This week, our sixth graders set sail for the west end of Catalina Island to attend camp at The Catalina Island Environmental Leadership Program (CELP). While at CELP, students were guided through land and sea explorations designed to enhance their understanding of and connection to themselves, each other, and the environment.Accompanied by Crestview chaperones and multiple camp instructors, our students snorkeled through the kelp forests, kayaked along the rugged coastline, and hiked in the hills around camp. Sixth graders supported and encouraged each other at every moment, and as a result, several students participated in activities they thought they were too afraid to try. There were so many moments of wonder and delight during these explorations of nature, which included sightings of stingrays, a light-pollution-free night sky, and bioluminescent microorganisms in the shallow water of the cove.
Crestview sixth graders also took part in team-building and service-learning activities. Students rose to the occasion during games
designed to build collaboration, communication, and teamwork skills. They made a trip to CELP's garden, where students turned compost and learned about CELP's efforts to cultivate native plant species and healthy veggies. Our sixth graders also got their hands dirty removing an invasive ice plant species from a hillside, giving back to this camp Crestview has received so much from over the years.
designed to build collaboration, communication, and teamwork skills. They made a trip to CELP's garden, where students turned compost and learned about CELP's efforts to cultivate native plant species and healthy veggies. Our sixth graders also got their hands dirty removing an invasive ice plant species from a hillside, giving back to this camp Crestview has received so much from over the years.Our camp instructors did an excellent job incorporating the key principles of CELP into all lessons, discussions, and reflections: everything runs on energy, there is no waste in nature, biodiversity is good, and everything is connected. Students kept a journal during their time at CELP in which they reflected on the meaning of community, the impact we have on the environment, and our responsibility to each other and our planet. From discussions to "a-ha" moments to smiles and looks of wonder, there were so many great moments at CELP this week. This experience will no doubt be a memory that will last a lifetime.