KEY-Project Program:
Seminole Canyon Explorers
March 2, 2007

Location
Seminole Canyon Explorers activities were held at Seminole Canyon State Park and Historic Site, 40 miles west of Del Rio, Texas. Part of the Knowledge Enriching Youth (KEY) Project, this program is one portion of a educational partnership between SHUMLA; the Amistad National Recreation Area, National Park Service; and Seminole Canyon State Park and Historic Site, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

Instructors
SHUMLA instructors included Education Director Craig Hensley, Program Director Kathleen Burgess, Curriculum Director Missy Harrington, primitive technologist Neal Stilley, Seminole Canyon Park Ranger Jack Johnson, NPS Education Specialist Lisa Evans, and Nathan Martinez.

Activities
On March 2, 2007, 48 6^th graders and five teachers/parents from San Felipe Memorial Middle School in Del Rio, Texas, attended a full-day Seminole Canyon Explorers Day Camp at Seminole Canyon State Park and Historic Site. Using archeology as a foundation for teaching math and science skills, this program provided hands-on opportunities for enhancing classroom lessons. Students were divided into four groups: the Bear Clan, Deer Clan, Ringtail Clan, and Panther Clan. Upon their arrival at the Park, each clan was directed to its first station to begin a rotation of lessons and demonstrations. These stations included:

• Walk through the Past/Art that Speaks: Kathleen Burgess and Jack Johnson led the students through the exhibits at the visitors' center museum and had them search for answers to specific questions about the exhibits. They then led their groups through Fate Bell Shelter. The students analyzed the rock art and completed a ratio exercise to determine what color was used most frequently in the rock art.
• Touch Me Nots: Lisa Evans and Missy Harrington explored desert plant and animal adaptations with the students. A hike along the Windmill Trail afforded students the opportunity to identify desert plants and to decide how the Lower Pecos people used them in the past in a Plant Scavenger Hunt.
• Primitive Technology: Neal Stilley compared primitive technology to that of modern technology. The students had the opportunity to show off their primitive skills by using the atlatl to throw darts.
• Geology Rocks: Nathan Martinez introduced earth science concepts to the students using a stream table. Students also studied a timeline of geologic eras.

Volunteers
Programs at SHUMLA are made possible through the help of our volunteers. This program's volunteer was rancher Jack Harrington.

Cost
This program was underwritten by a grant to SHUMLA from Anonymous Donors and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Community Outreach Program.

Information
For more information contact the education division at education@shumla.org or call the office at
432-292-4848.

Evaluation comments from students:

"Today was a great day because we got to go inside where the people from the past lived."

"Today was totally Awesome!!! because of all the history and why it matters."

"Today was AWESOME!! because we learned a lot of new things."

"Today was exciting because I got smarter."

"Today was the best day of my life because I learned things I've never seen before."

Teachers' comments:

Q: Was today a good learning experience for your students?

"Guides were very knowledgeable and very friendly."

"Wonderful hands-on experience!"

"They were engaged the whole time."

"Always a treat to come out here!"

"Great learning experience for students as well as teacher."

Q: Did today's activities connect with or enrich your classroom curriculum?

"Presentations tied into curriculum to give students a hands-on experience."

Q: What was the best part of today's activities?

"Kids loved learning about erosion on the stream table."

"The canyons."

"The kids learned a lot!"

Q: Would you recommend this program to other?

"Yes."

"Definitely!!"