Our 5th graders spend a week at camp every year, and this is
it. We leave Monday for Marin Headlands Institute. My
friend (if you reach way back in your memory you might
recall that she taught 5th before she joined me in 3rd) gave
me the grand tour last Saturday. It's a beautiful area,
formerly an Army base, surrounded by the bay and including a
lagoon. (You may also recall that I grew up at the beach
and terribly miss close water--so this is a thrill for me.)
We'll be learning a lot of science, mostly ecology and
biology, I believe.

The 'dorms' are simply old houses stuffed to the gills with
bunkbeads. The food is supposed to be very good. The staff
leaders are reputed to be knowledgeable with high
expectations for acceptable behavior.

Each day we leave at 9:00, hiking with our backpacks and
stopping for learning sessions along the way, and return to
camp at 4:00.

Nothing is fancy, teachers work hard, yet I'm as excited as
the kids about going. I'm looking forward to learning more
science and especially to learning more about my students in
a new setting...as human beings.

The kids are assigned to groups of 16. We asked them to
list 4 friends and everyone got at least 1 (most more,
although my student who listed the very cute young 5th grade
teacher got me). The group sticks together the whole
time--going off on it's daily learning and sleeping together
at night. We mixed all 3 5th grades in the groups and I
know that's good reasoning, but I'm sad I won't be with all
my kids.

We'll be back Thursday night,
Judy

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