Bainbridge students learn at Camp Seymour
Published 8:08 am Monday, May 19, 2014
Audrey Barnett, Hayden Marchinek and Soleil Cowen-Quan studied marine ecosystems, forest ecology and their impact on the environment at YMCA Camp Seymour on the Key Peninsula in April.
The trio, along with their teachers Susan Knottnerus, Sean Megy, Cathy Lolley and Martha Wells, visited the camp with their third- through eighth-grade classes from Ordway Elementary and Mosaic as part of the camp’s Outdoor Environmental Education program.
Soleil Cowen-Quan said her teachers take her class to camp because they learn so much about nature. It helps them take care of the environment better, she said.
The 98 students spent three days overnight at Camp Seymour learning about the outdoors and their impact on our environment through the camp’s education program, which enhances the Washington State Essential Learning Standards.
Accompanied by volunteer chaperones, teachers and classmates, students participated in canoeing, squid dissection and marine science.
Susan Knottnerus brought her students to Camp Seymour to emphasize team building and independence. Knottnerus has brought her fourth-grade class to the program for four years.
“Coming to outdoor education camp is a tradition for our district, we’ve been bringing our schools for over 30 years. We know the curriculum here is up to state standards,” Knottnerus said.
“I like the mixture of camp activities as well, watching the kids learn boating and archery. This is the kids’ last year as elementary students, so this is their celebration before they go to intermediate school,” she added.
Camp Seymour sits on 160 acres and a half mile of shoreline on the Key Peninsula, about 30 minutes from Tacoma. The education program introduces a variety of environmental topics like water quality and treatment, preserving the forest, understanding what lives in the Puget Sound, and responsibly enjoying the outdoors.
YMCA staff naturalists come from across the country to share their knowledge and enthusiasm when teaching classes. The program serves more than 9,000 participants from 106 different schools.
