SHUMLA's KEY Program Enriching

By Jennifer Killin
Staff Writer, Del Rio News-Herald

Reprinted with permission of the Del Rio News-Herald
Published September 11, 2007

Hundreds of Del Rio students have learned through the hands-on approach at SHUMLA School and that's a trend SHUMLA director Dr. Carolyn Boyd hopes will continue.

The school, located 50 miles west of Del Rio, assists local school children in the third, fourth, and fifth grades with science objectives through rigorous teachings in the field.

The curriculum, which focuses on science and local history, is created through cooperation between SHUMLA, the National Park Service, the Amistad National Recreation Area, and the Seminole Canyon State Park and Historic Site.

"It was really about coming together, we had a program and they had a program so I thought why not come together," said Boyd.

Several area businesses and the public school district also play a large role in the program, aptly titled Knowledge Enriching Youth or KEY for short.

Though the school has been operating since 1998, Boyd said this is the first year so many groups have come together to support the program.

The San Felipe Del Rio Consolidated Independent School District is the biggest beneficiary of the program, sending hundreds of students on KEY trips annually.

"This district is very forward-thinking," said Boyd Monday, adding that the district's outlook on the program not only focuses on students, but also on teachers." (The district) really wants to empower their teachers…and they are going to extreme lengths to do that."

Boyd notes the KEY Teachers program, in which KEY instructors take area teachers through the hands-on training that students will receive later in the year.

Boyd said this enables the classroom teacher to join in the instruction in the field, keeping familiarity for the students and translating into objectives that can be modified for classroom use for the teachers.

What are children learning with KEY? A program outline.

• Third grade — Seminole Canyon Explorers: students travel to Seminole Canyon State Park and Historic Site for a full day of educational activities led by SHUMLA School instructors and park staff, including a hike into Seminole Canyon to view and learn about Indian paintings produced thousands of years ago.

At Seminole Canyon, students engage in problem-solving activities, conduct a mini research project and study the geology of Seminole Canyon.

• Fourth grade — Scientists of the Lower Pecos: Students travel to Shumla to participate in hands-on activities led by SHUMLA instructors and KEY teachers.

All activities teach science within the framework of environmental and heritage education. For example, students conduct an experiment replicating prehistoric paint making during which they learn about the scientific method, hypothesis formulation, and reporting conclusions.

Through activities that explore how their ancestors started fire, using friction students learn about kinetic, potential, and thermal energy and the transfer of energy. Students also learn about wind and water erosion, gravity, inertia, laws of motion and velocity through other hands-on activities.

• Fifth grade — Lessons on the Lake: Students board a houseboat provided by Forever Resorts for a program conducted on Lake Amistad by the National Park Service, the SHUMLA School and KEY Teachers.

Lessons on the lake engages students and teachers in scientific research testing water quality of Lake Amistad.

Boyd said such programs are available because of donations from the community and grants monies.

The Bank and Trust donated $30,000 to the program, the school district pitched in $35,000 and Martha Mendoza, owner/operator of McDonalds, added another $5,000 to the program and will be assisting SHUMLA in securing more grant money.