Friday, July 13, 2007

Farewell to Our Red Ranger

Oh, so we thought we were all going to get to sleep in until ten o'clock today before we had to go pet some alligators...not the case. I got up at about eight o'clock. Without an alarm. This camp has rubbed off on me way too much. Since today was Scholar's Day, I thought I'd try to make a good impression on any of my future professors and wore a yellow dress. I got to the Journalism Lecture at nine and by 9:05 had decided that dresses are stupid.

We met back at Responsibility around ten thirty to take a trip to Gator Land and meet Sam, the two year old gator. They didn't know its gender because they're apparently not interested in that sort of thing? Kelly is the representative for Busch Gardens in Tampa and...some place in Virginia. They also have a partnership with Sea World. She did a presentation on the type of work she does called "edutainment." "Edutainment" teaches kids a lot about animals, but tries to keep it really fun.

We stopped for lunch at noon and Dr. Freyermuth's son, Jacob, Alana (whose grandparents originally set up the SLAM program that allowed us to come for free. And we like free) and her friend Riley left us once we started acting younger than them and played aggressive Duck, Duck, Goose. Nothing was broken, but Vidhi did get a rug burn on her foot.

And Dr. Freyermuth returned to help us end our week by making us come up with an ethical scenario that dealt with one of each day's sessions. Although some of the arguments got a little heated, we were able to keep our cool and continue the discussions. Sort of.

Our final two sessions were about the weather and septic waste. It was called Septic City! I got beat down in a water fight. And then helped the girls lose in a kickball tournament. Because this was our last day here, there was a lot more picture taking, and many more thoughts of, "I can't believe we're leaving." We explored the corn fields, one block of the evolution of corn and the other of the mutations of the corn's ten chromosomes. Lots of midgets and one that actually had the ability to get a sunburn. It was the consummation of my corn self.

When we went down to the lake and were supposed to have canoe races. It turned into canoe tipping. What started as a peaceful sailing adventure ended as a fight to stay aboard the canoes. Somehow, Jonathan and Adam ended turning their canoe over. And then Jake tipped over Mia and Nikki. So Andrew and I chased after Adam and Jonathan with Dani and Kevin. Adam tipped us over and as we dragged our sorry selves ashore, Jake and Chris swam out to the middle of the lake just to tip over Dani and Kevin's boat. Andrew then thought it would be funny to pick me up and take me into the lake and dump me. Finally, we got John to put down his electronics because the boys dragged him in. And we smelled like poo all the way home.

There was a nap on my part after we got back, until about ten when we left to go to the Ag. Building and presented our inventions to the American Life Sciences Judges (Ce Ce and our counselors). Like American Idol, with no funny British guy, only John. and then it was time for Kevin to leave, so we all piled up on the stage to take some more pictures. On the way in, we had passed the very first picture they took of us at camp. And the one thing everyone noticed was how much space we kept between us. Our final group picture shows the friends we made and the fun we had. And there is no space.

Then it was time for one last game of poker and another round of pictures before ending our final blog of the camp. Can we stay four weeks longer?

(Brunch is at eleven in the Reynold's Alumni Hall. Mom, that means you have to be here by ten thirty.)

Thursday, July 12, 2007

The Day in Which We Sleep

The day was supposed to start at seven thirty when I was going to try and get the sand out of my hair. But...I decided that sleeping until eight and then running to Plaza 900 and getting dressed in fifteen minutes was a much better plan. Ra-aight.

The good thing was that there were only three sessions today. First was Lazers in Medicine where they talked extensively about their amazing cancer research using blue light frequencies to which when cancer is present gives off a different sound than normal. I didn't actually experience these sounds, but I have total faith in them.

Next Team Power Rangers went to the nuclear reaction facility, MURR (MU Reactor Reasearch) sans Jonathan because he forgot a picture i.d. They also had a lot of different ways to help cure different cancers, one that had between 35-50% chance of stopping cancer spread in its tracks on the bones. Another used small irradiated beads that once in the blood stream would get caught in the smaller underdeveloped capillaries of the tumor. The final one which was still in development, was placing Boron in microscopic carbon baskets and shooting them with neutrons. The Boron would then split and release high amounts of energy, killing the cancer and producing no amounts of radiation. Muy Bueno!

Andrew fell in love with the nuclear reactor. Her name is Veronica and they plan on being very happy together. No, but seriously, the blue glow eminated from the reactor core was faster than the speed of light is possible in water, and we were drawn to it like bugs to a big bug zapper. However, if we were to swim in the water surrounding the reactor, it wouldn't hurt at the time but afterwards we would have to take a very painful acid bath. And then you can say buh-bye to your skin. For Serious.

Naps and learning about the dirty things that grow on stairwells during Microbes in the Food We Eat. I lost count after Vidhi and Andrew both broke slides, how many were broken.

