Pecos Adventure Camp
Judson Montessori School,
San Antonio, Texas
November 6–10, 2006

Location
The Pecos Adventure Camp activities were held at the SHUMLA outdoor campus 50 miles west of Del Rio, Texas.  Additional activities took place on the Shumla Ranch, at Galloway/White Shaman preserve, Mile Canyon, Bonfire Shelter, Skiles Shelter, Eagle Cave, and Painted Canyon.

Instructors/Volunteers
SHUMLA instructors included artist/archeologist
Dr. Carolyn Boyd, archeologist Elton Prewitt, master naturalist Craig Hensley, ceramic artist Kathleen Burgess, retired science teacher Missy Harrington, anthropologist Angel Johnson, primitive technologist Nathan Martinez, artisan/flintknapper Steve Norman, artisan/cordage maker Brenda Norman, and storyteller Mike Parker. Rancher Jack Harrington took pictures during the week.

Activities
On Monday, November 6, 2006, twenty-five students, with nine faculty and parent volunteers from Judson Montessori School in San Antonio, Texas arrived for a 4-day desert "experience of a lifetime."  This group of adventurous students embraced the desert through hikes, music, pictures, and stories.

Tuesday began with a tour of Mile Canyon lead by archeologist Elton Prewitt. He took the group to Skiles Shelter, Bonfire Shelter, the plunge-pool below the pour-off at the head of the canyon, and Eagle Cave.  During this hike Elton discussed the local archeology, rock art, history, geology, botany, zoology, and some engineering.  Lunch was back at the SHUMLA campus followed by an afternoon of activities with Steve Norman and Brenda Norman. Steve demonstrated the manufacture of stone tools and how prehistoric brush structures were constructed; and Brenda explained how fibers were extracted from plants and used to make baskets, mats, sandals, many objects needed for survival in this environment. After dinner local storyteller Mike Parker provided many stories of local history.  This was followed by more astronomy with Craig Hensley.

Wednesday was another day of exciting activities.  First was a visit to Painted Shelter, with Kathleen Burgess and Craig Hensley, learning about the rock art there and seeing the ruins of a historic ranch house located on the way to the shelter.  This was followed by a trip to Fossil Hill with Craig.  Here students were able to hunt for fossils and explore the area.  After returning to campus, Craig and Nathan Martinez demonstrated the mechanics of erosion using a stream table.  This device mimics the processes that form canyons.  Following this activity, Missy Harrington presented students with an introduction to a smaller world using stereoscopes to examine various objects.  This accompanied a discussion of adaptation and how animal, plants, and people altered to the environment for survival.  Craig Hensley took everyone stargazing after dinner.

Thursday was filled with a variety of experiences.  It began with a tour of White Shaman Shelter lead by Kathleen Burgess.  Here she discussed the spectacular rock art at that shelter and also discussed the difference between pictographs and petroglyphs. On returning to the SHUMLA campus, Angel Johnson taught students how to manufacture paint with ingredients like those used by prehistoric Native Americans to create the local rock art.  Nathan Martinez then discussed how music can be used for communication and demonstrated various primitive musical instruments.  Later Craig took students for another hike with further identification of local plants, insects, and animals. The day was ended with a campfire where Nathan and students joined in a jam session using various instruments provided by SHUMLA.

Friday was a time of packing and goodbyes.  Before departing, Craig and Nathan involved the students in a Jeopardy-type game, going over much of the information they had been given over the last week.  After an involving week of adventure the students began the trip back to San Antonio.

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

Evaluation comments from students:

"During my visit to Shumla, I liked learning about 'Rock Art' because when you are in a rock shelter, you can just imagine who was standing right there 4000 years ago."

"The thing I enjoyed MOST about Shumla was Astronomy because I LOVE learning about what is far away."

"During my visit to Shumla, I liked learning about fossils, stars and animals because they give you helpful info and they're fun."

Teacher's comment:

"Best hands on activities and experiences I have ever seen."

To the question: "What did you like best about this program?"

"Hands on learning. They had read about many of the things, but it finally came together for many of them."

To the question: "Would you recommend this experience?"

"Yes! Best we have seen and we have seen many."