An all-expenses paid trip to the coast? Yes, please. Thai food, talent show, rock climbing? Check, check, and check. When students in the Upward Bound program get together its all fun and games… and learning. From confidence building and teamwork to Spanish song aps on iPads Upward Bound students are climbing and grooving their way to a college education. In case you haven’t heard of it already, Upward Bound is a program designed to help select students attending local high school prepare and transition to college – and have fun in the process.
It all started with Camp Timberwolf Leadership Camp on the shore of Lower Bucks Lake. Students began bonding over a challenge course, board games in the evenings and marshmallow roasting and story telling around a campfire. Students stated that they enjoyed the new experiences and fun leadership games. “I liked how I met a new friend in Greenville,” beamed one student.
Throughout the summer twelve high school students from around Plumas County converged on Feather River College to, “…actually think during the summer instead of forgetting everything,” as one student put it. Spanish 1 and 2, language arts and advanced literature, advanced math, geometry, algebra II, environmental science, biology and college life skills courses provided students with a wealth of information and support for the coming school year. One student stated that she appreciated, “The one on one help when needed.” The college life skills course addressed concepts such as how and where to study, healthy eating on a budget, and different learning styles such as auditory, visual and kinesthetic. The kinesthetic learners got involved by recording group discussions on the white board.
During the summer program each instructor led a Friday field trip themed to their subject area. Destinations included a Shakespearean compilation play in Reno with dinner at a traditional Chinese restaurant; a visit to Jamison mine and museum, a dip in the creek and a nature hike on surrounding trails; and a visit to a laser tag arena in Shasta Lake for a behind the scenes look at the math that makes laser tag possible and – of course – a game of laser tag.
The Upward Bound summer program culminated in a five college tour in northern California. Eight students departed for Shasta College on July 28th after which they visited College of the Sisikiyous and the Turtle Bay Parrot Playhouse. Traveling on to Humboldt State University the students enjoyed a rare sunny afternoon on the coast and joined HSU’s Upward Bound program for their Arts Alive talent show where Greenville High student Georgia Tomaselli sang and Quincy High student Gracie Taylor-Mays performed a dance routine along with many other acts performed by Humboldt area UB students. Students toured College of the Redwoods, went rock climbing at the HSU climbing wall, explored the natural history museum in Arcata and, finally, visited Simpson College. Upon returning home some of the participants have begun month long internships. Stay posted for upcoming stories about their adventures in forensic and environmental science, outreach and marketing, and human and animal medicine.