Calvin Environmental & Leadership Program (C.E.L.P.)

"Outdoor & Environmental education
in a natural setting."

The natural environment is overflowing with opportunities for students to learn and have fun, but too often, the lessons that can be discovered from the outdoors are missed.  Let us make your job easier by taking the students outdoors for experiences that reinforce concepts that you’ve taught in the classroom.  Some of the lessons include:

• Lake Life – explore the ecosystem of Calvin Center’s 12 acre lake
• Rotten to the Core – hike through a portion of the 548 wooded acres to discover the fascinating world of fungus
• Always Take the Weather – visit the weather station and learn to use the tools there to predict the weather
• Show Me the Way- Learn how to use a compass, work as a team, figure out directions and reinforce the importance of numbers and math in everyday life.

CELP is designed to provide opportunities for young people to interact with the natural environment while deepening their understanding of science, math, and other academic areas.
There is also a teambuilding component to CELP that can help students learn to communicate and cooperate with one another. Teambuilding activities may include games and physical challenges that invite students to solve problems together.

By interacting and learning in natural settings through outdoor and environmental education students grow as individuals, and discover ways to show leadership in protecting the environment.

Background

Calvin Center is located on 548 beautiful wooded acres in South Clayton County. Calvin Center is a year round camp and conference center owned and operated by the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta.

Classes and Programs

Our curriculum is your curriculum. The lessons that we offer are based on the curriculum standards for the State of Georgia. We offer and provide classes for those standards that could best be met using the rich natural environment. Programs may be modified to integrate any special topics your group would like covered. Our topics include...

• Freshwater ecology
• Nature Discovery Hike
• Recycling
• Environmental issues such as carbon footprinting
• Canoeing/ Kayaking / Water safety
• Team Challenge Course/ High Ropes/Climbing Wall
• Camp fire activities & stories
• Solar energy & Weather
• Maps/ Compass/ Orienteering 
• Games/ Initiatives
• Night hikes that include star gazing
• Astronomy
• Fungi Finding
• Trees Galore
• Animal migration

The above is only a sample listing of our lessons. Discussion and close collaboration is provided to give teachers and educators what they are seeking as opportunities to achieve some curriculum standards that are difficult to accomplish at school or in the classroom.

Facilitators for groups come from varied backgrounds including; teachers, outdoor educators, graduate students, and mental health professionals.  Each one of our facilitators is excited about working with children and youth and has different areas of expertise.

 

 

Underground Railroad

“Experiencing History...Today”

Allowing students experience events and opportunities is often the best way to learn. The Underground Railroad is a integral of American history. While we can never replicate or imitate what occurred over the course of those challenging years we can at least simulate in one small way some basic thoughts and feelings associated with those experiences.

Students will participate in the Underground Railroad as escapees running from sheriffs and bounty hunters. While participants are ‘on the run’ trying to make it to safety or jubilee they will be guided by ‘conductors’ whom will lead them from safe house to safe house finding out facts and stories from a time when freedom was given on the color or your skin.

Underground Railroad lesson is a cultural experience and a hands-on insight into the life of slaves and especially those led by Harriet Tubman and others to freedom. This is a great opportunity to take a history lesson outside! Through simulation, your group will be able to travel along the Underground Railroad and escape to freedom.

More Information

Complete the form on the left to request more information about our CELP program, check availability or schedule a visit for your group. Or contact Calvin Center Program Director.

 

 

 

This is a typical schedule of what the program generally looks like. These schedules are flexible - groups can arrive earlier or later, stay for lunch on the last day, add more classes, etc. We will work with you to meet your group’s needs.

Typical Daily Schedule

 

Time	Activity
9:00 am	Arrive at Calvin Center (mixers, meet facilitators)
9:30 - 10:45 am	Block 1
11:00 am - 12:15 pm	Block 2
12:15 - 1:30 pm	Lunch
1:45 - 3:00 pm	Block 3
3:15 - 4:30 pm	Block 4
4:45 pm	Wrap Up (All Groups Together)
5:00 pm	Departure from Calvin Center

 

Multi-day or Overnight Schedule

 

Time	Activity
5:30 pm	Dinner
7:00 pm	Evening Program
9:00 pm	Cabin Time
9:45 pm	Lights Out
-- NEXT DAY --
8:00 am	Breakfast
9:00 am	Announcements/Energizers
9:30 am	Block 1
Schedule then follows previous day's schedule at top of page.

