Workshop Descriptions for Colby, DeBruce, and Rushford
What Campers Learn About at Camp
The DEC camp program consists of a variety of workshops and activities which are designed to help the campers become more aware of the environment around them and, perhaps, stimulate their desire to participate in the sound management of our natural resources. The activities and workshops, a blend of learning and recreation, are conducted outdoors providing the camper with direct hands-on with their environment.
Group Dynamics
The camp curriculum includes a very active series of activities which are designed to encourage campers to interact, communicate, and cooperate with one another. The campers will be provided with a number of challenge-type situations where they must work together to find solutions. Campers learn that they must depend on one another to accomplish certain goals and at the same time they discover some of their own personal strengths and abilities.
Principles of Ecology Workshop
Before campers can begin to grasp environmental issues and contemplate solutions to complex problems, they must understand the most fundamental ecological principles. To achieve this level of understanding, the campers will look at the concepts of energy flow, cycles, diversity, community, interrelationship, change, and adaptation. This activity-oriented workshop sets the stage for more detailed workshops that will be carried out during the remainder of the week.
Fresh Water Community
Campers consider the importance of water as they investigate the complex interrelationships between aquatic plants and animals and the physical factors which affect them. To discover more about aquatic communities and the importance of water, campers might perform water testing experiments, collect and compare organisms which live in ponds, lakes, and streams, and discuss water use and management. Campers will get wet during this study and thus old sneakers/shoes (or water shoes!) are recommended gear to bring to camp.
Field Community
Campers go out into the fields to explore and to gain an appreciation for meadow communities. Campers discover the complex interrelationships that exist between organisms which live in fields, as well as those of organisms which are not field dwellers but still depend on fields. Campers might collect and compare different field organisms and construct a food web to discover how those organisms are dependent upon one another. The use of a line transect can be used to study the stages of field succession.
Forest Community
With all the necessary equipment, campers head to the forests where they will discover the complex interrelationships between organisms and begin to see the similarities between all communities (field, forest, and water). Campers might learn how to identify trees, search for animal homes, play a predator-prey game, or discuss forest management while using various tools of the professional forester, such as a Biltmore stick and an increment borer.
Human Community
The week draws to a close as campers consider the role of humans as a member of the earth's environment. In this workshop, campers develop their understanding of human interrelationships and dependence on our natural resources. Campers learn how to debate future resource needs, become more resource conscious at home through activities, or decide upon a conservation project which could improve some aspect of their hometown environment.
