Thursday, February 24, 2011

Winter Camp at the FRC



This is the second year that my son, Theo and I have attended the BRRR Dead of Winter Camp at the Farm Research Cooperative, located in Bloomingdale, Michigan (northwest of Kalamazoo). The camp invites students in grades four through 6 for a weekend of academic sessions related to science and art.


The camp director’s name is Dr. LeRoy Ray. Dr. Ray was born in 1930 in Texas and has dedicated much of his life’s work to helping African American students graduate from college. He has been a university professor, farmer, cowboy, business owner and educator among many other things. At 80 years old, he has influenced thousands of young people to attend and complete college.

The Farm Research Cooperative, a non profit organization that he started, and this camp is one example of the work that he has sponsored, organized and help fund for nearly 40 years in Michigan. The schedule below reflects the rigors of the weekend and the urgency with which Dr. Ray operates. We end the weekend satisfied but exhausted. Here’s what our weekend looked like.


Friday, Feb. 4, 2011
5:30 p.m. Registration and Sign In.
6:00 p.m. Assign Sleeping Quarters
6:20 p.m. Introductions
7:00 p.m. Dinner- Spaghetti, Salad, Bread Sticks
8:00 p.m. Orientation, Code of Conduct and Expectations (Dr. Ray)
8:30 p.m. Team Building Exercise

In preparation for Saturday's campfire, we dug out the firewood and prepared the fire pit.











9:15 p.m Writing a Proposal/ Note Taking Skills (Ms. Simon)

I conducted a session on effective note taking skills. Each student receives a tool kit with notebook, pencils, highlighter, red pen and a dictionary.


10:15 p.m. Chemistry Experiment: Dehydrating Snow (Dr. Ray with help from all instructors)


The students collected three samples of snow, weighed each one using a double beam scale and put them in three locations, including a dehydrator. They recorded the time the experiment started. On Saturday morning, they checked their samples and discussed what happened to the snow and why.





11:30 p.m. Red Eye Research and Assignment
The students were expected to be able to recite the list of 17 expectations for the camp.

Saturday, Feb. 5, 2011
7:00 a.m Rise and Shine










8:00 a.m. Breakfast! Eggs, toast, bacon, cereal and juice
9:00 a.m. Clean Up
9:45 a.m. Group Assignments: The students were divided into two groups:
Group A: Demarion, Jayshon, Quiana, Dewan, Kwesi
Group B: Marcellus, Theo, Lila, Yyvennia, Brandon

10:00 a.m.


Group A: Science: Energy: Electricity and Conservation in the Carver Lab (as in George Washington Carver)

Instructors: Mr. Vincent with help from Mr. D and me presented a session on electricity. Students learned to convert watts to amps for incandescent bulbs and CFL's. They also learned ways to conserve energy and water at home.


Group B: Newsletter in the Red Barn (the newly constructed learning space that was opened in Summer, 2010)


Instructors: Mr. Palmore, Mr. McClendon

Students learned how to take photos, write stories, set up a newsletter in Microsoft Publisher.


12:00 p.m. Lunch: Grilled Cheese, Fruit, Cookies and Juice

1:00 p.m. Instuctors Meeting

We discuss the struggle that we see students having with taking notes. We determine that our schools and teachers rely heavily on worksheets and handouts so our students are not learning these skills at an early age. The instructors decide that one way to help students is to review notes after each session and help them edit/ fill in the information they missed.

1:00 Students Tour The Silo Museum

Instructor: Mr. McClendon took the students on a tour of the Silo Museum, which contains photos, artifacts and stories about Black Inventors. Dr. Ray is planning to renovate the Museum in the summer. Students shared ideas for updating the museum with the group.

2:00 p.m.

Group A: Newsletter
Group B: Science


3:30 p.m. Art

Instructor: Mr. Palmore, an accomplished fine artist from Kalamazoo, teaches students how to draw a face. They are then encourage to create an abstract piece of art with plaster compound and paint. Mama Leslie and I assist the students with supplies and watch as they create their art. Theo gives his finished piece to Mr. D, a volunteer from Saginaw who brought four students to camp, who he really connected with.










