Stone or Wood
Our sixth grade class went away for a week to a camp. When we arrived we were given a choice between a stone or a piece of wood. Then we were each given a piece of sandpaper. The staff explained that if we kept sanding whenever we had a chance, by the end of the week we would have a nice shiny piece of stone or wood, and they passed around examples.
I picked wood, and — after many hours of sanding — did end up with a nice shiny piece of wood by the end of the week.
I wonder who thought of that activity. Were they thinking this would keep kids busy during unoccupied times? Or was it a way to connect directly to nature? A symbol of transformation? Or did the camp staff simply remember having done something similar when they were a kid?
I just tried to do a web search to see if I could find out if kids in San Diego still go to 6th grade camp, and, if so, if they are given that choice and that piece of sandpaper.
I tried searching for: “sixth grade” camp stone wood sand “san diego”
but didn’t find it…
Oh my goodness, I just found it– I can’t believe, almost 30 years later, and they still do!
In fact, these sixth graders mention it as one of their favorite activities. (I’d forgotten it was manzanita wood.)
| From Sixth Grade Camp web documentary: “Only one craft per person - Take a long time and its hard work - Wood, scraper, medium fine sandpaper, waxing - Rock, sand paper and buffing” |
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It does look like other things about sixth grade camp have changed–they seem to offer many additional types of activities, including a focus on cultural diversity.