Science Camp was AWESOME!!

All I can say is...what a great group of kids! We had between 40-50 students attend who were between 1st and 6th grade. They were both enthusiastic and polite--a teacher's dream! We covered the seven days of creation, completed a notebook for the students to keep, and had a hands-on activity each day. Some highlights were the Diet Coke and Mentos explosion, plant dissection, and observations of a dissected frog, fish, crayfish, heart, lung, eyeball, and owl pellet. I've included some photos, but the picture of the Diet Coke fountain doesn't do justice to the 20 foot peak we achieved!! There is quite a trick to sticking an entire pack of Mentos into a 2 liter bottle of soda before it erupts up into your face. The first time you do it, you get this feeling of trepidation as you wait for the unknown...the volcano of fizz threatening to dampen your spirits (literally). Now I'm pumped for next summer and more camps!!

Since the camp was in the morning, I had the afternoon free to hike in the Smokey Mountains, drive through Cades Cove, go tubing, horseback riding, and shopping in Gatlinburg. The highlight for lots of people seemed to be spotting a bear in Cades Cove. At the very end of the driving loop, a bear was seen and lines of cars had pulled over while passengers and drivers jumped out searching for the elusive creature. Not to be outdone, I pulled my van over to the side and jumped out with my camera, hopping gingerly on the gravel and looking into the darkened woods. Not a great photographer, my first five pictures were pretty much black except for a few trees caught by the flash. At this point the rangers had arrived and were directing vehicles that had stopped in the middle of the road. Fortunately, I was on the wildlife viewing pullover area and had a few minutes left before we needed to move on as well. Just then, the bear clambered out of the woods and I took my best shot. Now I have my picture of my bear in the Smokey Mountains (even though it really looks like a blackish lump). My husband looked at me and asked, "Why did you want a picture of a bear anyway?" I honestly didn't know. We have so many black bears in Central Florida that are invading neighborhoods that they have lost their charm around here. A dear friend of mine has a video of a mother bear and cubs that were trapped in her backyard earlier this month. But for a science teacher who is passionate about life science, it's always a thrill to see a magnificent creature in his own element!