Keep On Tweeting
Dear Editor:Many citizens, especially the talking heads on TV, and even some of his minions, are asking President Grump to stop tweeting. I say, be careful what you wish for. What better way to keep track of this deranged and narcissistic mind? In fact, I think from now on all presidents should be required to tweet at least once a day so we can keep track of his or her sanity. We may get another bozo someday.
Ron Rau, Sitka
Diversity
Dear Editor:Thank you for the wonderful coverage on the ... ‘‘cold water swimmers from Russia and American friends...’’
As other cities rail and fight each other, Sitkans welcome and participate in shared historical functions.
Sitkans also quietly model honoring behavior to our children in the names of our schools. Baranof (Russian), Blatchley (community-minded private citizen), Keet Gooshi Heen (Tlingit), Mt. Edgecumbe (geographical) and I especially identify with Sitka High because I understand Sitka is a mispronunciation and I’ve been called Coke for 70 years because my 2-year-old brother couldn’t pronounce Coralyn.
The 38th Kansas City Ethnic Enrichment Festival celebrated its diversity this last weekend. And I’ve had a delightful read from the Kansas City Star when I Googled it knowing a Sitkan was in co-attendance.
Hats off to a community where differences do not result in discord.
Coke Oines, Sitka
SSSC Summer Camps
Dear Editor:Sitka Sound Science Center staff have been busy this summer with nine weeks of camps staying true to the 2017 summer camp theme of “motion.’’ Each camp was packed full of engaging experiences that delighted campers and camp leaders alike. SSSC is so thankful to the businesses, organizations, and individuals that made our camps unique and memorable and we want to express that gratitude in this letter.
We are very fortunate to have generous donors who make summer camps possible. Thank you to First Bank, Alaska Airlines, and White Elephant for significant donations to create and institute summer science enrichment opportunities. Additionally, the Juneau Economic Development Council with funding from BP Alaska, awarded SSSC a grant that supported the “Revolution” engineering camp. These donors made it possible to provide an exciting variety of topics, activities, and field trips for our youth and families and to bring experts to strengthen the foundation of the camp experience.
Community partnerships are the key to our camps’ successes. We value our enthusiastic partners at 21st Century Schools, Sitka Fine Arts Camp (SFAC) the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Sitka School District, and AmeriCorps Sitka.
Margaret Galanin, Ryan Haug and Kristi Coltharp from 21st Century Schools worked with SSSC educators and an entire fleet of volunteers to host the Ocean Adventure camp with middle school adventurers who learned to kayak, paddle-board, and snorkel in our ocean waters.
Artistic passions mingled with scientific leanings in several popular SFAC camps where collaboration between art instructors and science educators resulted in memorable experiences and products.
KK Prussian, Jacquie Foss and Jim Baichtal from the U.S. Forest Service facilitated geology field trips for an appreciative group of families during our “Earth on the Move” family camp. We learned that our island is an amazing place to study geology!
School-age children studying physics visited the Coast Guard Air Station to examine the mechanics of a helicopter to learn about rescue swimming. OS1 Tyler Goodson organized the tour for us and AET1 Chris Rangel and rescue swimmer Tyler Soijka shared their considerable expertise. Additionally, Coast Guard medic ES3 Scott Helfrich volunteered his time in multiple camps, most especially the engineering camps “Revolution” and “Blades in Motion.” Scott went the extra mile in testing the strength of bridges across our round ponds by throwing himself in the frigid waters wearing just board shorts.
We were also fortunate to have AmeriCorps volunteers Evan Lechner and Maura Bressar as camp leaders.
While most of our camp activities made extensive use of the beaches, trails, and green spaces right out our front door, we also utilized gym space in schools for a few days during the “Sports in Action” camp. We appreciate the Sitka School District allowing us time in their well- maintained gyms.
Summer camps in Sitka are exceptional due to the dedication of our sponsors and our partnering agencies to year-round, life-long learning. The Sitka Sound Science Center is grateful for the opportunity to provide quality camps to our community. In gratitude,
Janet Clarke, Education Director,
Sitka Sound Science Center
