Playing a teacher.. yes, *I* did it!

“You may remember that January-ish I asked for ideas to get youngsters from 3rd-5th and 6th-8th grades thinking about the outdoors and writing. I was asked to participate in a Young Writers Conference by a member of the area Education Agency board who reads my columns week in and week out.

Last Thursday and Friday I had my baptism by fire at the conference, held at Winona State University. Three classes each day.

I had vague plans, lol. For the first day, with the younger kids, I went through the room asking them what they did outdoors (or what their hobbies were or what they liked in nature -- some seemed to not be into the outdoors) HEY, THEY ACTUALLY ANSWERED BACK AND ANSWERED QUESTIONS! That's kinda scary, putting a question out there and praying that someone will answer, lol.

I had magazines along, about 10 of them, to show various types of writing based on hobbies and outdoor activities they like... The class was called something like "The Never Ending Recess," showing them you can do things you like and potentially get paid to write about them.

I had pictures I'd taken. One, of the morning sun hitting the red rocks at Zion, pretty much fooled them all. They all thought it was a volcano and lava. Lesson? If you think it looks like that, use that comparison in your writing. And try to always use such descriptions.

I had them try on my backpack if they wanted, of course holding up the weight from the back so they didn't keel over backwards and stressing, stressing, stressing that when a pack fits them, it feels good. (With some of the older kids the following day, it did fit them, so we tightened up the straps and they saw that indeed, you could wear the pack and feel comfortable.)

Then I said, "Do you want to see what's in the pack?" They yelled (yes YELLED) YEAH! So I hauled the stuff out. They liked the dehydrated food and, even more so, the tiny Pepsi can stove. (No, we did NOT light any fires in the classroom. LOL)

They also liked sitting in my Thermarest chair on the floor. (See, I'd been told "hands-on" activities were good.)

After this, I brought up Aron Ralston's book, "Between a Rock and Hard Place." This proved to be the big hit of each class! I told the story, which a few had seen on TV. I talked about how Aron was an engineer and figured out he needed to break his arm before he could cut through it. The horrified looks on their faces were priceless. (I dunno, maybe I shouldn't have gone there? But they sure were on the edge of their seats waiting to hear the story.)

We talked about how a story doesn't have to always be happy. You can tell of a great mishap, like this. We talked about things Aron did wrong. They noted he didn't tell anyone where he was going... he went alone... and he didn't write a note to leave in his vehicle giving his expected itinerary and return time. We noted how he had a video camera along and how it's good to have that, or a camera or little notepad along to collect thoughts.

The first day, with the 3rd-5th graders, that pretty much took up the whole period. In the class after lunch, I was horrified when I got the three cute girls who kept answering every question with, "We want to go outside," and then giggling to no end. I had said in the class description we might go outside. But it was raining some. Plus, I later had worries I would lose a kid or two or 10, lol, since I'm not used to having to keep track of kids.

It was funny though, one of the girls, Annaliese, came up afterwards and seemed pretty sincere when she said she hoped she wasn't (too much of a pain). She said, "I know my mouth gets me in trouble sometimes." I said it was OK, mine does too sometimes (LOL!) and it was good to realize that.

I *think* she was sincere -- or she played me like a fiddle. LOL!

I heard that the middle schoolers would be a tougher bunch, harder to crack through their "cool" exterior. I fine tuned the program... and made sure I'd get them to write something.

I streamlined it down to going through and putting on the backpack, quickly running through magazines and photos, and ending with Aron Ralston before putting thoughts down on paper.

At the beginning I said they'd write something short at the end... it could be their thoughts on backpacking, any of their outdoor hobbies or the whole Aron Ralston incident.

This worked pretty well. Some just wrote a sentence saying what they liked to do, in which case I usually asked some questions to get them to elaborate or think more about it. I was very, very happy when one quiet girl, who didn't seem too interested, wrote about backpacking and how it seems people like to plan to do nothing and go out to enjoy themselves alone, where there's nothing of the regular world (something like that, anyway). I said, that's great, you get it... We do put a lot of planning into trips normally, to not get lost... but yes, getting out into the "nothing" is what it's all about.

In the final class, when I happeneed to mention geocaching as a way to get outdoors and find things (both physically and as a way to find things to write about), one girl had just done geocaching that past weekend. We went more in-depth on it and in that class didn't have time to write. Which was fine.

I have to laugh because I bet in my evaluations -- and if they went home with nothing else -- they now know you can make s'mores with Peeps. LOL! Campfires always came up as things they liked and, inevitably, s'mores. I took that opening and ran with it and Peeps. LOL! (I did not have any butchered, burned Peeps shots to show. hehehee)

It was a tiring, but great two days. Most presenters stayed at a hotel in Winona. We had a reception Thursday night and it was interesting to hear what others were doing. For example, a woman who's maybe in her 60s (or older) is a big backpacker and is a board member of the Isle Royale Natural History Association. There were people there doing movements, comedy, singing, etc.

It was a couple days well spent! And the pay was not too shabby either! :-) It was good to see that youths are for the most part interested in the outdoors... and to see "breakthroughs," like the girl who seemed to really understand why we backpack.”

“Sounds like you did a great job. You go, girl.”

“Awesome! That sounds very cool. Sounds like you really had their interest. That's what counts with kids. Keep up the good work.”

“Yay for Lizs!
Cool deal.”

“So you scarred a bunch of young minds for life, eh lizzy? :-)

I make presentations and give speechs at conventions, but no way could I stand up to a bunch of kiddies and hope I could keep their interest. Good job!”

“

"It was a couple days well spent! And the pay was not too shabby either! :-"

Eh, guess newspapers are not selling too good, so Lizs had to go out moonlighting!

LOL.

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Lizs, do you have an extra backpack you might like to sell? My daughter neeeds one for a trip to Central America for several months. I'm at Grinnell and could drive up to your area to get it.
nowslimmer@cfl.rr.com
last edited: 5/18/05 7:57:42 PM”

“This report could only be written by a gal who didn't have kids.”

“LOL..and??? :-)”

“If you had kids you would get it.”

“Glad it went well - sounds like you did a Great job. The kids that are inspired now are the hikers of the future. thanks.

Now - if you started your Death To Peeps - Death to Peeps rant, it would have been even better...”

“I don't have kids, I work with kids and sounds like lizs di a great job.

Kudos, lizs!”

“Kewl Beans, lizs!
Congrads on the good job.

Now get to work on your canoe trip! ;-)”

“LizS-- sounds like you did well! ;-)

I work with a lot of urban kids who have had little to no experience with the "great outdoors"... I like the idea of having the kids try on the backpack and seeing what was inside! ;-) That sounds like a great intro for children who have never seen more than a city park...”