Northwest Forest Pass debuts in Sisters

Sixth grade students from Sisters Elementary School spent most of last week in the woods learning about nature -- and about themselves.

The site for the special outdoor school was Camp Tamarack, in the heart of Deschutes National Forest west of Sisters.

Carol Packard, sixth grade teacher at Sisters Elementary, coordinated the program that teaches youngsters about the natural world in a format that combines fun with a memorable outdoor experience.

Packard praised the high school seniors who served as volunteer camp counselors and gave them much of the credit for the school's success.

Karen Mansker, who volunteered her time as a nurse, agreed.

"The counselors were great role models," she said. "My kids plan to become counselors themselves."

Packard said all counselors were Sisters High School seniors, hand-picked for their citizenship and leadership abilities.

Ashley Reed was one counselor, who also brought Red Cross credentials in CPR, first aid and lifeguarding to the camp.

"We love our kids," said Reed, "and it's been a lot of fun for us, too."

Everyone agreed that the camp was fun, but it was also hard work. More than one camper looked a little tired as the week drew to a close. Counselor Anna Summerfield acknowledged that she hadn't had much sleep since arriving at the camp.

"We've had illnesses, sleepwalkers, and some of the kids get scared," she said. "So I've been up all night with the kids."

Ghost stories told around the campfire were blamed for some of the sleeplessness among the younger campers.

Nighttime kayak excursions and impromptu "hypothermia education" in the 38-degree water also took a toll.

The sixth graders were treated to a full schedule that started with a 6:15 a.m. "Early Bird Hike" and ended with "Lights Out" at 9:30 p.m. Students were exposed to a steady diet of ecology and outdoor recreation.

The ecology curriculum highlighted energy, community, eco-diversity, life cycles, interrelationships, change and adaptation. Some specific class topics included camp-keeping, fire building, tree studies, watersheds, pond studies and animal tracking.

Counselor Carrie Emrich also praised the music program put on by Brad Tisdel.

"He talks about rhythm and how music is important in your life," said Emrich. "Then we all get out there and jam. It sounds like a whole African village, or something. The kids really shine; he draws them out"

Eli Pyke spoke of leading the sixth graders on excursions through the woods.

"We call it a 'romp,' he said. "We get the kids out in the woods, up and down the hills, jumping off stumps....it's a good time."

As a supplement to academic classes and activities, the students also learned about camp responsibilities.

Each camper was assigned chores that included (kitchen work, table setting, firewood hauling, camp cleaning and flag ceremonies.

Packard took the opportunity to share some of her personal outdoor and canoeing skills. Following her lead, hoards of life-jacketed children took to the waters of Dark Lake.

In one of their more entertaining maneuvers, the sixth graders paddled around in SOAR rafts, performing something they described as "raft ballet."

On the last night of the camp, a candlelight ceremony wrapped things up.

"It's an opportunity for each of the campers to tell what they'll take home with them in their hearts," said Packard.

"Everybody cries," she added, "and everybody takes something home. It's great to see the kids willing to get up in front of a group like that. For many, it's something they've never done; and it's all because they see the older kids doing it."

Packard pointed out that the high school volunteers miss a week of classes and have to make up all their work.

"Everybody should be a counselor," said Greg Garretson of SOAR.

He suggested that future counselors "should bring plenty of extra clothes, shoes, hair gel and patience."

The camp counselors included Ryan Geser, Luke Siele, Matt Adams, Nathan Livsey, Josh Stevens, Adam Guggenheim, Jered Coffield, Jocelyn Evered, Molly Johnson, Cori Rapp, Karissa Wellman, plus Reed, Summerfield, Emrich and Pyke.