Mount Madonna Students Bond Over Kayak Adventure
Mount Madonna Students embarked on their annual kayak excursion, led by Kim Powell of the Santa Cruz-based Blue Water Ventures, a guide for several outdoor explorations that are part of the MMS program.
“The opportunity to spend time learning about the biologically rich and critically endangered slough habitat, all the while having a great adventure together with ‘buddies’ was educational and fun!” commented Nicole Silva Culbertson, high school science teacher.
“Kayaking with our third grade buddies at Elkhorn Slough was a fun-filled day consisting of laughter, bonding and teamwork,” commented senior Cecilia Rothman-Salado. “My buddy Giavanna and I especially loved seeing the beautiful jellyfish and cute otters. We had a great time paddling and learning all of the interesting facts that our guide shared with us.
“All day long I was remembering how it felt to be the little buddy, and just how much I looked up to my big buddy when I was that age,” she continued. “I remember how good it felt when my big buddy treated me like I was one of them. I tried to give Giavanna the attention that my buddies gave me, because I remember how just how special it felt. One of the most special things about Mount Madonna School is its buddy program. About four times a month we meet with our younger buddies and participate in games and learning activities. It is a great way to connect with the younger students and strengthen our community.”
“At the slough we saw otters, big seals and lots of jellyfish on the beach,” shared third grader Skye Vissell. ”It was neat to put the big net into the water from the shore, pull it in and see what we caught before we let everything go.
“We caught a sardine in the net,” added classmate.
Third grade teacher Kristin Webb said her biggest take-away from this learning adventure was the opportunity for students to share a positive bonding experience in an inspiring natural setting. “The senior students were incredibly kind and patient and really seemed like they enjoyed being with their little buddies,” observed Webb.
“I have to admit that I was surprised by the amount of fun I had,” commented senior Fiona Burgess. “Things became a little challenging towards the middle of the day when my group went too far into the slough and got stuck trying to paddle against the wind.
Despite being frustrated in the moment, by the end I was grateful for the experience, as it was a reminder to have patience. At the time I was quickly frustrated by how little progress we were making and that I wanted so badly to be eating lunch. I realized, however, that my buddy, Cadence, and the other third graders were all as tired as I was and I needed to think of them and not just my own concerns. After escaping from the wind and making it to the beach for lunch, I was proud of the work that our group had put into kayaking.”
“I really enjoyed being able to take a day off from the academics inside a classroom and be able to enjoy the ecosystem around me, and getting to know my little buddy, Molly,” shared senior Rachel Burgess. “At first things were a little new for her, but she learned very quickly and did a great job of helping with paddling.”
“Mount Madonna’s buddy program is truly one-of-a-kind,” said twelfth grader Tabitha Hardin-Zollo. “At no other school can third graders spend the day in nature kayaking with their twelfth grade buddies, who are regarded as peers. I loved being surrounded by otters while bonding with my buddy Pierce. Pierce thoroughly enjoyed spotting giant jellyfish floating by.”
This field trip is a great combination of trust building, learning about the ways the slough and its surrounding habitat are impacted by humans, and healthy physical activity.
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For more info: MountMadonnaSchool.org