The First Day of Southwest Florida High School Weather Camp 2017
It would seem my lucky number seven (as a group, campers picked numbers to see who would write the first day’s summary) has bestowed upon me the good fortune of being the first to write a summary of our daily weather camp activities.
Yet, to say it was our first day ‘in’ weather camp would be incorrect. I would be negligent if I were to fail to acknowledge the fabulous prelude we had to weather camp on Sunday evening at Lowdermilk Beach.
Turbulent skies, the beauty of the sunset, and a series of double rainbows made for fascinating photography and drone footage opportunities. Yes, I am the owner of drone and used it to advantage that evening. Not only the campers, but their parents, were mesmerized by the sky show that unfolded overhead.
I think it’s safe to say, we all got a feel for our outgoing and knowledgeable leader, Mr. H. Michael Mogil, and his second in command, Matt Bolton, that evening.
Now, moving onto the first real day of camp. I must admit, I was quite unsure as to what to expect, aside from what I saw on the website.
I based my hopes and ideas of how camp might go on the previous camps I’ve attended. These included YMCA and “dude ranch” camps, which were composed of many, if not entirely, hands-on activities. Thus, that’s what I expected for the most part…going out in the field collecting data and so forth.
To reinforce the topics raised in discussion, we conducted various hands-on experiments, including one which allowed us to visualize the convective processes that occur in the formation and life cycle of thunderstorms: the experiment, which utilized a hot plate, Pyrex bread pan, water, and milk, gave us the ability to more readily conceptualize cloud formation and the rising and sinking of air currents in the atmosphere.
We also addressed the daily solar cycle and thunderstorm training. For the former, we traced our shadows on the parking lot asphalt (using sidewalk chalk) around 9:20 a.m. Unfortunately, a rain shower washed our tracings away. But, Aaron (one my fellow campers) recognized that we had started to trace a human sundial. For the latter, we took turns being rain showers and dropping precipitation onto an array of collector cups (i.e., rain gauges). We tried to have each camper’s precipitation pass over the same area. As a result, we had more than one inch of rain next to almost nothing.
Experiments like these helped me to better understand the topic of discussion (always a satisfying feeling). With that being said, day one flowed very nicely, and I look forward to seeing what else I can learn and complete in the coming days.
Given the varied mix of hands-on activities and lecture material, day one of weather camp was unlike my previous camp experiences. It was, more-or-less, a happy medium of experiences: interesting, hands-on activities, and information-filled discussion about many things. Any and all questions were answered and then turned into key points in a topic of discussion by the well-spoken Mr. Mogil.
For instance, suppose a question was asked about what type of cloud was outside the window. We would find out what type it was. Then, we would discuss why it was to our east, what made it a cumulonimbus, what the presence of a cumulonimbus meant, etc. This, in turn, would spark more questions.
Discussions were my favorite part of day one and, arguably, the most productive. All of my, and others’, questions were answered. I learned a surprising amount of information in just a few hours – for me, most notable new information was how to read radar-based radial velocity products and the processes that surround thunderstorm development across the Florida peninsula.
Prior to today, I considered myself as one of the more non-verbal, non-participatory students in my high school. I sometimes raise my hand to answer questions, but I rarely ask questions, and, even more infrequently, contribute to the conversation. A move toward combatting that tendency was a milestone I achieved on the first day of this weather camp! The potential to realize my ability for public speaking and interaction is just now being tapped into and I look forward to more! It is out of my comfort zone, and I am nervous. However, I feel confident and safe in this environment, and am eager to explore it further.
NOTE: As part of the camp experience, student summaries were critiqued by camp leaders and fellow campers. Then, edits and comments were shared in a group setting. This is part of the communication skill-building goals of the camp.
© H. Michael Mogil and Matt Bolton