Fifth grade parents - If you have any questions, please let me know!
Sixth grade parents - Below, I've included information that was sent home several weeks back, in a packet, with all 6th grade students. Please take a look at material lists and details below. We look forward to these upcoming adventures! Go Hoover Hawks!
-->
School of the
Wild 2013
Information
Packet
School of the Wild
School
of the Wild is a five day outdoor environmental education program for our sixth
graders. It is now a part of our
sixth grade curriculum and is cross-curricular in format, integrating language
arts, science, social studies & math.
Hoover
sixth graders are participating April 8 – April 12, 2013.
This
program was started in 1998, funded by the EPA, and continued through the
1998-1999 school year with REAP funding.
This year, the Hoover PTA and the ICCSD Foundation are generously
funding the program. Every Iowa
City Community School District elementary school participates in this
opportunity.
The
program is modeled after the University of Iowa Wildlife Camps and provides a
week-long day outdoor environmental experience for students. It introduces them to the natural
history of forests, prairies, wetlands and birds, along with outdoor recreation
and wilderness survival elements.
The
goals of the program are to:
· Awaken an awareness
of the wildlife and natural ecosystems in our area
· Develop an
appreciation of the natural world
· Encourage a balanced
environmental ethic and caretaker (environmental helper) attitude with respect
for the earth
The
project takes place at the University of Iowa's Macbride Nature Recreation
Area. This nearly 500 acre area is
surrounded by the Coralville Reservoir and Lake Macbride State Park. It is located on County Road F-28
between North Liberty and Solon just north of the Sugarbottom Recreation Area.
Staffing and Transportation
School
of the Wild provides at least three teacher certified staff members (plus
science education students from the University of Iowa may participate on
half-day basis as well) and transportation in Iowa D.O.E. certified school
buses. Participating schools
provide at least two teachers each day to lead environmental activities. Upper Unit teachers Lynn Ahlers, and
Jeff Kosier will staff the week.
Curriculum
Five
day-long sessions will focus on these subjects: Prairies, Forests, Wetlands,
Outdoor Adventures, and Birds.
Students visit a different session each day in a small group with a
certified teacher as their leader.
Students
will be in a team of about 10 Upper Unit peers during their week at School of
the Wild. They will be outside all
day, participating in hands-on/minds-on activities, journaling and enjoying the
wonders of nature in the outdoor classroom offered at Macbride.
Contacting School of the
Wild participants
Please
check with the Hoover Office (688-1110) if you have an emergency and a student
needs to be reached during the Wild week.
Parent Volunteers
Each
group of students will number about 10 and have a certified teacher as
leader. In addition, we have had some parents sign up for each day. They will be with their child's group. Thank you very much for your help!
Daily Itinerary…Rain or
Shine!
8:30 Start school
day at Hoover
8:45 Bus arrives at
Hoover
9:20 Bus arrives at
MNRA
9:40 Begin morning
sessions
11:30 Lunch
Noon Begin afternoon
sessions
1:50 Return to
Bluestem Shelter; wrap-up
2:00 Load bus and
return to Hoover
2:40 Arrive at
Hoover
3:00 Dismissal
Note: Thursday students will arrive at Hoover
by 1:50 PM for early dismissal.
What students need to bring
lunch
water
bottle filled with water (ice not recommended)
rain
gear (rain ponchos at Target/DrugTown/Hy Vee run as little as $0.99)
LONG
pants (that will get dirty and/or wet)
layered
clothing (that will get dirty and/or wet)
a
hat
shoes
or boots that can get wet & muddy
sunscreen
insect
repellent
backpack
pencils
colored
pencils
journal
(provided by Hoover)
a
positive attitude
Optional
items might include: extra socks,
camera, towel to sit on, binoculars
Bottom Lines: YOU BRING IT...YOU CARRY IT.
DRESS for the WEATHER.(Students are outdoors all day..)
What students should NOT
bring:
Anything that is not allowed at school is not allowed at
School of the Wild.
For example:
Ø Radios and CD players
as we are keeping noise to a minimum in order not to disturb the wildlife and
increase our chances of seeing some of the local residents
Ø Knives of any kind as
these are considered weapons (ICCSD weapons policy)
Ø Cell phones should
not be brought to School of the Wild.
Journaling
as “Homework”
Students
will receive a School of the Wild journal on Monday, April 11. In addition to some assigned journaling
during the day, students are encouraged to do some nightly journaling about
their experiences at School of the Wild.
Also, please encourage your child to tell you about the activities s/he
participated in each day as “homework” journaling is done. NOTE: This journal should be in your student’s backpack each day
so s/he is prepared for the notes, observations, drawings etc. required during
the day at School of the Wild.
Medications
and Allergies
Medication
for students who receive it daily through the Hoover Office will be packaged
and taken to School of the Wild to be administered by an adult there.
If
your student has allergies or medication needs beyond this, we need signed
written instructions about the allergies and treatments provided in
advance. ALL MEDICATIONS are to be
stored and administered by adults.
