summer school

I just finished putting together a big report to our homeschool support teacher about all the educational enrichments we gleaned this summer. I'll share it with you here as well, since it's so mammoth! I hope to do another post with more summer highlights.

Community Service:

The boys helped me clean out and re-paint the craft shed here at camp. It was a big job and they all worked very well to get the job done. They also went out with Paul every morning to go "garbaging". They help him empty all the camp garbage cans and recycling into the dumpsters on the property. This has continued into the fall and they go with him most mornings, if they are awake.

While on our holidays, they had opportunity to help Grandpa fill his trailer with river rocks. They cooperated well and were cheerful with the task.

Fine Arts:

We went to the Burdge boys' piano recital. The boys encouraged their friends by being there, and helped to ease some stage fright.

Max had two impromptu violin lessons from my cousin. Her son (Max's second cousin, Noah) is taking formal lessons and helped his Mom give Max a basic introduction. She used poems and rhymes to help him remember where to place his hands and head, and how to stand with proper posture.

Both boys took part in a full-day of Drum Camp with Dustin Dollman. They enjoyed it very much. MAX is now doing a 30 minute lesson once a week, and once a month the lesson is shared with Marty. As his attention span allows, Marty may work up to a full lesson once a month.

Can you spot two Zalinkos?

{Baking} Max and his cousin Clay attempted to make pancakes for their siblings. As they began cooking them, something was clearly amiss. Clay had done the recipe before and it just wasn't the same. Somehow - and we are still not sure how - an excessive amount of sugar was added to the recipe. The pancakes finally cooked, though they were sickly sweet. We discussed the importance of carefully following instructions so as not to waste the ingredients and have a successful result.

Max took his paper bead making supplies on our holidays and shared his craft with several groups of friends. The boy in this picture was eager to learn how to make them, and then purchased several bracelets from Max to give to his cousins who would soon be visiting. On another occasion, Max made several bracelets and sold them alongside his friends who were selling lemonade and rice krispie treats on the side of the road. He earned several dollars over the summer from paper bead jewelry sales.

Max also learned how to make bracelets and necklaces by tying hemp knots. He learned how to add beads for decoration. At his request at Grandma's house, she gave him another lesson on how to knit. He got started on a project there and when he continued it at home without her, he realized that he was doing something more like hemp knots rather than actual knitting stitches. 

{Stained Glass}

Both boys observed as I worked on a stained glass project with a friend. They had lots of questions about the process, and both got to practice cutting and breaking glass. Max helped find just the right size of scrap glass for a tricky piece we needed to complete the design.

Sports/Outdoor Activities:

Max & Marty both took great strides in their bravery in the water. In a backyard pool in early July, they both gained the courage to float around on tubes. In late July, they both surprised us (and themselves) by jumping into the deep water of the lake (with life jackets on) in order to get their "red swim band" here at camp. This meant they were free to play anywhere on the waterfront as long as they were wearing a life jacket. Max got braver each time he went in and at the end he was swimming (with life jacket) from one dock ladder to another, about 30 feet apart. Marty got braver as well when he discovered he could paddle himself around the water on a surf board. When he used to be afraid of crossing the rope into deeper water, at the end of the summer he was exploring the entire swimming area.

To get their swim band, they each jumped in and paddled a short distance to
our friend, showing the life guard that they could jump in over their heads and
not panic. Neither boy has done this since, and we plan to work on this skill over
the winter when we go to the pool in Duncan as a family. Our goal is for Max to earn
his yellow band next summer, allowing him to swim freely without a life jacket.

While visiting friends in 108 Mile, we went for a long bike ride to (and around and back home) Sepa Lake. It was great to spend time with these friends who are also home learners. Max and Aiden are pen pals.

Exploring a hidey-hole while on a hike to a secret location near Quesnel.
Marty was not interested in testing what it's like inside an animal hole.

While in Vancouver, we visited the Botanical Gardens at UBC, and we all braved the Canopy Walk. I don't have pictures of Max and Marty there because they ran the whole way, while I was taking it very slow with Jaxon.

Horeseback riding at their second cousins' house!

Both were very brave and took two rides in the pouring rain.

Hiking Mesachie Mountain with cousins.
{Also pretending to be Narnia characters.}

SOCCER CAMP! Five mornings for one week ...
soccer skills and drills, as well as a VBS component.
Both boys participated well and enjoyed the time
with their friends in Abbotsford.

Barkerville {Communities Past}

We celebrated "Dominion Day" (July 1) in Barkerville. We explored all the old buildings - homes, schoolhouse, church, store, blacksmith shop, trapper's cabin, lumber mill, fire tower ... and much more.

Posing near the operational water wheel that was used in the days of active mining in Barkerville.

We enjoyed a 40+ minute interactive drama presentation about what life was like in the mining business. Max was thrilled to be chosen at the end of the show - to be the one to help the actor find the gold in the sluice box, and then in the gold pan. Though he made a valiant effort - the actor would not allow Max to hold the gold, nor would he agree to trade it for Jaxon's two pennies.

{Communities Past}

Visit to the Forestry Museum in Duncan. There is lots of information and photos there from the time that the property that is now Camp Imadene (and our home!) was an active lumber mill. We plan to visit the museum more often when we purchase a seasons pass in the new year, as well as make an appointment to look through the archives that are normally closed to the public. 

What our property looked like in 1944.
Our house is the building in the bottom left corner of the photo.

COINS!

Max has found lots of friends and family members to share his interest in Numismatics. During the summer, he was allowed to go to the camp office every Wednesday morning to sort through the coins in the cash boxes and buy any special coins he found. He had to make an even trade - no freebies.

(Below left- Max at camp office, and right - looking at Uncle Sage's collection. Max has become very skilled at finding out if folks are interested in coins ... and now stamps!

On a tip from Oma, Max received a significant collection of coins from an elderly gentleman who wanted to pass his collection on to a young collector. Max wrote a thank you note.

He has several websites bookmarked on the computer that he is allowed to study. He retains an incredible amount of facts about coins, paper money and stamps. He will gladly show off his collection to anyone who shows interest.

Max & Aiden - bonding over a shared interest.

Sorting through cousins' coin jar (L), showing his collection to a friend from the US (R). She had lots of info to tell him about US coins as she used to be married to a coin collector.

In the BIG BOSS' OFFICE - a long awaited appointment to show, share and trade coins.

Science / Social Studies

Testing out a friend's original version of "Geosafari".

They really enjoyed it and I think I'll be getting one for our house. 

At the Royal BC Museum, studying "The Big Map" of BC.

Crayfishin'!
Lots of time spent with Dad and camp staff -
baiting, setting, checking traps ...
observing, handling, cooking and EATING them!

Max was a camper this summer! He was almost just like any other camper, but being a staff kid made it tricky for him to remember he needed to follow all the rules and go along with his cabin. He often wanted to do his own thing and didn't feel the urgency to respond promptly to the bell for activities or dinner. He had no trouble knowing when the tuck shop opened at 3:30 every afternoon. The first day AFTER his week of camp was a good lesson in how it's not normal or healthy to eat so much junk food every day for a whole week. He had to take care of all his belongings on or under his bunk, including hanging wet clothes to dry.

The boys observed a baptism at camp.
Both are now participating in Communion at church - with
discussions with us about the significance of the tradition.

My thanks and congratulations to you for reading this!