7:00 p.m. Outside Play



8:00 p.m. Dinner- We roasted hot dogs on the camp fire and then made smores!

9:00 p.m. Group Activity and Newsletter




During one of the breaks, Dr. Ray and I spend some time in his library. He has many, many books on lots of subjects. His collection of works from W.E.B. Dubois brings him special pride. He also has reel to reel tapes from his visits to the 107 Black colleges and universities located in the U.S. We discuss the need to preserve his collection and agree to talk further about how to accomplish this goal.


12:00 a.m. Red Eye Assignment



Sunday, Feb. 6, 2011

7:00 a.m. Rise and Shine
8:00 a.m. Breakfast
9:00 a.m. Clean up and Pack Belongings


9:30 a.m. Take a Stance

Dr. Ray spends time talking about the future of FRC, his vision and hope that this group and others will continue to work on behalf of African American youth. He helps the students (and adults) connect history with the present and future.


10:30 a.m. Plans are made to create way for students and instructors to keep in touch. I collect email addresses and agree to create a secure website for this purpose. We also discuss creating a presentation for the Family Farm Conference or other upcoming meeting to showcase the students work and encourage support for the FRC.



11:30 a.m. Depart for Home


We take a group photo outside before we all go our separate ways. I am grateful for a wonderful experience for Theo and myself.

6 comments:

VINCENT DONALD said...

TEST

VINCENT DONALD said...

FIRST OF ALL BIG UPS TO Ms. SIMON ON HER POSTING. THIS IS THE TYPE OF CHANNEL WE NEED TO KEEP THINGS GOING AFTER WINTER-CAMP. I APPRECIATE HER ENERGY AND FOLLOW-THROUGH ON THIS MATTER. I APPRECIATE THE ATTENTION TO DETAIL AND RE ACCOUNTING OF EVENTS THE WEEKEND OF 4FEB11. THE ONLY QUESTION THAT REMAINS IS: SHALL WE USE THIS BLOG OR DEVELOP OUR OWN?

NEXT YEAR I HOPE TO INCLUDE MATHEMATICS FROM DAY ONE. FOR EXAMPLE, HAVE THE STUDENTS TO CALCULATE THE PERCENTAGE OF BOYS-TO-GIRLS ATTENDING WINTER CAMP. NEXT HAVE THEM PREPARE A GRAPH AND PIE CHART OF THEIR RESULTS. I BELIEVE THAT MATHEMATICS CAN OPEN MANY DOORS FOR THE STUDENTS IN THE FUTURE, LETS TRY AND PLANT THAT SEED WHILE WE HAVE THEIR ATTENTION FOR 40-PLUS HOURS.

SECONDLY, I HOPE TO HAVE A COMPUTER LAB SETUP IN THE LIBRARY OF THE RED BARN BY THIS SUMMER. THE INTRA-STRUCTURE IS ALREADY THERE. ALL THAT IS NEEDED IS A SWITCH ($50), DESKS ($50 PER POSITION), CAT-5 CABLE (ON HAND IN THE BARN), RJ-45 CONNECTORS ($10), AND MAYBE A NETWORK PRINTER($100). WE MIGHT NEED A SMALL FUND RAISER. ONCE LAB IS COMPLETED, THEN STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO RESEARCH THEIR RED EYE REPORTS ON LINE ALL NIGHT [LOL]; FOR PRESENTATION AT BREAKFAST. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO INSTALL A FEW NETWORK CAMERAS IN THE BARN FOR SEVERAL REASONS: SECURITY AND ALSO A WAY TO FOLLOW THROUGH ON VARIOUS PROJECTS. STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO LOG IN AND VIEW ON GOING PROJECTS SUCH AS BEAN SPROUT GROWTH AND PLANT GROWTH AFTER THEIR DEPARTURE (AND GRADUATION) FOR THE FRC BRRRR CAMP. BLOG ABOUT THEIR OBSERVATIONS. MAYBE ONE OF THE CAMERAS CAN BE TRAINED ON ONE OF MR.PALMORE'S PICTURES OR THE FRC SYMBOL (RAILROAD TRACKS AND $)

