Location
The Pecos Day Camp activities were held on the SHUMLA campus and on the Shumla Ranch, 50 miles west of Del Rio, Texas.
Instructors
SHUMLA instructors included artist/archeologist
Dr. Carolyn Boyd, specialist in Native American lifeways Tonda Harrup, outdoor education specialist Neal Stilley, archeologist/botanist Dr. Phil Dering, artist and renowned flintknapper Steve Norman, rancher Jack Harrington, educator Missy Harrington and volunteer artisan Brenda Norman.
Activities
On February 11, 2005, eighty-eight 5th grade gifted-and-talented program students and their teachers from elementary schools in the San Felipe-Del Rio CISD from Del Rio, Texas attended a full-day Shumla Survivors program at the SHUMLA campus. Using archeology as a foundation for teaching math and science skills, SHUMLA provided hands-on opportunities for enhancing classroom lessons. Students were divided into five groups, the Bear Clan, the Deer Clan, the Hawk Clan, the Wolf Clan and the Panther Clan. Upon their arrival at SHUMLA each clan was directed to its first station to begin a rotation of lessons and demonstrations. These stations included:
- Paint Making Experiment: Dr. Carolyn Boyd led students in a hands-on experiment replicating prehistoric paint making and discussed how art was used in prehistory to communicate information necessary for survival.
- Stone Tools: Steve Norman demonstrated for students flint knapping techniques used by early hunters.
- Native American Lifeways: Tonda Harrup showcased Native American tools, baskets, gourds, and furs, and discussed how different tribes adapted them for their particular cultures. She invited students to inspect her own personal lodging facilities for the week she spent at Shumla....her tipi.
- Lechugilla—Food and Fiber: Brenda Norman showed cordage techniques to students and directed the students' efforts to produce their own lechugilla bracelets and necklaces.
- May the Force be with You, The Atlatl Advantage: Jack and Missy Harrington directed students in the use of the atlatl for spear throwing and students calculated their distances.
- The Adaptation Station: Dr. Phil Dering instructed students in plant adaptations and the techniques that Native Americans used for processing them for food and fiber.
- Friction Fire Starting: Neal Stilley used primitive fire starting techniques to teach about energy forms and transfer of energy.
Volunteers
Programs at SHUMLA are made possible through the help of our volunteers. This program's volunteer leaders were Al and Nancy Morgan, Sally Finkelstein, and Terry Burgess. Approximately 30 college students, education majors from Dr. Fernando Quiz's classes, also spent the day at Shumla and were always willing to lend a helping hand.
Cost
This program was underwritten by a gift to SHUMLA from the Westex Corporation, Del Rio Bank and Trust of Del Rio, Texas. Additional funding was made available through the Title V Program administered by Sul Ross State University — Rio Grande College in Del Rio.
Information
For more information contact the education division at education@shumla.org or call the office at
432-292-4848. |
