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 Mescalero Apache, Ray Olachia, artist/archeologist Dr. Carolyn Boyd, educator Missy Harrington, and National Park Ranger Lisa Evans.
Activities
Comstock ISD 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, and 8th graders had their day at SHUMLA on February 24th. The 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 5th grade students began with a storytelling program presented by Ray Olachia, Mescalero Apache. He also discussed Native American lifeways and demonstrated flint knapping, bow and arrow shooting, and atlatl throwing. Following Ray's program, the children were led by Missy Harrington in an art project to illustrate one of the stories they learned from Ray. Then, after a brief discussion on how Indians made paint and what they painted on, the students hunted for small flat rocks to use as painted pebbles—much like the Indians did thousands of years ago. Dr. Boyd had the students paint symbols from the story that meant the most to them. She taught the children how people in the past remembered important information and how they passed that information along to their children. Hikes and making twine bracelets rounded out their day.
The 8th graders participated in a Human Survival and Adaptation program. Students learned how archeologists study the diet of prehistoric Indians and the experiments they have conducted to replicate the way food was processed. Dr. Boyd taught students about some of the local plants that were used as a medicine and others that are toxic to humans. Students hiked into the canyon to explore an ancient rock art site and habitation shelter. Ray Olachia talked with the students about the importance of protecting and respecting archeological sites.
In addition, students received an excellent presentation by Education Specialist Lisa Evans from the National Park Service on prehistory of the region and local geology. Ms. Evans program included hands-on experiments exploring chemical and physical weathering, as well as sedimentation and deposition, to help the students better understand the landforms of the area. Cost
This program was underwritten by a Texas Parks and Wildlife Community Outdoor Outreach Program grant and gifts to SHUMLA from individual donations.
Information
For more information contact the education division at education@shumla.org or call the office at
432-292-4848. |
