Sunship Earth Program Details

Sunship EarthTM is a comprehensive environmental science program geared to 5th graders. The on-site portion of the program lasts five days and four nights at the Sunship Study Station, a natural outdoor setting at T.R.E.E.'s Outdoor Classroom just west of Covington. The Sunship Earth staff, crew counselors, and classroom teacher combine efforts to provide a dynamic, effective learning experience. The teacher extends this program back at school, which encourages the students to continue to apply their learning beyond the classroom. Sunship Earth is a beginning unit rather than a culminating one.

	Fifth graders create their own Micro Parks.

Sunship Earth helps students understand how their world functions and gives them a special appreciation of that knowledge through their head, heart, and hands. Sunship Earth acquaints young people with basic understandings of how the earth's life systems function (head), and helps them to better know the earth as their place in space and to appreciate the richness and the beauty of our planet through first-hand contact (heart). In addition, Sunship Earth strives to help young people see that they have a dual role as passenger and crew member on this "Sun-ship", and finally, gives each student a chance to explore the personal significance behind this new awareness (hands).

The following are some important points you'll want to know:

• Sunship Earth has been run by T.R.E.E. for the past 20 years. Over 3,200 Orleans Parish school students have attended. The staff is highly trained, caring and committed.
• A minimum of 12 adults supervise the class of approximately 30 students. Students are NEVER without supervision.
• The class is divided into groups of five or six students by the teacher and each group is supervised by one of the school's adult chaperones. The students receive direct instruction for the 15 stations from T.R.E.E. staff who provides for personal, quality learning for each child.
• The remainder of the time (meals, "heart" activities, processing activities, campfire, crafts, etc.) is spent in whole class group.
• The school provides a qualified person to give medications. A hospital is only 5 minutes from camp.
• Students live in dormitory-type buildings. Boys and male chaperones from the school sleep on one side; girls and female chaperones from the school sleep on the other. A cinder block dividing wall and bathrooms are between the two sides.
• Participants are fed by T.R.E.E. staff. Meals are tailored to fit children's eating habits while still being nutritious and accommodating various eating styles (vegetarian). Snacks are provided throughout the day while on trails.
• The cost of the program includes EVERYTHING! (Included in the cost is bus, insurance, camping fees, wholesome meals, snacks, all supplies for activities and crafts, and a staff of 1 adult for every 3 children.)

The days at the Sunship Study Station are extremely busy ones, filled with a complete schedule of exciting learning experiences.