We dropped in on Cecilio, our grandson, when he was camping with his parents the last weekend of the summer on the Russian River. They were lighting the fire for s’mores. Cecilio said, “Granny Ann, did you know there are three types of campfires? One you start with kindling in the shape of a tepee, one you start with kindling in the shape of a cabin, and one that is kind of a combination of both called a lean-two?” And some people think that 4 years old don’t learn much at camp!!
Then I got to thinking about how he learned this, and why he able to remember it so well. His Pre Kindergarten camper group went to Outdoors with the Outdoor Living Skills Counselor, Jesse, once a week for 8 weeks, and he only did outdoor cooking maybe three times in all. So it was not something that was repeated often. Ah, yes, but I realized, it was how he was taught! The way he was taught, he got to hear all about fire building, to feel the texture of the wood, he got to do it—help build each type of fire, to see it become a fire and finally to cook s’mores over the fire. And last but not least, to taste the yummy chocolate melted over the marshmellow and graham cracker as he ate the s’mores. That is enough to make that fire building information memorable. Plus, he had a fantastic counselor, Ashley, who made every new adventure a “learning moment” by debriefing with her campers afterwards and asking How and Why and When so they would remember every detail.
This is “experiential learning” at its best, and one of the most effective way for kids to really learn.
I say: Bring on “s’more Camp!”
Article By: Ann Woods, Owner & Director since 1972 of Roughing It Day Camp, Lafayette CA.
