Shumla School: Learning Adventures in the Lower Pecos

By Carol Schlenk
tbhstaff@www.texasbeyondhistory.net
Education Editor, Texas Beyond History

The Social Studies TEXAN, Vol. 21, No. 3, Spring 2006,
pp. 18–19
Reprinted with permission of The Social Studies TEXAN

Fifty miles west of Del Rio, in Val Verde County, a living museum, camp and education institute known as Shumla School (www.shumla.org) sits on a dry, rocky expanse of land between the Pecos River and the Rio Grande.  Surrounded by sky that seems to go on forever, the landscape encompassing the school at first appears foreboding, perhaps even uninhabitable.  Yet for at least 10,000 years, prehistoric hunters and gatherers managed to find food and shelter in this desert area, leaving behind as they did artifacts that still intrigue and instruct Shumla teachers and students today.

The air at Shumla is clear and clean, scented by wild oregano and sage.  Jackrabbits, roadrunners, and lizards roam the area freely, barely disturbing the tranquil silence as they search for food.  In this peaceful outdoor setting, Shumla's Pecos River Kids Day Camp conducts interdisciplinary, hands-on programs designed to make learning successful, fun, and permanent.  Instruction at Shumla takes place either outside, in one of the school's three wikiups, in a full-sized tipi, or in the school's open-walled pavilion.  For one afternoon or several (depending on the program), youngsters leave their CD players, cell phones, televisions, and computers behind and are constantly surrounded by the landscape that challenged and undoubtedly delighted ancient Texans thousands of years ago.  Guided by an interactive, experiential curriculum, K–12 students learn to answer inquiry based questions about how prehistoric hunting and gathering Indians adapted to the Lower Pecos environment.  To discover how ancient Texans living in the Lower Pecos area might have brought down a deer, students actually learn to throw a spear using an atlatl and watch a flintknapping demonstration to learn how spear points are created.  To answer the question of how the spectacular local rock art pictographs (some as old as 4,000 years) were created, students learn to make paint and paintbrushes out of natural materials, and then create their own examples of rock art.  Making cordage from plant fibers, starting fire using only friction tools, and basket making are all activities designed to illustrate how individuals from long ago adapted to a harsh yet rich physical environment, and how people everywhere share the same basic needs.  These high interest hands-on lessons provide youngsters with a physical challenge that fosters survival skills, problem solving, community building, teamwork and leadership.  Self-esteem and academic performance are both enhanced as students leave their conventional classrooms to experience educational adventure at Shumla.  In between activities, students are encouraged to be still and listen to the quiet of the desert.  As one 5th grader who had participated in the Pecos River Kids program put it, "Today was the greatest day ever because I learned a lot of things AND had fun learning them!"

While Shumla School bears the name of a local railroad station established in 1882, the term Shumla also serves as an acronym for Studying Human Use of Materials, Land, and Art.  Founded in 1998 by archeologist and artist, Dr. Carolyn Boyd, the school has introduced over 10,000 students of all ages to the cultural and ecological resources of the Lower Pecos region, an area of surprising diversity.

Shumla School programs, including Pecos River Kids, are flexible in length, content, and cost, and can be designed to meet your school's needs.  Teacher training camps, which help educators creatively align the Shumla experience with TEKS standards, can also be custom designed to fit the needs of your district or Regional ESC.  The Shumla School office is located at 117 Sanderson St., P.O. Box 627, Comstock, Texas 78837.
         Phone: 432-292-4848
         Fax: 432-292-4849
         E-mail: info@shumla.org

This year should prove to be an exciting year at Shumla as the school begins fundraising to build a bookroom for research and study and 12 bungalows to house overnight guests.  This year's educational program includes exploring the food and medicinal plants of the region, flintknapping and lithic analysis (the study of stone tools), tours to rock art sites, and much, much more.  So if you're in the mood for a real Texas education adventure, visit Shumla and see what outdoor learning is really all about.