In The News
Duxbury Clipper
July 17, 2002
Students take a vacation within a vacation
By Claire Massimo
What would happen if aliens invaded Camp
Wing? Surf over to www.wiredwoods.org and you’ll find
out. For the second year Wired Woods is partnering with Crossraods
For Kids in Duxbury to provide computer training to inner
city children. The program’s directors are quick to
point out that this is not your usual computer class.
Wired Woods uses the traditional, outdoor
camping experiences of their students to bring fun into technology
and show the kids that they can create with computer technology
instead of merely consuming it. The program starts with students
taking digital photographs and then editing the photos using
varied software. The campers then move to HTML programming,
creating their own personal web pages, and a final project
, which is a group web page.
"Kids this age have to create things
about themselves," said Michael Fantom, director of program
services for Crossroads for Kids. "There is a lot of
peer interaction as well, so when kids create and then teach
it to each other, it’s really locked in."
All the Wired Woods students are middle
school age, from 11 to 14 years old. Wired Woods offers two
sessions within each 21 day session of Crossroads For Kids.
Crossroads For Kids will serve over 800 at risk youth at Camp
Wing this summer. About 100 of those kids have voluntarily
signed up to participate in Wired Woods. Crossroads accepts
referrals for children from over 30 social service agencies
statewide. Camp directors focus on trying to provide some
stability to these kids whose lives otherwise can be very
transitional.
"We really try to branch out from just
a summer camp to be educational in everything we do and to
have a greater impact on these kids lives." Fantom said.
"We provide kids with a new outlook on themselves and
their opportunities," added Dana White, executive director
of Wired Woods.
Informal education is carried throughout every activity at
Camp wing and Wired Woods fits directly into that model. "We
use fun as a conduit to character development and installing
core values, " Fantom said. Camp directors think the
partnership with the Wired Woods program works so well because
Wired Woods’ 15 counselors eat, sleep and play with
the general Camp Wing population. They know what the kids
are doing outside the computer lab, and use those experiences
to make Wired Woods a continuation of the whole camp experience.
"Camping teaches us all about exceeding
personal limits," said White. "In 15 hours at Wired
Woods, kids achieve goals, and also develop personal, tangible
skills." Last year’s Wired Woods program at Camp
Wing was the pilot program for the computer camp. This year,
some of last year’s students will be returning for "more
wired woods", a curriculum designed to reinforce what
was learned last year as well as adding elements of animation.
The philosophy behind both Wired Woods and
Crossroads For Kids is that the kids’ experiences have
to be carried forward throughout the year, and built on continuously
so they are not lost. After last year’s Wired Woods
program, each child was given a personalized list of resources
in their home areas where they could continue free computer
access and education.
"A big part of what we do is to navigate
these kids back into their communities. There are opportunities
out there. We help get the kids in touch with what’s
available to them, " White said. Wired Woods counselor
Weston Willard thinks that websites created last year, including
the "Aliens Attack Camp" site attracted many of
his current students.
One group of Wired Woods students is working
on a "Like Mike"-esque website, where a particular
pair of sneakers enables it wearer to be good at everything
at camp. A second group of students is working on the "Picture
Perfect Camp Wing" website, which has campers sleeping
until 10 am, and celebrities joining in camp activities.
Besides the enthusiasm they see at Wired
Woods keyboards, program directors look at daily journal entries
made by the students. One in particular seemed to sum up what
the program directors are trying to project. "Today I
learned a lot and I want to learn more."
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