STAR 6th Graders Attend Camp Colton

Earlier this month the STAR school sixth grade had the chance to attend Camp Colton, a camp owned and operated by Flagstaff Unified School District that is dedicated to teaching participants about environmental science. The students spent four days and three nights at camp and attended environmental education classes such as forestry, aquatics, wildlife and geology, taught by Camp Colton's staff.
Each environmental education class was designed to get the students to interact with their natural environment and work as a team to accomplish a specific goal. For example, the Geology class consisted of the students exploring the nearby Lava Tubes and discussing the different types of igneous rock present inside the tubes. 

Some STAR students get ready to explore the Lava Tubes

The classes were also designed to be engaging and hands-on, encouraging the students to interact directly with their outside environment. In Aquatics class students measured the circumference of a pond and were then given a chart depicting different types of aquatic animals and insects. Using this chart, and a net and tray, the sixth graders tried to capture as many aquatic life forms as they could and determine the health of the pond based on the types of animals they found.

Some sixth graders examine the insects and animals they caught during Aquatics class

In addition to classes, the students participated in fun camp activities like campfire sing-alongs, square dancing, and stargazing. They learned the Camp Colton morning chant, played Boom Ball, and heard the spooky tale of Able Gable. 
Camp Colton was outside of many of the students' comfort zones but they gave every class and activity their best effort, trying new things and making new friends. Many of them did not want to leave at the end of the week, and said it was one of their favorite parts of their school year.
​Thank you to Camp Colton staff and Friends of Camp Colton for fully funding our students' camp experience.

Written by Regan Gee.