Classroom Without Walls: Families: 8th grade: Utica Rafting Expedition

Útica Rafting Expedition

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This program takes place in Útica (named after an ancient Roman city in North Africa) and Tobia (town with the highest production of panela in Colombia), which are located in Cundinamarca. This rafting expedition is in direct preparation for future High School CWW programs and is designed as a rite of passage in this final year of middle school. It is a special journey designed for students to explore an area so close to where they have been before and yet so diverse from their own lives. In this special experience, students will have multiple opportunities to meet peers from the locality not only during their CWW experience but also on the CNG campus. The journey will start in Tobia where they will get off the bus and hike to the town of Útica. Did you know this town was once a prosperous tourist destination where presidents were known to reside? What do you think happened to change that? I wonder why it was popular in the first place? In Útica, we are going to re-meet with some of the local students that already visited us on campus at CNG. They will have some great activities together focused around music. There is going to be time for rafting training before they hit the river in this special expedition. They will move the rafts to the starting point using the brujitas (small train). They are going full expedition mode and will be sleeping in hammocks in Útica. There will also be the chance to sleep in a tent if someone particularly wants to. They will visit a panela farm and learn the whole process from plant to the finished product. This is going to introduce them to the concept of genetics which they will be looking at later in the year. They are going to meet the people from Fundación Humedales who will tell them all about what they have been doing on the river over the last decade and prepare them for the scientific work they are going to help them with. Then, off they go down the river. On the first full day of rafting, they will be taking water samples of different creeks and water sources flowing into the main river, and of course of the main river itself. They are going to be investigating things like hardness, ph level, nitrites, nitrates and phosphates in the river, amongst other chemicals. They will camp in a polideportivo (I bet that's the first) in the middle of a very small town. Then, on the second full day of rafting, they will be accompanied by local fisherman who will show them how to use an atarraya (ney) to fish for specimens to be used in scientific study. They will learn all about different types of fish in the process. And of course, now that they are rafting experts they will be able to have a more leadership role in the raft. At the end of the expedition, they will be bussed to a lovely hotel in Villeta with an awesome pool and it's time to celebrate just being with new friends, old friends and peers.

Discover all the details about this program:

FLIER (English version)

CIRCULAR (Spanish version)

Learn more about Zambo, the company we collaborate with for this CWW program.

Introductory Video

Webpage

Scope and Sequence

• The connections to class in this CWW program are based around the humanities concept of impact. We will look at how landscape and climate change impacts the people and how people are willing to take risks in order to improve their lives. We will also look at the long term and systematic impact or cooperation and conflict that stereotyping can have on a modern culture. What a great way to look at this topic in a place where many students have driven by but rarely if ever entered a culture so different and yet so close to their own.
• In terms of science, there will be a dual focus. Students will be studying genetics later in the year and panela will be used as an opening activity and also a point of study throughout this unit. They will also be looking at the concept of river flow and water quality using math and science skills in the process. Students are going to be involved in hands-on science that will be used in an up and running study by Fundación Humedales that has been monitoring the river for over a decade. In terms of sociales, the focus will be on recognizing that social inclusion is an essential factor for peace in Colombia. Multiple opportunities to meet with local students is going to really allow them to discuss this important topic in class.
• There will be a core value focused on honesty and integrity with success skills focused on critical thinking.
• There will be particular focus on reflection skills with dedicated time to explicitly teach and practice these skills. We will work on perseverance and grit throughout the expedition. These experiences give us the chance to work on deep thinking, an important part of our learner profile. 
• Outdoor skills will allow opportunities for sleeping in both hammocks and a tent. Students will be taught knot skills giving them independence in hanging their hammock (with adult supervision). They will continue enhancing their wilderness first aid skills. This expedition has focused on more extensive water skills. They do not only sit in a raft and paddle from time to time like in seventh grade. Now they learn techniques such as raft rescue, ferry gliding and reading the river.
• The SDG 8 focus (sustainable development goal) for this CWW program is on decent work and economic growth. The visit to the panela farm and the importance of tourism in the area are great connections to SDG 8.