Dear 4th-5th Grade World Class Explorers:
Explorers will practice the Essential Learning Skills on several expeditions this year as we investigate American Environmental History (Natural and Cultural). We invite parents to join us whenever possible! For this first adventure, we need drivers for 16 students, two teachers, and our gear. We also need gear. Please read over the itinerary below and RSVP ASAP if you are able to participate or loan camping equipment.
We will start the year off with an adventure in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, by climbing the second highest point east of the Mississippi River, Clingman’s Dome. Our first expedition launches our first semester mega-theme: Perspectives and Reflections: Points, Lines, Intersections, and Angles, as well as our content focus on North America: Past, Present, and Future. This adventure affords us the opportunity to learn in the real world, using tools (magnetic compass, night sky, and maps) to practice navigation. It also serves to introduce these sub-themes and subjects: biodiversity, botanical illustration, astronomy, environmental awareness, geology, ornithology, geography (longitude, latitude, and altitude), history, and folklore. We’ll practice real-life math and science skills as we budget and shop for this trip, prepare food together, and build a sense of trust and community.
In the spring semester, we will continue this exploration while looking at systems and cycles. Our hike last fall, up the Old Elisha Mitchell trail, and our subsequent reading of Dr. Mitchell’s letters and journals inspired the Elisha Mitchell Ballad that placed second in the NC Museum of History literary competition for 2010 and 2011. Our trip to Clingman’s Dome in September will focus on a mountain island habitat, a unique ecosystem that is like a little chunk of Canada (in the far north) transplanted here in western North Carolina. Please read the following itinerary carefully! Note that Friday, the day after the adventure, is a Parent-Teacher Listening Conference Day, so the Explorers will have a nice day of rest after the trip. : )
Great Smoky Mountains ODYSSEY ITINERARY
We will leave OCS on Wednesday, September 14th at 9:00 a.m. and return to OCS by 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 15th.
Students will need a packed snack, a lunch, and a filled water bottle for lunch on Thursday. We will set up our tents and get settled by noon.
Wednesday, September 14th, 2011
12:00-1:00 lunch and orientation at the North Carolina Gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains: the Oconaluftee visitors’ center
1:00-2:30 Compass orientation, tree study, and hike with Edie and Daniel at Oconaluftee
3:15-3:45 Trust Fall at Campground: set up tents and unpack at Smokemont
3:45-4:15 Tent time (songs and stories for campfire planned by tents)
4:15-6:00 Wilderness Lessons (botany, ornithology, geology, climate, natural history, swim with the salamanders)
6:00-7:00 Dinner
7:00-8:30 Campfire and Songs & Stories
8:30 Trust Walk
9:00 Reflection Circle and Good Nights
9:30 Tent time
10:00 zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Thursday, September 15th, 2011
8:00 Stone Circle and Fire Building
8:30 Breakfast, Cleanup, and Morning Meeting: Break down tents and pack up for trip to Clingman’s Dome (Jay Johnstone, our Park Ranger will be meeting us at Smokemont to lead a caravan up to Clingman’s Dome for our day’s adventure: “On Top of Old Smoky.”)
10:00am - 2:45pm “On Top of Old Smoky.” Lunch will be included during this day-long adventure.
2:45-Snack, Pack /Clean Up & Drive back to OCS
4:00-4:30 Parents Pick Up Explorers at OCS
The trip has been largely funded by the generous time and energy of Gina and Ben and the Explorers who helped each Tuesday to sell and deliver Pizza to the Odyssey Community during the last school year. (THANK YOU!!) Each family will need to contribute $30.00 per person in order to cover the cost of food and the campsite. Please make checks out to Jim Colie. All money must be turned in by Friday, September 9th. The Explorers will be completing a Real Life Math Budgeting project by shopping for our trip on Tuesday, September 13th. Thanks in advance to our trusty drivers for facilitating this learning experience.
A packing list for Explorers is included below:
Sleeping bag, tarp or ground cover/pad, warm clothes, hiking boots or sturdy shoes, (open-toe shoes are prohibited for Ranger-led program at Clingman’s Dome), fleece jacket, backpack, flashlight, toothbrush, undies, warm p.j.’s, water bottle, unbreakable plate, bowl, cup, silverware, large plastic garbage bag, swimsuit, towel, water shoes (optional), sketchbook, bandana, pencils, snack and lunch for Tuesday.
Please let us know if you have any extra tent/camping gear to loan. The following information includes Great Smoky Mountains information and directions.
Thanks for helping us take our explorations into the real world!
Edie & Daniel
Driving Directions
Public Transportation
Download maps of the park and surrounding region
PS I have made group camping reservations at Smokemont Campgrounds for the 15th, Group Site 03.
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