Underwater adventures, going green and Texas history recently sparked the interest of many gifted and talented students around Pasadena ISD. Each summer, qualified students take advantage of the opportunity to learn, create and explore different areas through Pasadena ISD’s exciting GT camp.

“The goal of camp is to enhance each student’s potential for success in future challenging studies and to promote application of the state goal for services for gifted students,” said Pasadena ISD instructional specialist for advanced academics Leslie Axel.

The camp was divided into three categories based on grade level.  Primary Campers (grades K-2) enjoyed diving in and exploring the world deep beneath the ocean’s surface.  By discovering the colorful creatures and fascinating landscape beneath, students were able to share their adventures in a multi-media presentation at the conclusion of the camp.

Elementary Campers (grades 3-4) learned what it takes to “go green.”  With the environment changing rapidly, students were given the chance to experience what is really going on around them. Projects through art and technology enhanced and demonstrated the knowledge obtained by the students about the eco-system. 

“Students created ‘Go Green People’ out of recycled water bottles and wood that represented a way we could help keep the earth clean,” elementary camp coordinator Amanda Khan said. “They made ‘sit-a-pons’ out of recycled paper, a compost pile, and designed and created their own can crushers.”

Each of these activities provided students with an understanding and appreciation of how they can make a contribution to the world and what it takes to keep the earth thriving. 

“My hope is that students left camp with a renewed passion for learning and challenging themselves to reach higher goals. I hope that the experience of working together with other students who have similar interests and abilities will inspire them to be leaders on their home campus and throughout their life,” Khan said. “I hope camp set a small fire inside of them to help make this world a better place to live for themselves and the future generations.”

“GT has Gone to Texas” was the theme of the Intermediate Camp (grades 5-7).  Students created and constructed a replica of the King Ranch facade and sample fencing helping them to develop an appreciation for Texas history as deep as the heart of Texas.

“Through their own work and the products created by the others at camp, they were able to see the many ways their knowledge can be expressed,” instructional specialist for secondary advanced academics Michelle Reynolds said. “We hope the participants walked away with a well-rounded understanding of the history of Texas and the many ways it is reflected in the traditions and cultures.” 

Students created individualized brands and barbed wire designs, generated their own cowboy hat bands, and branded hand-made leather cowboy journals.

“As in any educational pursuit, the goals of the activities were deeply layered. First and foremost, we set out to further develop their areas of giftedness and give them the framework for growing their intellectual aptitudes,” Reynolds said. “We also worked to supplement their learning of Texas history without duplicating what they might have learned in their history classrooms. We also worked to enrich their understanding of the bases of Texas' culture and traditions.”

The final day of camp concluded with presentations and demonstrations of the week’s work. Students created altered art, which is a form of artistic expression that utilizes found objects and collage techniques to reflect a key concept. Students researched historical Texas figures where they dressed and became that character for the day.

“The act of taking on another person's traits, characteristics and mannerisms in order to share background information encourages students to discover more about the person. Students were not just giving a report, they were defending the character's place in the ‘museum,’ thus leading them to a real, hands-on learning situation that creates interest and success,” Reynolds said.

The camp not only provided students with ample learning opportunities, but it allowed them to branch out and create lasting memories and friendships.   

“GT camp starts the students’ summer off with a positive, enriched environment, and the students can continue to research the information learned at camp,” Axel said. “The activities provided an opportunity for challenging thinking and in-depth research as well as provided a space for the GT students to get together and develop new friendships.”