GONZALES — Before the outbreak of coronavirus and the shutdown of area schools, fifth-grade students at La Gloria Elementary School in Gonzales were able to attend the first science camp hosted by their campus in several years.
The second week of March was a time when Gonzales fifth graders traveled to Rancho El Chorro in San Luis Obispo to take nature hikes, visit the beach and learn up-close lessons in science.
“The kids loved it,” said Principal Mark Demick. “It was pouring rain and the kids were so resilient. They didn’t complain.”
The beach adventures and hands-on activities were ways for the students to learn specifically about ecology, forestry, geology and oceanography. But for them, it was as entertaining as going to touch tanks and seeing sand sharks.
“A majority of them didn’t know that there were jobs in those fields that they could do,” Demick said. “They’re accustomed to the agricultural jobs around here, but getting them in a whole new environment from forestry to geology, it opened up a whole new world of what they could grow up to be, naturalists.”
To start students out on a scientific path, they had journals where they were supposed to observe and classify the many types of wildlife they saw.
Students spent three nights and four days at camp, which was an endeavor that took quick planning by the school within 50 days after community help to obtain funding.
The City of Gonzales, Santa Fe Market and Christmas Give Back Program were all contributors to make the trip possible, Demick explained. Their donations were combined with district funds for the overall cost.
Out of the 140 fifth graders at La Gloria, 62 went on the trip.
“We’re building that tradition of a great learning experience, where the kids can grow and learn about their environment,” Demick said.
In addition to being a place of scientific learning, camp was also an opportunity to learn in a much different environment.
“A lot of the kids you see having the most difficult time with four walls, they do stellar in classrooms with no walls,” Demick said.
