Kayaking

Every summer I work at a summer learning/enrichment program in South Dallas called Circle of Support Girl S.M.A.R.T. and Boy S.M.A.R.T. I teach 5th and 6th grade girls Reading and this summer I also taught a writing enrichment class in the afternoons. Circle of Support also partners with lots of other community organizations to bring a wide variety of enrichment opportunities to the kids. One of those partnerships is with the Dallas Arboretum. Every year we take the sixth grade girls to do a week long nature and science camp there. The highlight of the week each year is the day we go kayaking on White Rock Lake. I always think this is such a fun day. Most of the girls are nervous and unwilling beforehand but two minutes on the water and they are loving it. It can be a little challenging for some to figure out the whole "steering" concept but we always make it across the lake and back. We go across one way, stop and eat lunch, then paddle back to where we started. Sometimes I don't even think the girls completely appreciate what they've just done, but I'm always proud of them that they accomplished something I'm pretty sure they've never thought about doing in their lives. Sometimes education is so much more than the academic content we teach in classrooms. Sometimes the best education we can give kids is just new and unique experiences. Experiences that take them outside their "boxes", expose them to new things and activities and people, and help them realize just how much is out there. Experiences that challenge them to stretch themselves and do more than they expect of themselves. Experiences that give them a thirst for learning and trying new things. Even if they never kayak again, I hope that they remember this day the next time they are presented with something new and challenging and feel more confident and eager to dive in and try it.

I personally enjoy kayaking a lot and could probably even enjoy it as a hobby if I had somewhere to store a kayak and some way to haul it around! ;-) Here are some pics of our fun day in the 106 degree heat on White Rock Lake.