data p.e. Camp offers unique learning

“DATA’s summer P. E. camp has evolved to be one of the most dynamic summer camps ever offered at our magnet program,” says Director Stacia FitzSimon. “With the incorporation of the Healthy Lifestyles curriculum, students have had the opportunity to experience climbing the rock wall, using interactive heart monitors and practice life-saving Cardiovascular Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) skills.”

The Design And Technology Academy (DATA) Physical Education (P.E.) camp is a six-week course teaching the Healthy Lifestyles curriculum in the morning and transitioning to Outdoor Adventures in the afternoon. Leading the P.E. camp are Emery Kelly, DATA engineering teacher, and Ramiro DeLeon, Roosevelt High School varsity basketball coach. Assisting them are more than 30 DATA upperclassmen who volunteer as camp counselors.

Eighty-nine incoming DATA freshmen and rising DATA sophomores are participating in the camp. Activities that campers have completed include roller-skating at Skateland in Windcrest, climbing the rock wall, and learning stretching and balancing poses in yoga class using a Wii video game console system projected onto the wall of the Roosevelt High School gym.

Field trips included a day-long adventure at beautiful Canyon Lake where students swam, canoed and kayaked, learned to fish and pitch tents, orienteered hiking paths and roasted marshmallows for s’mores. During the first week of July, students spent the day at McAllister Park hiking and geocaching. Students learned how to use smart phone apps and traditional GPS devices to locate cleverly hidden caches in the park.

Coach DeLeon and Mr. Kelly agree that this has been an exciting camp for the students. “We are confident that P.E. camp will contribute to a strong, supportive cohort of students making informed choices during high school and beyond,” shared Mr. Kelly.

Posted on July 21, 2011