Teaching Elementary, My Dear Watson

40 - Arrowhead

40

Arrowhead

Monday, March 27

"A whole week away from home, by a lake in the mountains!" The kids were excited. There were two buses, two teachers, and a few other adult volunteers. Southern California had few natural lakes, but Arrowhead was one. They were headed to an outdoor education camp manned by trained instructors. While Kevin and Angela were officially in charge of the boys and girls, they were in the unusual position of being mostly along for the ride. The camp employees would handle the instruction. Angela and Kevin would join them with the kids, but had no official lesson planning or teaching responsibility.

Kevin smiled. So weird to be just assistants, but I'm good with it!

Of course, each was going to be on duty 24 hours each day. They each hoped the kids would sleep soundly and cause no difficulties.

Angela asked, "So Kevin, will the boys tell me that you snore?"

"Not a chance. Even if such an action might occur, which is impossible, the boys' dorm will be full of young gentlemen whose loyalty precludes ratting out their teacher to ladies, not even delightful ones! And, as a role model, I will refrain from asking about any such habits of yours." Though I wouldn't mind watching.

Angela laughed. "I'm looking forward to our week in the mountains. Haven't been up there in a while, and I could use a little nature injection. Have you brought plenty of layers? It can get cold."

"I know. I used the same packing list that we gave the kids. We should all be pretty well bundled up."

She nodded. "I have my parka in my daypack, ready for when we arrive, just in case."

"Good plan. Me too. Always better to have it and not need it than vice versa."

Kevin wished he could ride up with her, but they needed to be on separate buses since one bus carried all the girls and the other had the boys. Two volunteer couples rode the bus together but would sleep in separate dorms. It seemed a little silly in a way, but all sleeping quarters had bunk beds in large rooms, so it was simpler to separate everyone by gender. Hopefully, this way, there would be fewer problems, too. He and Angela stood in front of their respective buses, holding clipboards with rosters, checking off the kids as they got on each vehicle. There were 38 girls and 34 boys. Only twelve other fifth-graders remained back at school. Those not going were either hesitant to sleep away from home, ill, or injured.

Duffels or suitcases from every kid, with a sleeping bag inside, were loaded below each bus. Every student also had a small daypack, something to carry on board and during hikes, along with a journal, and most also had a portable camera. Kevin and Angela carried some pre-printed worksheets, created in partnership with the outdoor education staff, to help the students learn specific vocabulary and concepts while in nature.

Finally, all were seated on the bus. Kevin introduced himself to his driver, Gene, a big, amiable-looking, grey-haired white guy, overweight but not grossly so, with a ready smile. Kevin noted that Gene had a sense of humor, a job description requirement when you drove kids around for a living.

Kevin sat behind the driver, planning to get to know him on the drive. He looked toward the back of the bus before they departed. Some kids had books, playing cards, little games, or puzzles, the kind of thing Kevin's Mom used to put in his Christmas stocking. Most just chatted with seatmates.

They started east on the I-10, the same stretch of the freeway that he and Tonya drove on just over a week ago. Ah, Tonya. What a dream. How are you doing back there in Tennessee?