Day 4 at Cuyahoga Valley National Park by Keri Sugerik

Day 4                 

 

We woke up a bit earlier this morning and got everything packed up for the buses.  They were to arrive and load the luggage while we were at class.  After breakfast we had our last class of the week.  Everyone got to talk about their favorite part of their time at the Park, and the students wrote letters to themselves to be mailed to them in about a month.  We took a brief hike (which I found to be really wonderful, by the way) and then the kids had a little bit of time to play in the snow.   We assembled as a full group at the campfire circle and had closing time.  The staff thanked everyone who came, recognition was given to staff and chaperones, and then it was, of course, time to break out into song once again.  Lunch was pizza, and then we all climbed into our cars or buses and headed for home. 

 

I would have to say that I had camp experiences as a kid, and this took me back.  I am very aware that many of the students who went would not have learned corny camp songs, tracked their food waste, hiked (and hiked and hiked) in the woods, and learned about the ecology of the area where they live without this opportunity.  I watched their faces, how their eyes glowed with excitement, with awe, with pride, and knew that this experience would stay with them forever.