Earth, Water, Sky Summer Science Camp

Earth, Water, Sky Summer Science Camp Dates: June 26-29, 2012 Group Size: Minimum Participants: 15 Maximum: 25 3 Nights/4 Days: Starting and Ending in Bluff, Utah Co-Sponsor: Canyon Country Discovery Center and Clark Planetarium
Description of Summer CampThrough 3.5 days of group involvement, hands-on teamwork, peer-to-peer learning sessions, and use of expert staff, FCS and Clark Planetarium will provide opportunities for student’s age 12-18 from throughout the state of Utah to learn about astronomy, the night sky, geology, desert rivers, and much more. They will learn while floating the San Juan River in southeastern Utah through one of the most inspirational and classic settings possible for learning about the geologic, astronomical, natural and cultural history of the area.  The San Juan River is an erosional giant cutting a meandering course through hundreds of millions of years of exposed sandstone and limestone layers, and carrying an unbelievable load of silt. During the day, participants will actively take part in hands-on activities that have been extensively used in outdoor programs in the U.S. to increase people’s understanding of concepts that are traditionally cognitively difficult to understand using only verbal or verbal/linguistic means. At night, students will learn about prominent stars, planets, constellations, and look through a powerful telescope at Venus, Mars, Saturn and it’s moons, as well as a waxing crescent Moon, and deep-sky objects not visible near cities. This camp requires the ability to hike up to 3 miles round-trip over moderate terrain, camp, and enjoy group-learning experiences.   Program Features Float 26 Incredibly Scenic Miles of the San Juan River  Enjoy Easy Class I - III Rapids, water play, and overnight camping Learn through hands-on play, exploration, and outdoor experiential activities Visit geologic formations, ancient ruins, rock art panels of Ancestral Puebloan people  Study the night sky in the backcountry with no light pollution Participate in group activities to increase understanding of astronomical and geologic concepts
DAILY ITINERARY

• Day 1: June 26- Arrive at Bluff, UT by 1pm and camp at Sand Island. River guides will meet you and provide afternoon activities and then dinner. 
• Day 2: June 27- Launch on the river. Float on downriver visiting geologic outcrops, rock art, and ruins sites along the way.  Learn about the natural and cultural history of San Juan River by participating in hands-on activities. Visit rock art and ruins during the day and study geology. Enjoy a telescopic view of the Sun during the day and Jupiter, Saturn, nebulae, and star clusters by night.
• Day 3: June 28- Travel downriver, day hike to an exposed extinct volcano, float through rapids, and enjoy the beauty of the surrounding canyon.  Evening programs will focus on stars, constellations, bugs, bats, and other river animals.  Participants will learn the basics of telescope use while looking for differences in the positions of Jupiter’s moons from the previous night.
• Day 4-June 29-Enjoy a final day floating on the river, study fossils in limestone outcrops, and swim.  Program ends in Mexican Hat with a drive back to Bluff by 4 PM. 

Education Experts will include:

• 1. Tamsin McCormick-Dr. Tamsin McCormick has been a Moab resident for ten years.  Born and raised in Zimbabwe, she came to the US in 1977 to pursue graduate studies at the University of New Mexico and Arizona State University.  She received a Ph.D. in Geology from ASU in 1984, with primary research interests in mineralogy/crystallography and volcanology. She was Research faculty in Geology at the University of Colorado, Boulder, until 1994.  She also served for several years on the Geological Society of America Technical Program Committee and as Associate Editor of American Mineralogist. A professional river guide, scientist and educator, she has taught numerous field-based college courses and led middle and high school educational programs in natural resources since 1994 and conducted trainings in geology for the National Park Service and Colorado Plateau River Guides since 1999.  She has been Adjunct Faculty in the College of Natural Resources at Utah State University since 1996.
• 2. Jesse Warner-Jesse Warner is an Education Outreach Specialist at the Clark Planetarium. With a combined total of 17 years between the old Hansen Planetarium and the new Clark Planetarium, he has experience performing science demonstrations to a diverse population of Pre-school and Kindergarten to High School level students. With the creation of the new Clark Planetarium, Mr. Warner helped develop and train a new staff of knowledgeable customer service agents. He is fascinated by all aspects of science with strong interests and knowledge of ancient astronomy and space exploration and has been an avid amateur astronomer for more than 10 years.
• 3. Jamie Carling-Has a Bachelors degree in Science Composite teaching and in Biology with an emphasis in Biodiversity and Ecology.  She has taught grades 6th-8th for five years in Meeker, Colorado. The last three years have been spent teaching science part-time to 7th -12th graders at Monticello High School.  She enjoys getting students out into nature and is the adviser of the Outdoor Club in Monticello.  Her favorite aspect of teaching is hands-on labs where students get a chance to interact with each other and their environment.
• 4. FCS Guides (TBA) will also provide educational content in natural history, river and local history.

Cost:$75.  Cost includes all food from dinner on Day 1 to lunch on Day 4, transportation from/to Bluff, Utah, expert staff and guides, group equipment, and fees.  Tents, sleeping bags and pads are available for rent from FCS. 
To register call 1-800-525-4456 and ask for Amber or go to our website at www.fourcornersschool.org and click on the Southwest Ed-Ventures area.