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.

Coming Soon....Madison Kate Curtis!

This weekend I went to Sulphur Springs to visit my BFF Rachel (Henderson) Curtis. She and Braughn moved to SS about two years ago and I think I have only visited once! I realize that is pathetic on my part, but I will soon have a reason to visit more often! Braughn and Rachel are expecting their first baby girl within the next month or so and today was their shower at their church. I really enjoyed spending the night, catching up with both the Curtis's and Rachel's parents, and getting excited about Madison! Rachel and Braughn will be amazing parents and I'm thrilled for them.

So stay tuned...hopefully I will have pictures to post of Miss Madison before too long!

Game Night at Janet's

Last weekend, Janet hosted a game night at her house for all the former University of Values teen workers or teens who have been associated with various Central Dallas programs that are now in college. Most of us have not seen in each other in awhile and Janet thought it would be good for the college students to re-connect and have each other to encourage each other and support each other on the mountain to college graduation. I didn't know that there was going to be delicious Mexican food like quesadillas and GUACAMOLE! Janet made some of the best guacamole I have ever had. I could not stop raving about it! :-)

However, while waiting on the others to finish eating, I started reading a book on Janet's shelf called "Tulia." This peaked my interest since Tulia, Texas is in our neck of the woods in the Panhandle. I got sucked into this book and could not put it down all week. It was all about a legal battle that took place back in the late 90's and early 2000's. One spring morning back in 1999, the Swisher County sheriff's office arrested 47 people for selling powder cocaine. Almost all of the arrested were black. The arrests were made on the testimony of an undercover narc. The whole thing was suspicious from the start for several reasons....first of all, the population of Tulia is less than 5,000 people and if 50 people were selling cocaine, who were they selling it to? Secondly, the fact that they did not find any drugs whatsoever in any of the defendent's homes when they were arrested sent up some flags. Thirdly, the fact that mostly African-Americans seemed to be targeted was another concern. Come to find out, the undercover cop had absolutely no evidence other than his word and he had completely fabricated many of his reports. However, the trials that followed were insane and many of those arrested were sentenced for huge amounts of time, even up to 361 years! The book was all about the legal struggle that followed to get these people appeals and a fair and just trial...and believe me, it was a struggle. It was a sobering look into our state's justice system and to many of the prejudices that are still all too real in many parts of our world.

Anyways, here are some pics of the game night, although I was on the couch reading this book and not participating in the fun!

Around Town This Summer...

So I've been meaning to post for awhile about some of the interesting field trips I've been able to go on with the kids this summer at Circle of Support. Most of these were in June, so I'm only a month behind!

One of the first trips we went on was to the House of Blues in downtown Dallas. They did a special presentation for kids on June 19th (Juneteenth) about the history of African-American folk music and art and the impact that blues music has had on many other genres. It was called the "Blues Schoolhouse" and it was very well put together, especially the musical history by the band. It really made me want to go back to the House of Blues for a concert or a meal sometime. Very culturally rich enviroment.

One Wednesday afternoon we loaded up the bus and headed to far west Ft. Worth to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing where our country's currency is printed! Currency is only made in two places in the United States...Ft. Worth and Washington D.C. We had to go through some pretty tight security to enter the facility and then a tour guide walked us through the entire building and showed us all the money in the process of being printed. It was pretty amazing to see literally millions of dollars before your very eyes! The kids weren't too impressed with this field trip, but I thought it was interesting.

Another week we visited the Old Red Museum in downtown Dallas. This is the former Old Red Courthouse that has been recently renovated into a museum about the history of Dallas Co. The girls participated in a program about the history of toys and games and how they've changed over the years and then created their own Mr. Potato Heads out of real potatoes, like the original toys. However, the displays in this museum were great and I could have definitely spent more time perusing them. Now that I've lived in Dallas for awhile, the history is a little more meaningful and fascinating to me. I would definitely recommend this museum to any visiting guests who like this kind of thing!

Then of course we have our regular Friday field trips that are more entertainment based and have inlcuded visits to Incredible Pizza, Amazing Jakes, Hawaiaan Falls, and roller skating so far...I'm not as big a fan of these field trips, but the kids do have fun.

Next week we will be taking the sixth graders to the Dallas Arboretum Camp. I always enjoy this trip every year. They learn a little about nature, make birdhouses, create journals, and also have a kayaking day in which we learn to kayak on White Rock Lake...it was a lot of fun last year, so looking forward to that for the upcoming week, alhtough not eager to be in the 105 degree weather.

I also took a trip to Charlotte, North Carolina over the Fourth of July holiday, so my next post will be "Out of Town This Summer!"