Please ensure all items are labeled and named. Calvin Center policy is to keep all lost and found items for one month. After which items will be passed on to a charity. Calvin Center will not be responsible for any items lost at camp.

What to Bring - Day Camps

• Comfortable layered type clothes for all types of weather
• Comfortable shoes
• Rain Jacket/Warm jacket
• Water bottle
• Book bag or day pack
• Notebook & paper

What to Bring - Overnight/Multi-day Camps

• Comfortable layered type clothes for all types of weather (enough for number of days of staying)
• Comfortable shoes (not flip flops) more than one pair
• Rain Jacket
• Warm jacket (for night activities)
• Hat
• Water bottle
• Flash Light
• Book bag or day pack
• Notebook & paper
• Sleeping bag
• Toiletries (toothbrush, shampoo, soap, 2 towels etc.)
• Pillow

What NOT to Bring to the Camps

• Bicycles, skateboards and roller blades are not allowed.
• Boom boxes, walkmans, radio’s, TV’s, Gameboys, etc are not allowed.
• No firearms or knives (of any kind) are allowed.
• Please do not bring valuables. Aside from the occasional theft, there are lots of places to lose things at the Calvin Center.
• No matches, lighters, or other incendiary devices (such as firecrackers, sparklers, fireworks etc) are allowed.
• No alcohol, controlled substances, or tobacco products are allowed.
• Do not bring chewing gum.

Any prohibited items that are found will be held in the camp office until the end of the day or passed on to a teacher.

