Always walk through life as if you have something new to learn and you will.
~ Quote by Vernon Howard
For the month of March, Camp Harbor View celebrates our second focus area. In the summer of 2007, Environmental Education was one of the four original focus areas. We figured since we were in such an amazing environment on Long Island, we might as well teach the campers about their surroundings. It became such an important piece of the camp that we decided to expand the focus area to include other subjects, thus becoming Knowledge Is Power (KIP).
Knowledge Is Power is run as a form of experiential learning, with different activities aimed at helping the campers to use their brains while having fun. Confucius said, “tell me and I will forget, show me and I may remember, involve me and I will understand.” We try to help the campers gain understanding of science, health and fitness, literary arts, and math and physics. Some of the favorite activities have been creating a rollercoaster from foam tubing and marbles, making soda, and building hurdles, followed by track and field events.
Program partners have been a critical piece of Knowledge Is Power. Boston EMS has taught the campers CPR and First Aid. Save the Harbor/Save the Bay has taught them about their surroundings on Long Island, and the different species that they share the island with. Boston Police and the Coast Guard have come out and demonstrated different aspects of their jobs and let the kids experience first hand a Coast Guard cutter, K-9 units, and robots used for dismantling bombs.
“Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere.” -Chinese Proverb
Each year we add new and different activities in order to add to the campers’ treasures. By making learning fun we are helping the campers to use their minds, build their skills, and engage in their own education. This summer we are excited to add an assistant to the Knowledge Is Power team. This will enable us to expand the number and types of activities available to each camper.
“You learn something every day if you pay attention.” -Ray LeBlond