IN KEEPING WITH OUR THEME OR RECYCLE, RENEWABLE AND GREEN; NEXT CAMP I HOPE TO INTRODUCE HANDS ON EXPERIENCE TO SOLAR ENERGY. I WILL BE TAKING A FEW CLASSES STARTING IN MARCH. MAYBE WE CAN MAKE OUR OWN SOLAR PANELS OR BUY THEM AT HARBOR FREIGHT.

BIGS UPS TO OUR RETURNING STUDENTS AND FUTURE WORLD LEADERS; QWESI, THEO AND MARCELLUS. I WAS HAPPY TO SEE YOU THIS YEAR AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU NEXT. KEEP IT 100. (EBONIC TRANSLATION: KEEP IT REAL, BE TRUE)

TO THE QUESTION OF WHY I PARTICIPATE: I BELIEVE THAT A MIND IS TERRIBLE THING TO WASTE. OUR CHILDREN FACE MANY CHALLENGES. DR. RAY'S SETTING ALLOWS US TO POSSIBLY REACH A FEW FORTUNATE ONES. IT ALSO ALLOWS US TO POINT OUT ONE IMPORTANT CHARACTER TRAIT, EQ- EMOTIONAL QUOTA. THE CHILDREN WITH HIGH EQs ARE MORE LIKELY TO SUCCEED. I HAVE WITNESSED CHILDREN THAT WERE CALLING HOME CRYING THE FIRST NIGHT, BECAUSE THEY LACKED THE EMOTIONAL STRENGTH TO WITHSTAND THE WINTER CAMP. . I WONDER WHERE ARE THOSE CHILDREN TODAY?? BACK THEN THERE WERE MORE ADULTS TO HELP WITH THE COUNSELING. I WAS HAPPY TO SEE THE NEW BLOOD (MEN) FROM SAGINAW. I HAVE SEEN THE IMPROVEMENT IN MY OWN CHILDREN AS A RESULT OF THE CAMP. NOW THAT THEY ARE OLDER THEY APPRECIATE THE EXPERIENCE AND ATTEMPT TO EXHIBIT THOSE TEACHINGS IN THEIR CHARACTER ON A DAILY BASIS AT HOME AND AT SCHOOL. EVEN THE SMALLEST ONE, DEMERION, KNOWS TO SAY "YES' AND "NO"; HIS MOTHER HAS TOLD MY SO. I'M IN IT FOR THE LONG HAUL AND HOPE TO MAKE THINGS BETTER.

HOLLAR

G. V. DONALD

Detroit City Chick said...

I do think we need to create our own blog for the FRC Camp. We need something that allows everyone to post to. I was so excited about the camp experience, I wanted to post something here. So, I am still intending to create something for Camp. Thanks, Vincent, for your comments.

VINCENT DONALD said...

I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T MENTION THE DELICIOUS BREAKFAST I EAT EVERY MORN WHILE AT CAMP. EVERYTHING WAS GOOD AND I HAD AN UNUSUAL APPETITE, ESPECIALLY FOR THE SCRAMBLED EGGS. BIG UPS TO Ms DENISE FOR THE FINE MEALS.

VINCENT DONALD said...

Hello every one. This is Marcellus checking in. I really enjoyed my self this year. On regards to the silo museum I would like to paint the wall's and in each level we could put up a model of something that was made in that decade and on the top floor we could post picture of the people who attends the camp and have each person write a mission statement of what they plan to do to elevate the nature of science.

Unknown said...

This is an excellent account of our 3-day fully charged art & science camp! Dr. Ray is an inspiration to us all!

Even back at Houghton-Jones, the students have taken the lead in correcting and improving (umms, ah, uh-huh) public speaking skills of their peers (and adults! smile).

I will forward the link to the pictures I have uploaded.