Shaded by the tall pine trees, a group of ten year old kids stop and rest on the blanket of pine needles and moss covering the ground. Each has a backpack, and each of the children can be seen digging out their bags of Gorp trail mix and their canteens of water.
This is a typical scene during the summer months. Everyone takes advantage of the great weather to get their fill of hiking and exploring up in the mountains. This particular group is part of the school district's Adventurers program. With the help of several of the teachers, and a bunch of youth counselors, the kids have been hiking all day. Their destination is always the Upper Falls. It is one of the closest of the falls, and it is the hike with the longest trail.
Every hour they stop for a small nature lesson, all part of the curriculum. Conservation, water, soil, plants, it is all covered. The best part of the whole thing is that it does not feel like school, but they are still learning. Kara is one of the favorite counselors, she's always showing the kids that they can do much more than they think they can. Learning with Kara is effortless because she makes each child feel so smart when they are around her. This is her second year as a counselor, and she loves it as much as the kids do.
Now that they have had a few minutes to rest, Kara has her notebook in her hands, and she knows that the kids are watching her write another poem for them. They love this part, and one by one the kid's notebooks are coming out of their backpacks too.
Free
Flying High
Watches Home Below
Soars With Open Wings
Free
She stands, walking around the perimeter of the group, reciting her Cinquain poem. The kids all know this style, she has taught them well. Pencils are scratching paper as more poems are created. Danny is the first one to stand, the signal that he is ready to share his poem. Kara hides a smile as he very seriously clears his throat and begins to read.
Sneaking
Eyeing Its Prey
Wait for the Right Timing
Pouncing, it is over now
Dinner
Everyone cheers and claps and Danny sits down, satisfied. Immediately heads are bent, and the kids return to their notebooks. Kara is so proud of them, after only two weeks, they are grasping the concept of sharing their thoughts this way, and they are not as afraid to get up and read them out loud anymore. This is so much fun!
Several more poems are listened to and after the applause and smiles, the kids started chanting,
"Dorie, Dorie, Dorie, Dorie" They clap their hands in time to the chant that continues until a small girl with light reddish blonde hair shyly stands up in her place. She has her notebook clutched to her chest with both hands and she's trying not to let her grin show.
On the first day, Dorie was the only one who was willing to share her poem. She broke the ice, allowing several others to be brave enough to stand up too. So every day since then, they made sure that she got up and read what she had written. Kara and the other adults were impressed. These kids were supporting and encouraging each other.
Of course it was exactly the way it should be, but seeing it happen sure did make their hearts feel lighter. All eyes are still on Dorie. She slowly opens her book and waits until it quiets down. Her voice is soft, starting out as just a whisper. Her confidence grows, as it always does, and the volume gradually increases.
Caterpillar
Beautiful, Mysterious
Hiding, Waiting, Changing
Finds a New World Outside
Butterfly
Again the kids cheer, and Dorie lets her smile light up her face. They are learning so many things as Adventurers. But nothing is as important as what they are learning about themselves.
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