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Ready for a day of fun and learning at SHUMLA.

Students, teachers, and parents arrive, excited about a day of fun and learning at SHUMLA School.

Missy Harrington (center) leads students on a nature hike.

Learing to throw a spear using an atlatl.

SHUMLA board member Kim Cox helps a student use an atlatl to throw a spear. Nathan Martinez (right) looks on as do other board members (under the shade structure).

Neal Stilley (center back) discusses friction fire starting while SHUMLA Executive Director Dr. Carolyn Boyd (right) listens attentively.

Shannon Garard (center back) explains how to make paint using local ingredients similar to that made by Native Americans.

Learning about making things from plant fibers.

Brenda Norman (left back) explains how fibers are removed from plant leaves and how those fibers are used to make many useful items such as mats, sandals, nets, and baskets.

Learninga about plants adaptations to the environment.

Missy Harrington (front right) discusses how local plants and animals have adapted to the local environment.

Jack Harrington (center left) demonstrates how to hook a spear into an atlatl. Atlatls extend a person's reach, therefore increasing the distance and force the spear can be thrown.

Visiting dignitaries from Mexico learn about flintknapping.

Steve Norman explains to visiting dignitaries from Mexico how tools are knapped from stone. Flintknapping was a critical technology used by prehistoric cultures.

During their nature walk, students must answer questions asked by the instructor—here Missy Harrington—and those posed in their workbooks.

KEY-Project Program:
Scientists of the Lower Pecos
May 4, 2007

Location
Scientists of the Lower Pecos activities were held at the SHUMLA campus at Shumla Ranch, 50 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 renowned flintknapper Steve Norman, artist and historical craftsman Brenda Norman, primitive technologists Neal Stilley and Nathan Martinez, rancher Jack Harrington, SHUMLA School Curriculum Director Missy Harrington, and NPS intern Shannon Garard.

Activities
On May 4, 2007, 93 students from both the 4^th grade class at East Side Elementary School and St. James Episcopal School in Del Rio, Texas, along with 8 teachers and parents, attended a full-day Scientists of the Lower Pecos KEY-Project program at the SHUMLA campus. Using archeology and primitive technology as a foundation for teaching math and science skills, SHUMLA and National Parks representatives provided hands-on opportunities for enhancing classroom lessons. Students were divided into five groups: the Bear Clan, Deer Clan, Ringtail Clan, Wolf Clan, and Panther Clan. Upon their arrival at the SHUMLA campus each clan was directed to its first station and began a rotation of lessons and demonstrations. These stations included:

Paint Making Experiment: Shannon Garard led students in a hands-on experiment replicating prehistoric paint making and discussed how prehistoric art was used to communicate information necessary for survival.
May the Force be with You, The Atlatl Advantage: Jack Harrington and Nathan Martinez directed students in the use of the atlatl for spear throwing and students calculated the distances of the throws.
The Adaptation Station: Missy Harrington instructed students about the nature of plant and animal adaptations. Students matched desert plant descriptions and adaptations with photographs in their workbooks as they discovered them on a nature walk.
Friction Fire Starting: Neal Stilley used primitive fire starting techniques to teach about energy forms and transfer of energy.
Primitive Technology: Steve Norman demonstrated flintknapping techniques used by early hunters. Brenda Norman showed prehistoric techniques for making cordage, sandals, and baskets.

Volunteers
Programs at SHUMLA are made possible through the help of our volunteers. This program's volunteers were Jodi Wiese; Elaine Flinchum; Bud Fackelman; Roberta, Daniel, and Marco Rivera; Jo Ann Harris; Kim Cox; Mark Jones; and Kathleen Burgess.

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

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