents of the mountain. We sat around the campfire listening to the legacy of women and men who understood the importance of preservation, even as the timber industry boomed.
On day three, we left the forest to snowshoe at Paradise, where we tested the snow depth and calculated snow melt. (You can't be in the snow in late April without also engaging in a snow ball fight or sliding down snow banks like penguins.) Mixing group fun with educational goals was easy as student research teams developed hypotheses, collected samples, created data points, and assembled PowerPoint presentations for their culminating Science Symposium. Big questions ranged from: "Does moss grow more abundantly on dead trees or live trees?" To "How far apart should new growth trees be planted for greatest wood production?" Our kids had to think about the implications of their research, consider their scientific limitations, and prepare their presentations for the Institute's Director and staff. This was no small task, and the students took it seriously.
There were funny stories--as you could expect with 38 13 year olds and 10 adults living together for four days. The other adults and I marveled at the commitment of the kids to work together and to support those who needed more water or to carry a pack for someone struggling on the trail. We sang silly songs, prayed, and reflected on God's great gift to us here in Pierce County. And on the last day, we finally got our food waste down to under one pound!
Mt. Rainier is a treasure, and our kids a great gift. I think we will continue to visit the Mt. Rainier Institute annually. As the camp leaders said when we were leaving, "Come back soon, and tell your school families we are here and welcome them to join us at Pack Forest."
You won't be disappointed, even if you don't see the beetles,
Chris
P.S.: Happy Mother's Day!
