Pecos Adventure Camp
Big Springs Ranch for Children, Leaky, Texas
March 12–17, 2004

Location
The Pecos Adventure Camp activities were held on the SHUMLA campus and on the Shumla Ranch, 50 miles west of Del Rio, Texas. Additional activities took place at Lake Amistad, Seminole Canyon State Historical Park, and Galloway Preserve.

Instructors
SHUMLA instructors included Mescalero Apache Ray Olachia, artist/archeologist Dr. Carolyn Boyd, educator Missy Harrington, rancher Jack Harrington, National Park Service Education Specialist Lisa Evans, National Park Service Rangers Little and Treviño, National Park Service intern Vanessa Sanchez, and Tipi Tellers Shelby Smith and Tsagoi.

Activities
Students from the Big Springs Ranch for Children, a foster-care facility near Leaky, came to SHUMLA for a Pecos Adventure Camp over Spring Break. The eleven students and six adults experienced a memorable five days.

Activities included hikes to Mountain Laurel Shelter on the Shumla Ranch property, White Shaman shelter on the Galloway Preserve, and an Upper Canyon tour at Seminole Canyon State Historical Park as well as a trip to Fate Bell Shelter.

Ray Olachia, Mescalero Apache, related stories and taught the students about personal responsibilities. He also led the children in hands-on activities such as making baskets, flintknapping, leatherwork, and more, and taught them about Native American lifeways.

Tipi Tellers Shelby Smith and Tsagoi told stories throughout the week which introduced new perspectives from which the children could approach life. With instruction from Shelby and Tsagoi, the students had the exciting experience of erecting a tipi.

The National Park Service provided a houseboat trip on Lake Amistad. The tour included the area around Amistad Dam and a cruise up the Devils River arm of the lake. While on the boat, National Park Service Education Specialist Lisa Evans provided a survey of the prehistory of the region and a discussion of the local geology. Ms. Evans included hands-on experiments exploring chemical and physical weathering, as well as sedimentation and deposition. Students also learned about local wildlife and enjoyed seeing a rookery for the great blue heron.

Evening activities included music—provided by State District Judge Tom Lee—and singing, a supper of bison burgers, S'mores as a late-night snack, and a final closing ceremony.

Students, adults, and SHUMLA staff all had a wonderful time and learned from each other.

Cost
This program was underwritten by a Texas Parks and Wildlife Community Outdoor Outreach Program grant and gifts to the Shumla School from individual donations.

Information
For more information about setting up an adventure program for your school, contact the education division at education@shumla.org or call the SHUMLA office (432-292-4848).