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Students learn outside classroom

Staff photo by John Ceballos

Ana Rosales, left, and Macenzie Hahn try to start a fire during an outdoor science academy for Cypress Creek Elementary School students. The two-day academy took place Oct. 31 and Nov. 7.

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By JOHN CEBALLOS

jceballos@tampatrib.com

Published: November 11, 2009

WIMAUMA - A group of Cypress Creek Elementary students recently put down their textbooks in favor of a slightly different approach to learning about science.

The school teamed up with the Masonic Park and Youth Camp in Wimauma to give the kids a two-day, outdoor science academy experience.

"We really wanted to give the kids a hands-on approach to learning about science," said Roy Moral, the school's principal. "We also thought it would be good for them to apply what they learn in a real-world setting."

More than 100 fourth- and fifth-graders participated in the activity, which took place Oct. 31 and Nov. 7.

Different sections of the camp housed six stations with science-related themes - survival skills, watershed, orienteering, water quality, trail hiking and working with a global positioning system.

"I think this is really cool," said fourth-grader Kendal Walker. "We're learning how to survive in nature and also how to just observe."

The students first visited the camp on Oct. 31. They returned the following Saturday to visit the stations they couldn't reach during the first go-round.

"I watch all the shows on the Discovery Channel, and I'm pretty much a nature girl," said fourth-grader Marley Simon. "I love this."

Moral said the outdoor science academy was made possible thanks to stimulus funds for Title I schools, which are to be used for extended learning. Schools with large low-income student populations are eligible to receive Title I funds.

"We thought there was no better way of offering the kids extended learning than taking them out of the classroom and having them experience the stuff they read about every day for themselves," Moral said.

Reporter John Ceballos can be reached at (813) 627-4762.

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