Students explore cultures, careers

Kevin Blueback describes his work at Warm Springs fish hatchery to a rapt audience. Photo by Conrad Weiler

Yellow school busses rolled into Smith Rock State Park last Tuesday morning for the fourth annual Career and Culture Day for Central Oregon fourth graders.

Brad Tisdel and his musicians played a lively beat while event organizer Cindy Glick, with Deschutes National Forest Headquarters in Bend, danced and welcomed the youngsters off the busses.

Career and Culture Day helps focus on various environmental and outdoor jobs that will be available in the students' futures.

The morning chill helped motivate this large group to participate in warm-up circle games. Children from Sisters, Madras, and Westside elementary schools joined together for these activities.

Teachers Kathy Kemper-Green, Diane Jacobsen and Clay Warburton and their students represented Sisters Elementary School.

After the warm-up ice- breaking games, it was down the steep trail into the canyon. Magnificent welded tuff rock walled one side of the Crooked River as students, teachers and guides made their way down to the canyon floor.

Here the four teams of Blue Bats, Green Frogs, Orange Otters and Red Ravens visited different stations set up along and near the river to learn about culture, earth science, ecology and water-based topics.

Paul Patton, from Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, shared information and examples of fossils found in this area with excited students.

Kevin Blueback, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Department specialist, described his work at the Warm Springs fish hatchery and shared his knowledge about fish with the youngsters.

At another station, Robin (Lee) Gyorgyfalvy, landscape architect, was discussing the ecology of this area. She has two books on "Legends of Hawaiian Forests and Waters" that are used in Hawaiian public schools.

Karla Ksenzulak of the Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District presented fire prevention information about Central Oregon to the interested young students.

Fourth graders learned about eagles, hawks and owls from wildlife biologist Rick Gerhardt. Students really enjoyed 'hands-on' learning with materials gathered from bird habitats.

Many others took part in the day's activities including Kaleb Hunkele and Matt Krueger from Americorps, Jack Scruggs of COCC, Josh Boudray representing the High Desert Museum and Kit Stafford, Dance and Movement specialist..She helped the musicians and students to exercise at her station.