KELSEYVILLE >> Cloudy skies and gusts of rain did not deter ninety seven intrepid 4th to 6th grade students from throughout Lake County as they attended the 10th annual Children’s Museum of Art and Science (CMAS) camp on Saturday, May 7.
In the planetarium at Taylor Observatory, Eduardo Alatorre, Taylor docent, showed a film which told of NASA’s efforts to build a launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center for a rocket ship to Mars. Students were awed to learn how astronauts must be mentally and physically prepared for the nine month voyage to Mars. Students then saw a planetarium show of the night sky featuring Jupiter and two dwarf planets. Students asked Alatorre many thoughtful questions.
In the adjacent classroom, Carolyn Ruttan from the Lake County Department of Water Resources and Bonnie Ryan from Vector Control had a variety of activities which included looking at lake “critters” under a microscope and learning details about the history, and future, of Clear Lake.
Students listened to Ruttan in rapt silence as she explained that Clear Lake is one of the oldest lakes and why it doesn’t fill in despite a constant sediment flow. With the help of Alex Santana, Kelseyville Middle School student, students were able to create a slide of their own cheek cells, stain it, and view it under the microscope. Faith Buckmaster, also from KMS, helped students adjust microscopes and view mosquito larvae, seaweed and various local flowers and grasses, some with insect life attached.
Outside, under the trees, Bill Bordisso presented each student with a guitar and the opportunity to learn a song using just two chords. Although the session was only 45 minutes, it was obvious that for many students this initial encounter with an actual musical instrument was an exciting and important experience. By the time they had practiced the chords enough to add the words to the song (“I Want Candy”, a rock and roll song from the 60’s,) some were singing with real gusto. Bordisso was assisted at this station by Martha Miller and Don Coffin as well as two advanced guitar students Christian Contreras and Aiden Hernandez.
At the Ely Stage Stop more exciting adventures awaited. Jenna Rodgers from the Lake County Office of Education had brought bots. Her challenge to students was to work as a team to turn the bots on and then after attaching Legos with rubber bands, program them with chrome books to draw with markers on sheets of paper on the ground. Problem solving and co-operation were the words of the day at this station!
Wafting from the barn at Ely was a wonderfully aromatic scent. What could be happening here? Stephanie Figueroa of Candle Play was helping students make sand candles. Many students intended to give these as Mother’s Day gifts and were delighted to have such a timely and hands-on art experience.
Up at the Stage Stop house students had three more stations yet to go. The docents of the Lake County Historical Society had their corn shucking machine on the porch and students loved seeing the kernels fly off the cobs. Around the corner the Lake County Ham Radio Club had set up stations which both amazed and educated the students. First each student was able to speak over the microphone to a person in Clearlake. Then each student learned and practiced how to tap out S-O-S in Morse Code. Finally each student learned how to spell their name using the military alphabet (A = alpha, B= bravo etc). Finally, the docents had set up a big wash tub and scrub board with a bar of soap and students washed clothes “the old fashioned way” and hung them up to dry.
After lunch, all students headed for the barn and saw an hour long raptor show by Native Bird Connections. Jenny Papka brought a barn owl, a red tailed hawk and a Eurasian horned owl to show the students. All birds are rescue birds who are so badly injured that they can not be returned safely to the wild. Papka’s presentation included many interesting facts about the raptors and also information about how their environment is being degraded by rat poison and other negative human effects. Students asked many thoughtful questions and were very respectful of the birds’ need for calmness.
At the end of the day students were asked to fill out a postcard commenting on the day’s events. These postcards will be mailed home to them as a keepsake of their day at camp. Here are some of their comments: “I liked washing clothes and the Morse Code and we made music” Jeremiah. “I like watching the owls” Saba. “My favorite thing about camp was everything. It was so fun. I want to come back next year” Jonathan. “My best part of the day was making candles” Marrisa. “My favorite part was star gazing” Brody. “I had the best day ever at science camp. I liked learning S-O-S and microscopes and guitars” Malakai. “I had so much fun making a beautiful candle. I learned how to play the chords A and G. My favorite thing was looking through a microscope. My favorite bird was the small one. And learning about outer space. Outer space is far out!” Robby. “My favorite thing about science camp was learning to play the guitar and playing around with the robots” Lauren.
CMAS is deeply grateful to our community partners and supporters. Ten years is a long time to be doing anything, and it would not be possible to provide these wonderful, free camps for our youth without the help and support of so many individuals and organizations. We would like to recognize and thank: Lake County Office of Education, Lake County Historical Society, Redbud Audubon Society, Lake County Wine Alliance, Foods Etc, Mendo Lake Credit Union, all Lake County Rotary Clubs, Kelseyville High School Interact students, and all the adult volunteers who make these annual camps such a success.
