Back in the Saddle (161)

Quarantine as long. Teaching from home was arduous and frustrating. It left me hungry for interaction and working with fellow educators and hopefully students over the summer. I am easing back into the flow. It feels good but some long days, has left me achy- sore back and arms.

My district STEAM center offers several science camps during the summer. I generally teach both of them. The first in June is for inbound 4th and 5th graders. Then in July we have a Girls Innovator Camp and a Junior High STEM Camp. But, since we have to isolate due to Covid-19, this year all three camps are virtual.

So we have to organize activities, purchase all the supplies, sort and bag the supplies and set up an assembly, car line for parents to pick up a weeks worth of activities. Bagging them takes as long as organizing them. A full-time week of this for me and the camp host and we should have it done by Saturday.

Parents will be picking up their daily, numbered and paper bagged supplies. We have 72 in the camps. So a lot of work. Then on Zoom we will divide them into groups, 4 teachers will rotate them through breakout sessions where we will walk them through the design and play time with their activities. Plus we have team building time, video clip time, snack time (3 provided per day, per kid).

Its going to be fun. We are currently setting up for the elementary science camp. We have crystal tree making, owl pellets, x-rays and cast design, pop up books, solar ovens, telescope building and bottle rockets- just to name a few. It is going to be a very different way for the science summer camp to be taught. But, I have faith it is going to be amazing.

My 5th years teaching these camps and our first time virtual. The virus has forced us to a virtual reality for now. But, with a lot of planning and organizing and packages of activities and supplies- this one should be just as fun as previous camps. I am looking forward to next week. Just a few more days to get ready.

Back in the saddle again.