We went to Chipotle for dinner, and I'm still stuffed as I right this. Then we finished our projects and watched the Prestige. Or slept. Or talked on the phone. Or hit me in the face with a pillow.

Funny Thing That John Said in the Last Five Minutes

"You're googling things right now. And that's a verb. When what you should be doing is going to bed."

Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Day the Third (like Shrek. but funnier)

The first day we learning activity we had here was an ethics discussion with Dr. Freyermuth. but before that she had gone around and asked us all what we were looking forward to the most about the week. And I would guess probably 95% of us answered, "the float trip." So even though we were more tired this morning than we had been the first and second mornings, we were still eager to jump out of bed and wear our lime green float trip shirts to breakfast and aid in any way that would get us closer to the float trip.

The first order of business was to learn GPS tracking in Rock Bridge National Park and split into three groups while we raced around and found points that had been marked earlier and have Rachel sketch them. It was A LOT of walking. Uphill, backwards through the snow and sleet. And that was just for lunch. We met crossed the other group about halfway and John switched groups and started following us. Apparently, the first half was easier so he wanted to film that part. He made us go down into Devil's Icebox and climb around in the opening of the cave. Which wasn't a bad idea, considering it was about sixty-five degrees down in the Icebox.

After our long romp through Rock Bridge state park, we quickly boarded the buses and headed back to Responsibility to get ready for the float trip. We were stoked. Really, really stoked. Like kids on Christmas. We went to Plaza 900 for lunch, scarfed down a quick meal and grabbed towels and sunscreen. Well, some of us did anyway.

I was in the first group that went out kayaking while the other group went and scared flying Asian Carp. After we stopped at the sandbar and frolicked in the current, I was tired. I got dunked a lot, okay? When it was time to get back in the kayaks and canoes, we walked along the muddy, gross, squishy riverbed and then hopped into our boats. And then Jake tipped Adam and Andrew's canoe over. He claims they had it coming. I would like to point out that I got splashed the most and could not figure out how to splash back, but you didn't see me tip anyone's canoe. We switched places at a cave with freezing cold water in it. Using the chain-buddy system, we walked what felt like a hundred miles back into the pitch black cave. I literally could not see my hand in front of my face.

The second boat group didn't get to see any carp, but we stopped at another sandbar where David, our most quiet and beloved counselor started a mud fight. Which I valiantly lost.

Dinner was a five star event put on by the Hotel and Restaurant Management Dept. by the spectacular Chef Jeff. After dinner cooked by the Dept., we were given the tools to make our own dessert. The only thing that was nerve-wrecking was watching John try to flip our Banana's Foster with one hand. But it still turned out delicious. Afterwards, we stopped in at the Summer Welcome '07 Review and laughed our ice cream off.

The night ended with Andrew, John, Jake, David, Jonathan and Chris trying to teach me to play soccer. They didn't succeed. Actually, they failed, miserably. But we still had some good, wholesome fun. When we made our way back to the dorms, James used his magic teaching powers to get us to work on our projects. Eh...we still have tomorrow to finish.

And now, Andrew and I will go pass out. And not talk about music with David anymore. But he's going to the same Snow Patrol concert as I am. I'm so excited!

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

You're a Power Ranger, sit down!

If there's one thing Ce Ce didn't underestimate, it's our will to exceed expectations. We must've done more in one day than most camps do in their entire stay. Adam called me this morning at what still feels like an ungodly hour, but in truth I would have been late if I'd woken up at seven on a school day. Still in a Frankenstein haze, I walked up to a table of boys. They all turned looked at me with wide eyed stares strong enough to leave me wondering if I'd suddenly grown a third arm.

Turns out, they went running. Yeah. Andrew, John, Kevin, and Jake got up at six thirty this morning. I thought I was at science camp, not athletics camp. Me and any sport with a ball aren't exactly, on speaking terms. As we split up, I toured an Animal Hospital. When we went back to see the run away cow who had somehow made it up a flight of stairs into the Equine Quarter, we put on a pair of boot covers and stepped onto a sanitizer mat that squirted urine colored liquid. Ewwww.

Next, we were sprinting off to see the Hall of Heads, and the Bird Wall. Lots of stuffed animals. Not my favorite. Although anything that involves trying to stump a professor who says he can name any duck in any country has its potential. Then our professor brought out our competitive nature and asked two teams to be the first to classify eight small animal skulls. Two winners received the only stuffed bird you are allowed to have in a private collection. That's okay, I didn't really want to win anyway.

For lunch, we were finally on our own(ish) for about an hour to just relax and eat. Andrew, Nikki, Kevin, John played hearts. Andrew shot the moon and John got twenty-six hearts. He was ticked. I was wise and napped.