Earth Day, Every Day	Our Earth is ticking away and for too long we thought we could do anything to it.  Sadly we are learning from our past and current mistakes, and what better way to channel the future decisions than by educating the young?   This lesson centers on giving students tools to affect change in their "environment" using the 3 R's (reduce, re-use and recycle). Students may measure the air quality at camp, make earth-friendly household cleaners or examine what we waste already by sorting through a bag of clean trash.   Whatever activities are done, students will leave with easy steps to practice more “care of the earth” principles at home and school.
Rotten to the Core	The Rotten' world of fungi is much more than just mushrooms!  Often overlooked, or even shunned, this kingdom includes wonderfully diverse and fascinating species.  Students will learn how fungi differ from plants, discover the common characteristics of all fungi and then take a hike to discover the amazing amount and variety of fungi right under their noses. Along the hike the students will classify fungi into groups based on their methods of reproduction and see first hand the roles fungi play in the eco-system.  Finally students will investigate the mysterious relationship between fungi and algae by studying lichens.
Lake Life	In aquatic environments, such as lakes and ponds, there reside a variety of plants and animals that are adapted to exist in such a watery environment. As with other habitats, lakes require a delicate balance of life.  In this class, students will be introduced to the lake life at camp through initial exploration.  Instruction and teaching points will be given as the group of students and adults explore this watery environment.  Students will be encouraged to use all five senses to learn as much as they can during the class session.  One goal of this session is to encourage and create a community of learners, knowing that each person (student or adult) can contribute to the whole group's learning.
Show Me the Way	The compass is a valuable instrument in the outdoors.  In this class the students will not only learn how to use a compass, but will also gain knowledge of the physical and mathematical principals on which the compass is based.  Students will learn how to take a bearing, follow a direction and pace to determine distance.  After a few practice activities, students then put these skills to use on the center's compass orienteering courses.  The course combines challenge, ingenuity and physical activity to require students to develop their compass skills to a fine "degree".
Always Take the Weather	We always talk about it… percentage chances of rain, severe storms, inches of snow etc. but where does it all come from?   This lesson is about many peoples’ favorite topic - the weather.   Students will investigate patterns of weather according to the time of year, what influence landforms play on it, and how we as humans are influencing the weather around us locally and globally.  Students will use math to determine several examples of weather and its comfort level for us.
Low Ropes/ Initiatives	Teams can be the most fun while also the most frustrating thing.  From an early age we are in teams of all types.  There are certain things that make teams successful and even from an early age important team concepts of cooperation and listening can be taught to children and youth. Using the Low Ropes/Initiatives course these ideas can be reinforced while using fun and problem solving as a medium.
Climbing Wall	Ascend the heights of our wall.  Scale the flat side or the harder side, which has over-hangs and slants to challenge all ages.  Over forty feet in the up using a top roping system and trained facilitators see your students challenge themselves in a new way.
Campfire Magic	Come warm yourself by the fire, cook S'Mores, and hear the legend of Calvin's secret tree.  Campfire is a fantastic time to reflect on the day, have some fun and learn at the same time.
Stars Are Out Tonight	Experience the Big Dipper; see Seven Sisters all at once and even gaze upon our neighbors in space.  “Stars are out Tonight” offers students a firsthand look at the painted ceiling we call space and, depending on the weather, use maps to find the constellations that hang overhead.  Students will also learn about why stars & planets move, and why some people see different stars in different parts of the world.  This class is a fun way to learn almost hands on, what cannot be reproduced during the normal hours of school.  You may even see a shooting star!
Clay Nation	Pinch that pot; roll that clay.  Come and create your creation!  Learn about how clay is made and why the clay we use is a different color from our Georgia red clay.  What uses does clay have today compared to 100 years ago?   Investigate the scientific properties of clay and use math to look at different temperatures used in the creation of all things clay. Work with our expert potter to experience the wonderful world of clay. While this program can be done in one session, it is best done over 2-3 days.
Bucky's Bungalow	In 1950 Buckminster Fuller wanted to build a home that would serve humans better and use less of the Earth's resources.  He found that a triangle was the strongest shape known, and hence created Bucky's Bungalow.  This activity allows students to work in teams and learn how to tie knots and understand the basics of what a geodesic dome is.  The lesson incorporates considerable math as well as trigonometry.  A great lesson for teamwork that enables students to see tangibly a finished product or goal.
Ahoy the Canoe	More than just floating on our 10-acre lake, this lesson incorporates all the skills in basic flat water canoeing. including basic and more advanced strokes.  We also take this opportunity to introduce water-safety on lakes and flat waterways and to have fun playing water games.  This lesson is great for building individual confidence, listening and decision-making skills.
The Beast	More than just a game The BEAST incorporates observing, listening and following directions while helping students understand how complex communication can be.  Students are divided up into teams and using Tinker toys, follow a series of instructions to create an enlightening and fun learning experience.  The BEAST is as enjoyable to watch as it is to participate.
Underground Railroad	A cultural experience that demonstrates a way life for slaves hundreds of years ago.  A night only activity that allows students to try and make it from safe house to safe house without getting caught.  A serious but also fun glimpse at what situations prevailed for those people like Harriet Tubman who took enormous risks to free slaves.  A wonderful lesson in history that cannot be ignored, and one that ends with a celebration.
Let's Be Sensible	In a culture dominated by sights and sounds, students can become desensitized to the more subtle aspects of the natural world.  Students will learn how to concentrate and become more perceptive by focusing on their senses.  They will solve a mystery that involves using all their senses to discover natural wonders. Emphasis is on using our senses to discover as much about the natural world as we can and on the way animals acutely use their senses to help them survive in the environment.
Into the Woods	The Forest is alive with all sorts of interesting things.  In this lesson students will determine the parts of a forest community.  They will be introduced to or add to their knowledge of producers, consumers and decomposers, and how these three important aspects fit into a forest setting.  This lesson will take place on Calvin's 548 acres and gives students a wonderful opportunity to explore, search, smell even taste the natural environment.  They may even see some live animals.  This lesson also focuses on creative writing and requires putting pen to paper and writing a "cake" mix for life in the forest.

Dear Parents:
I am writing to inform you of a wonderful opportunity to enhance your child’s education. With the next few years bringing many new challenges what better way to enhance and offer an alternative way to augment your child’s learning.

Soon your child is planning on attending the Calvin Center for C.E.L.P. (Calvin Environmental & Leadership Program). Over the course of this time they will interact, cooperate, relate, work together and have fun in the natural environment. This will be achieved through experiential lessons where they will learn about lake life, the forest, reptiles, teamwork, and compass work. In addition to this they will experience campfires, a cook out, stargazing and so much more.

All our lessons are based on curriculum standards set by the State of Georgia and incorporate many different curricula into each lesson. The attractiveness of our program is that all our staff and facilitators come from a wide variety of backgrounds including current and past teachers; this enables us to offer a wonderful range of experiences to your children
Our staff along with the teachers at your child’s school have put together this opportunity to further boost your child’s education.

The Calvin Center opened in 1960 and has been working with children, youth and adults ever since, through summer camps, retreats, conferences and so much more. We are excited that your child is coming to experience education through the wonderful medium of the outdoors.
We look forward to seeing your most wonderful asset grow. In the mean time let us know if we can assist you in any way as you and your child prepares for this great opportunity.

Yours truly,
Paul T. Humphreys, Program Director