2012 bridge programs report

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2012 BRIDGE PROGRAMSL @= H9KL >GMF


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poetry, essays, sometimes a bit of role-playing, and they always involve student creativity and

original research.

Twelve years of programs has taught the PAST Foundation Design Team that students excel

academically when challenged outside of the classroom. Immersive personal challenges likejumping into the ocean, living with strangers in crowded quarters, or investigating simulated

dead bodies encourage intellectual growth. When focusing on both life skills and academic

rigor, program directors

observe an increase in

student engagement in

short time periods, and

the programs of 2012

took full advantage of

this principle.

This year, the PAST

Foundation partneredwith the Kelleys Island

School District, and

offered a new setting for

the Entomology, Geology,

and Cultural Landscape

programs. The students

acclimated themselves to

the slower pace of island

livingobserving and

participating in a world

that was completely new to them. The lack of access to fast food, the site of deer roaming freely,

and vehicles left unlocked was a bit of a culture shock but something they soon came to appreciate.

In addition to the new Kelleys Island programs, two perennial favorites, Forensic Anthroplogy

and Marine Ecosystems, returned for another year. Each program, while unique in its own way,

continued to exemplify the strengths of the PAST Foundation model and was supported by experts

The PAST Foundation Bridge Programs of 2012 varied in length, rigor, and approach, but all

provided students with the indispensable experience of personal and academic challenges. By

focusing on the four vital components of Bridge Programs, the PAST Design Team ensured that

presentation in learning. The following pages describe PASTs efforts in greater detail. We look

forward to more successful summers in the future.

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K E L L E Y S I S L A N D

Kelleys Island sits just off the mainland Ohio coast in Lake Erie. Long recognized as a resort

haven for the Northwest and source of high quality limestone, the island has enjoyed a thriving

community of both summer homes and year-round craftsmen. However, in recent years with

the close of the quarry, the supporting industries on the island have dwindled towards a single

economy: tourism. This shift in economics

has whittled away at the local year-round

population creating a steady decline of the

local school enrollment. Finally, in 2011,

system, the Kelleys Island School Boardbegan exploring alternative ways in which

to utilize the school facilities and teacher

resources. Partnering with Indigo Strategies

and the PAST Foundation, Kelleys Island

residents embarked upon a bold scheme

to use the facilities (and indeed, the whole

island) as a classroom for local students, as

well as students from across Ohio. In June of

2012, three PAST pilot bridge programs

Entomology, Glacial Grooves, and Cultural Landscapestook full advantage of the existing school

infrastructure and island environment to immerse over 50 high school and middle school students

in real world island issues.

Each week, students from established island families and students from Columbus public schools

studied the islands ecology and environment from different lenses, creating baseline data sets for

future study on the island. And each week, the students and project directors treated the residents

to lectures and demonstrations, showcasing new and engaging information about Kelleys Island.

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T H E S T O R Y

The second session of the Kelleys Island Bridge Program focused on Geology. As this group of

students spent several days on the island learning about its unique geological history.

It didnt take long for the students to settle in at Camp Patmos. Bunks were quickly chosen and

gear stashed away. Some students, who wandered down to the shore, suddenly felt very far away

from home when they realized they could see Canada across the lake.

Andrew Bruening, the lead instructor, designed this

session around the concepts of sediment deposition,

glaciation, fossil formation, and erosion. Kelleys Island is

known for its easily accessible, inactive limestone quarry

and glacial grooves, which are both prime examples of

the features Dr. B wanted to highlight.

a small area of glacial grooves located right behind their

cabin. While it was certainly interesting, and somethingthe students had never seen before, a much larger and

more impressive example was waiting for them at the

state park. Dr. Bruening explained that this land the

students were standing on used to be located in the area

now known as the Bahamas. Over millions of years, this

land made its way north via plate tectonics and over time

layers and layers of sediment were deposited. When the

glaciers moved through, the top layers of sediment were

scraped off which left behind formations resembling

fossilized examples of early ocean life forms are easily

seen today.

Its a stretch of

the imagination

to envision

what it must

have looked

like during

these different

geological

stages and

the students

found it mindboggling that

the land they

were standing

on was once

buried under

miles and miles

of glacial ice.


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The other geological feature that makes Kelleys Island

a great outdoor classroom for budding geologists is

the opportunity to explore both active and inactive

quarries. Great deposits of limestone were discovered

by early island settlers who turned the excavation

of this rock into one of the islands main industries.Armed with rock hammers, the students descended

into the abandoned quarry on Kellys Island in search

of fossils.

Midweek, the students took a quick ferry ride over

to Marblehead, on the mainland, to visit the Lafarge

Quarry where limestone is still being excavated,

processed, and shipped to construction companies

in the Midwest. Students were able to witness a

dynamite explosion and watched as the rock was

immense rock crushing machines. Students were

amazed to learn that four million tons of rock are

processed and shipped every year from just this

one quarry.

During the various expeditions students

took notes and shot videos, documenting

their experiences. These were compiled

presented, on their last day, to the general

public before making its way to their

classmates back home.

T H E P A R T N E R S


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T H E S T O R Y

The Marine Ecology Bridge Program started well before sunrise as a group of Columbus students

woke up and gathered their belongings, including the all important ipods and cell phones, hopped

in the car, and headed for the Port Columbus airport. For many students, this was an adventure

glimpse of an ocean. Its safe to say

that there was a bit of apprehension

mixed with excitement, as the

students met at the check-in counter

and prepared to board the plane.

It ended up being a long day of

travel and most of the students were

exhausted once they arrived at the

Quiescence dorms in Key Largo,

Florida. After a good night of sleep and

breakfast, the students were eager to

try out their new snorkeling gear at

feet offshore), then locating, counting, and measuring the ships cannons. All of this information

was recorded underwater on their waterproof mylar clipboards.

After their initial outing, the students met with Cate, from the dive shop, to learn how to identify

identifying characteristics of the numerous species, students created nicknames to keep the over

200 types of species from getting jumbled in their minds.

The following morning, the students boarded the boats and headed six miles off shore to their

once they reached their destination. The brief episodes of sea sickness were soon forgotten as the

students jumped off the boat into the clear blue water and started exploring this new underwater


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the coral reefs and the debris of old

shipwrecks were seen below. Over the

next few days students visited famous

dive sites such as Captain Toms Wreck,

Molasses Reef, City of Washington, andChrist of the Abyss.

Afternoons were spent on land and

the students had the opportunity

to visit some of the well known Key

Largo area destinations. This provided

incredible and meaningful educational

experiences for those interested in the

concerns surrounding preservation

and management of this fragile aquatic

ecosystem. Students visited NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), the

Florida Keys Wild Bird Rehabilitation Center, the Windley Key Geological Park, and a special trip to

the Florida Everglades National Park where students had an up-close encounter with an alligator.

For many students, the days in this aquatic

classroom expanded their world. With

minds miles away from their daily routine,

soaking in the experience of this underwater

adventure created lasting memories.

T H E P A R T N E R S


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2012 bridge programs report

Documents