On Oct. 9, 2022 Kretschmar Hall was filled with younger scientific minds than usual. Walla Walla University and Walla Walla Valley Academy hosted Upper Columbia Conference Adventurer events for children ages 4–9 across the conference. The Awards Day activities were designed to help Adventurers and their families find common areas of interest to explore, make new friendships and become acquainted with resources for their futures.
After a worship and opening event, children and families began to rotate through activities at the Winter Educational Complex pool, across WWU’s campus and at WWVA’s pond habitat area, horticulture classroom and biology classrooms.
At the WEC, Rachelle Lebold and Chrystal Flerchinger, water safety instructors, taught participants how to use life jackets correctly, how to help others in the case of an emergency and other safety information. Pool Safety Awards, which mirrored Red Cross swimming level requirements, were received by the children based on the level of skill they demonstrated.
Engineering department faculty volunteered their time to teach Adventurers about flight, which included an opportunity to earn the Build and Fly Award. “The simplest things like running with a balloon dragging behind them garnered the most excitement and giggles,” said Bryce Cole, WWU engineering professor, who assisted with the activities.
Adventurers participated in a plethora of activities, from swim safety lessons and habitat observation, to building and flying contraptions.
At WWVA, Adventurers had the opportunity to win the Habitat Award after observing a natural habitat including ducks, wildlife footprints, birds and a pond. Bob Nobuhara, WWVA science and agriculture teacher, showed Adventurers how to examine pond water under a microscope in the lab. They also learned to plant garlic in a garden and picked ripe tomatoes to eat.
A wide variety of projects allowed each Adventurer to engage in an area they found interesting. Event coordinators saw participants develop their motor skills, learn to navigate large group settings and discover potential studies and careers. “The major achievement was participating in organized activities with friends while learning more about technology and God's creation,” Cole said.
After the day’s activities, both parents and children expressed excitement to gather together again. UCC will be holding Family Fun Day in spring 2023, before holding Awards Day again in fall 2023. Interested families are encouraged to ask about the Adventurer Club at their local church or contact Anita Lebold, conference head coordinator, at atlebold@charter.net.
