Seekey: There is much discussion within the education community regarding connecting school (or camp) to home life. It has been shown that children learn best when the significant adults in their lives—parents, other family members, community members, and teachers—work together to encourage and support them.¹

To create a connection between camp and home, I prepared and printed questions (in English and Spanish) relating to each day’s activities and then handed the questions to the guardians upon pick-up. The guardians stated that the questions led to deeper conversations between them and their children.

I wanted to continue that connection. The event’s goal was to provide another opportunity to connect summer camp to home.

What benefit was there to the students to get back together after their adventure camp experience last year?

Seekey: The benefit was to provide campers with an opportunity to explain to and participate in camp activities with their guardians, thereby reinforcing the information they learned during the summer camp, bonding with their guardians, and reigniting the spark of curiosity and excitement they had during camp.

What value do you find in providing young people with outdoor education?

Seekey: Outdoor environmental education is so crucial for our future. People care for, appreciate, and work to preserve what they know and love. If children are not introduced to open spaces, they will not work to protect them in the future. I hope that the joyful memories of camp will inspire the children to have an:

• • • Increased appreciation and respect for the natural environment;
    • Increase camper and family confidence so that they can enjoy open spaces on their own;
    • Increase interest in careers in environmental science; and a
    • A lifelong commitment to the preservation of open space areas.

What were your favorite part of the event and last year’s adventure camp?  

Seekey: My favorite part of any camp or outdoor class is watching their excitement and wonder bubble up when I show a taxidermy specimen, an animal skull, the creek, or other phenomena to children. I love when several kids start bombarding me with questions showing their excitement, wonder, and curiosity. I think the best statement of camp last year was when a camper said that camp “was better than Disneyland!” My heart filled with so much joy and happiness.

What else should we know about the event?

Seekey: We had about 40 people show up. At the event, I showcased Marvin Valverde and some of his insect collection, taxidermic animals on loan from the San Diego Natural History Museum, animal skulls, the trash timeline, bird beak activities, and books from summer camp. Finally, the children could make seed balls and do some art to take home.

Seekey is earning a certification in Environmental and Outdoor Education through the Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education.

Sign up for Adventure Camp 2022

To sign your student up for The Escondido Creek Conservancy Summer 2022 Adventure Camp contact:

Education Director Simon Breen:

¹: Comer, James P. “The Home-School Team: An Emphasis on Parent Involvement.” Edutopia, George Lucas Educational Foundation, 1 July 1997, https://www.edutopia.org/home-school-team.