During my active days of being part of the Discovery Educator Network, I was fortunate enough to meet some really amazing educators. Dacia Jones is someone who continues to impact my life and my educational journey. Three years ago Dacia and her husband Steve started Expeditions in Education. Expeditions in Education provides both curricular resources for the classroom as well as PD learning experiences like STEAM in the Park. Last year I applied for Smokey Mountains but eventually backed out because of my continued adjustment to being around people after Covid and my own personal fears.
This year I decided to try again with the support of a colleague I teach with, Carrie Dingle. We both decided to choose one of the learning experiences together and drive to it. We applied for New River Gorge not knowing much about the experience or each other but my trust that it would be amazing because of my faith in Dacia and what she does, we went for it.
This year I decided to try again with the support of a colleague I teach with, Carrie Dingle. We both decided to choose one of the learning experiences together and drive to it. We applied for New River Gorge not knowing much about the experience or each other but my trust that it would be amazing because of my faith in Dacia and what she does, we went for it.
Prior to even leaving for the experience, we had multiple opportunities to zoom and meet the other campers. Me, being the anti-social introvert, did not attend most of the zooms but watched the recordings that were shared.
Honestly I didn't get why everyone was so "firefly" this and wanting to talk about something that wasn't happening for several months and still being on the fence about really wanting to go, I avoided joining in. It wasn't until I arrived at STEAM in the Park that I started to actually understand why.
Honestly I didn't get why everyone was so "firefly" this and wanting to talk about something that wasn't happening for several months and still being on the fence about really wanting to go, I avoided joining in. It wasn't until I arrived at STEAM in the Park that I started to actually understand why.