Happy Summer!

Hello Friends, 

I hope you are making the most of the summer and taking some time out of busy schedules to enjoy the outdoors. My favorite things about summer include raspberry picking, camping, firefly catching, and, of course, Mountain SOL summer workshops! What are your favorite summertime activities?

I'm happy to report that we had a fantastic end to our first school year. Wow! I can't believe we've already complete our first school year! The staff at Morgantown Learning Academy have been fantastic and we appreciate their continued support, guidance, and love. 

Our third week of Mountain SOL Summer Workshops will start next Monday. Our first two weeks have been a blast and we are excited for our upcoming workshops. 

We still have spaces open in our summer workshops! Enrollment will continue until workshops are filled. Sign up now!

Students don't need to be signed up for MLA's Summer Camp to attend Mountain SOL workshops but students enrolled in MLA's Camp receive discounts on Mountain SOL workshops.

• Workshops will run weekly, June 8 - Aug. 13  
• Monday through Thursday  
• 12:30 - 3:30p  
• Sign up for multiple weeks and receive discount pricing!

Week 3, June 22 – 25 (Option A):  Gardening Around the World

Ages 6 – 11  Learn about earth-friendly and resourceful garden practices from around the world, like composting, creating a rain garden, using companion plants, and seed-saving.  Campers also will plant an herb garden with flavors from around the globe.  In keeping with the week’s MLA summer camp theme “Down Under,” campers will have the opportunity to Skype with gardeners from either Australia or New Zealand!  Most activities will take place in MLA’s Learning Garden.

Week 3, June 22 – 25 (Option B):  Bird Nerd

Ages 8 & up*  Join Hannah on daily hikes to identify the many colorful birds that call MLA home for the summer. Did you know West Virginia has hundreds of birds that fly from Mexico and South America each spring to spend the summer in our forests? We will be focusing on learning to identify the birds by their appearance as well as their unique songs. Each camper will receive a personal bird identification book.

Week 4, June 29 – July 2:  Native American Traditions

Ages 6 & up*  Learn some of the traditions of the first inhabitants of this land such as how to use natural fibers to make cordage and dye fabrics. Campers will help build a traditional Native American shelter that will serve as our focal point for craft-making for the week!

Week 5, July 6 – 9:  Whistling In the Woods

Ages 6 – 11  Join Senora Jen in hiking our trails and learning to whistle with the birds on the Irish whistle!  This class is perfect for MLA students who want more practice with their whistle!  Prior experience not required, but Senora recommends that you purchase your camper a whistle to practice with prior to the beginning of the class.  Whistle NOT included.  Campers will make their own whistle songbook to take home.

Week 6, July 13 – 16:  Wild Lives in the Garden

Ages 7 & up*  Let’s welcome wildlife to our garden by creating various wildlife habitats for butterflies, birds, hummingbirds, moths, frogs and toads, and work to certify our habitat with the National Wildlife Federation!  Learn how plants and other features can attract wildlife to our garden, and how these animals can help our garden to thrive and stay healthy.  Most activities will take place in MLA’s Learning Garden.

Week 7, July 20 – 23:  Magnificent Monarchs

Ages 6 & up*  Let’s create art for our Monarch butterfly garden and habitat on campus, with the magnificent Monarch butterfly as our inspiration. Campers will create garden art and signage while learning about the process of metamorphosis and the Monarch’s incredible migration between Mexico and the US. Campers also will create a painted mural that we will share with our Monarch Sister School in Mexico.

Week 8, July 27 – 30:  The Next Steps in Tracking

Ages 8 & up*  No matter what your skill, this class is open to all students who LOVE tracking!  All that is required is curiosity to learn more about animal tracks and a desire to learn.  Novice trackers will learn to identify, draw and follow the tracks and trails of five different animals.  Advanced trackers will each be given a specific skill to develop based on their level of experience to challenge them!

Week 9, August 3 – 6:  Leadership & Natural Fitness 

Ages 10 & up*  In this ropes course style program, campers will play outside in a series of obstacles and challenges that they must mentally and physically determine how to overcome. They will learn basic principles for better climbing, jumping, crawling, and balancing and then use those skills to navigate a challenge course. Campers will develop the confidence and surefootedness required to navigate natural settings, as well as build general confidence and leadership skills.

Week 10, August 10 – 13:  Workshop TBA

We've had to cancel the Land Ethic workshop. Don't worry! We'll have another workshop lined up soon. 

*Mountain SOL can accept campers older than 11-years-old

Visit our website to view descriptions of our summer workshops and information about pricing and enrollment. 

Now do you see why the Mountain SOL staff are so excited about our summer workshops? They are going to be amazing! 

See you in the woods! 

Hannah Spencer
President, Aurora Lights