From Carteret County News-Times, July 21st - Story by Jennifer Allen
Neither the July heat nor the daunting spiral staircase deterred any of the 32 kids attending a four-day summer camp at Cape Lookout National Seashore, called “A Place For All People,” from experiencing the view of the landscape from atop the lighthouse.
During the day camp, the rising seventh- and eighth-graders, mostly county residents with diverse backgrounds and nationalities, got to see more than just the lighthouse.
The students had an adventure on Tuesday at Hoop Pole Creek Nature Trail and Fort Macon State Park in Atlantic Beach. On Wednesday the students went back to Cape Lookout to roam the grounds and on Thursday, they learned about local traditions at the Core Sound Waterfowl Museum and Heritage Center and shared the weeks’ learning experiences with their parents.
A joint venture between Cape Lookout National Seashore and Core Sound Museum, the camp is part of a nationwide initiative by the National Park Foundation designed to connect underserved communities with what the National Park Service has to offer.
This camp joins the ranks of 32 other national parks that were awarded grants from “America’s Best Idea Grants” through the National Park Foundation in partnership with Unilever North America. The grant was inspired by the Ken Burns documentary “The National Parks: America’s Best Idea.”
Campers for the Week: Cully Cameron, Cricket Corwin, Patton Dabbs, Kyrah Davis, Aurelio Gardia, Ana Gardia, Brittany George, Kayla Gillikin, Savannah Gillikin, Lucas Gomez, Trevor Grinstead, Martha Gyi, Eh theBlay Htoo, Eikhiya Khaing, Kaitlyn Lawrence, Samantha Lewis, Neli Lopez-Carmona, Etha Lynk, Kara Moore, John Newton, Ta Paw, Jasmyne Raynor, Alex Rice, Robert Ryan, Cooper Stanley, Zavier Stewart, Madison Stroud, Spencer Taylor, Ei Khi Ya Tun, Joshua Wade, Edward Willis, Kelly Willis, Tyler Willis, Jonas Willis; Lead Teachers: Joanne Powell, John Wozak, Dr. Barbara Garrity-Blake, Genny Pigott, Ricardo Gomez and museum intern, Vera Cecelski.
TEACHER NOTES about camp …
After the first day of camp, Dr. Garrity-Blake said that it was inspiring to see students from widely diverse backgrounds meet and share the excitement of going to Cape Lookout and climbing the lighthouse for the first time.
“They were truly awed and thrilled by a treasure in their own backyard. And for me, the camp combines two of the things I love best — teaching young people and researching our coastal history and traditions,” she said.
“Some of the kids have roots in Shackleford. (Camper) Kelly Willis’ great-grandmother, for example, was the last school teacher at the cape, which really brings it all to life.”
Mr. Waszak shares Dr. Garrity-Blake’s enthusiasm for the project. “I am excited to be involved with this camp. From a professional standpoint, I love having kids of different cultures and nationalities get together,” he said. “For my former students —I teach fifth-grade at Harkers Island School — it is a wonderful opportunity to learn about some of the cultural/life differences that other children have but also for them to experience the similarities that tie us all together as curious, gregarious human beings,” he said. “And they are sharing this experience on their home turf.”
He added that it was important to show these youth that it’s a place they can be proud of for its beauty and the cultural traditions that have been preserved through the work of the Core Sound Waterfowl Museum.
For the students who are new to Carteret County, this is an opportunity to learn about the “heritage of kids just down the road, whose hard-working families lived and developed a lifestyle totally immersed in nature,” Mr. Waszak said.