Bacterial Genomics = crazy lab coats that they are going to embroider with our names. Andrew's started a running tally of all the things we've been given this week. And we don't mind. Food Microbes = two agar plates to check for bacteria where ever they want. John's checking the bathrooms. I've got bets on either the keyboard or a cell phone. Everyone remember to ask Jonathan about his funny time at the Bacterial Genomics lab.

At night we traveled to New Franklin and obtained some funny pictures on the way of Andrew snoring in what we've decided is a Magic Seat of Doom. Anyone who sits there instantly starts to feel it's magnetic pull into sleep. We went miniature golfing and I hit a golf ball 125 yards. John says that's pretty good for a girl.

We went to Cold Stone and I got some delicious watermelon and we dicussed how many calories are in the brownie, caramel, nut and fudge creation. And now I have to go because I'm five minutes late for curfew (I know you're all surprised) and the counselors are closing in on me.

Monday, July 9, 2007

SLAM!

"You will have seven minutes to present your project with your group to us on Friday night," James tells us the first night. I can feel my heart drop. This feels a lot like school. You know, that place I thought I had escaped for three months? Even worse, it's a group project. If there's one teaching theory I know, it's the group project formula. Put an overachiever with two okay workers and one slacker stir twice and watch what happens. In theory, the overachiever sets the bar high and inspires the others to achiever their potential. Quickly, I came to my senses. It was a camp full of nerds. Chances are more likely that we'll beat each other over the head with a club trying to out-perform one another.

Our first assignment for the night was to a) come up with a name, b) come up with a Life Sciences invention, c) assign two shoppers to get supplies on Wednesday, one leader and one notetaker and d) put it together and present it Friday night for our (at the time) three counselors: Jon, Devin Doughnuts and Dr. James.

I guess Dani summed our counselors up best tonight after bowling: "James, you're like our dad. You tell us when to go to bed and what to do. Set the rules and stuff. And Devin's like our mom, she takes care of us. And you, Jon, you're like our big brother."

To which Jon replied, "I don't want to be the big brother, 'cause I deserve some respect. Can I be the crazy uncle?"

I've never been to any other camp before. Not bible camp or Girl Scout Camp or any other kind of camp. But I guess I didn't expect our councelors to be so enthusastic. I expected college kids who would rather be hanging out with their friends but really needed the college credit, so here they were. W-R-O-N-G. James just got his doctorette. That is WAY more dedication than even I want to think about. At least in one sitting anyway. When we got to Venture Out for some experiential education, they were probably more stoked to be there than we were. In retrospect, because in all likelihood they planned at least part of it. After playing something with a blob, we split into two groups: ninjas and giraffes by closing our eyes and making what sounds the two groups make. I'm pretty sure all the giraffes ran around saying, "Giraffe?" or "Not a ninja!"

We did several team building excerises, but none of them included climbing the scary tower that over shadowed us. Which was good, because one of the common threads of topic when getting to know everyone was, "Tell me again whose idea it was to send a bunch of nerds to a wall climbing place? Don't they realize we lack upper body strength?" We had to get a marble (our goal) through our tubes (steps taked to achieve the goal) to the bucket (the finish line), get everyone across the river, and have three groups finish three puzzles (when we all work together, everyone wins). Showers ("This is how it's going to be all week," James told us, and a chorus of groans went up), pizza, cards, games and in rooms by eleven thirty ensued. My head seemed to barely touch the pillow before I was waking up to go eat breakfast.

Just so you know, the Plaza 900 is uh-mazing. Every sugared cereal, bacon, biscuits, omelettes, juices, milks, butters, jellies, and fruits you can imagine. I made myself a handsome waffle with an MU insigna in the middle. Monday was a blur of walking, first to Brady Commons to get our student I.D.'s (Will I ever take a picture in which I don't look stoned?), then on a campus tour (Summer Welcome '07 is also going on. Adam pointed out two BSSHS kids.), and finally to a discussion in the Life Sciences building. The most comfortable chairs and some of the most interesting discussion about ethics in science (stem cells, abortion, cloning, animal testing, you name it, we talked about it). The garden path outside was shaped like a double helix. I know, you're jealous.

Then we split into three groups: lazers, deer, and biotechnology. Biotechnology consisted of a forty-five minute lecture and two lab activities. Then the Dept. of Law tried to steal us away and we toured the arena. The most expensive suite is 40K a year. You have to own it for at least seven years, as well as make a very generous contibution to some part of MU. Everyone was eager to get their AP scores and most of dinner was spent dicussing our cities and different friends. Then it was off to bowling where they gave us tokens. I challenged Adam to air hockey and lost, 5-7. Andrew and Jake entertained us all in DDR.

The day ended with a trivia game, meeting in our groups and Texas Hold 'Em. It ended when John had two aces and two were laid on the table. Three people went all in and lost. We're trying to get an okay to go watch movies in the pool at the Rec center. Devin says we're going to Cold Stone tomorrow. Twofer Tuesday! Cookie says that's all there is.