Volunteers help make Gullah Gullah Days event successful

 

With the help of 59 volunteers, Gullah Gullah Days 2012 began January 30. The 10-day annual event sponsored by the Falk-Griffin Foundation of Pawleys Island provides student enrichment about Gullah history and culture to nearly 2,000 Georgetown and Horry County third graders.

“I enjoy the kids—interacting with them,” said Mike Casey, who serves as presenter of the “Plantation History” program. “They are so interesting!” Casey leads students through the Map Room, the “Etched in the Eyes: The Spirit of a People Called Gullah Geechee” exhibit, and to the Rice Trunk model.

In the exhibit room.

In the “Ricefield” program, students walk the Ricefield Overlook and The Lowcountry Trail to learn about life on rice plantations. “I enjoy service—especially for children,” said Chester Martin, who serves as an Education Support Volunteer, guiding student groups from program to program. “The programs they participate in here are a part of their growing up. Whatever they learn impacts their lives. If I can help make their learning a pleasant experience, they will remember that. I still remember things from the third grade.”

Along the Lowcountry Trail.

Nancy Kenny serves as Crafts Assistant during the “Music on Rice Plantations” program, at which students make tambourines that highlight Gullah words. “I enjoy doing that, but the whole idea of the event is why I (and others) serve,” she said. “We’re helping to do our part of preserving this culture. As a southerner, I want to make sure this important part of American history stays alive.”

Teacher comments have included:
• “Great job—all were very informed!” and
• “Beautiful day—the games after lunch were fun!”

Jumping rope after lunch.

“It’s a wonderful experience!” said Sally Kelly, who assists Joyce Cirino, Coordinator of Education Programs, with the daily coordination of programs, volunteers, students, and teachers. “The history is so important. The kids need to know about it because so much about this aspect of our country’s history has been left out of the books. So much of what they learn at Gullah Gullah Days is a contributing factor to their lives today—especially in Georgetown and Horry Counties. And, of course, I enjoy singing “We Plant de Rice” (which students sing with Ron Daise after they’ve made their Gullah tambourines)!

Making Gullah tambourine.

New Exhibit Intrigues Guests

Luther

Sweetgrass 05

The pictorial exhibit “Etched In The Eyes: The Spirit of a People Called Gullah Geechee” has intrigued visitors since its opening on January 9.

Comments include:
• “Beautiful, inspiring” (Todd, NC)
• “Beautiful and so important” (Murrells Inlet, SC)
• “Outstanding + + +” (Skaneateles, NY)
• “Excellent! Impressive!” (Reston, VA)

Photographer and visual sociologist David Herman is a Georgetown, SC native. He credits his photographs as “an ever-expanding collection of narratives (that) provides an intimate experience with the culture that ebbs and flows along the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor. It will allow you to cross a bridge that will never be destroyed, a bridge that although burdened by the trades of time has stood because of deep roots in the spirit.”

Installed by Ronald Daise, the exhibit includes a display of Gullah Grass dolls made by Vermelle “Bunny” Rodrigues of De Gullah O’man Museum of Pawleys Island, SC, informational panels, and a display of resources about Gullah language. It will be housed in Learning Lab 1 of the Wall Lowcountry Center throughout March 2. Hours are Noon to 4:30 p.m. daily.

“Dirt & Worms” Program is successful

“Dirt & Worms 2011,” one of our annual curriculum-based programs offered free through sponsorships to Horry and Georgetown County students, was highly successful. The four-week program held last October is a hands-on program designed to introduce third and fourth graders to the soils and soil components in our area. Participants also make earthworm terrariums that they take back to their classrooms.

Students listen intently to “Dr. Dirt” (a.k.a. Frank Beckham).

     

Hitting pay dirt, Frank brings up soil sample from upland area to compare with sample taken from marshland area. The soil probe gives students great views of the similarities and dissimilarities in the samples.

 

 

 

A student is eager to answer questions posed by teacher Joyce Santopietro.

 

With his smiling face, a student appears to be saying, "That is a good one!"

 

Teacher Joanie Wagner-Brenneisen and volunteer Pat Orr (also pictured above) also helped each student to learn a new perspective on the way worms are perceived, whether in the soil or on a wet paper towel in the classroom.  Of course, some of the worms were more cooperative than others.  Some just really wanted to get away!

Student appears to be saying, “It is OK? It will not hurt you.”

Teacher comments included:
• “Great as usual” (Palmetto Bays)
• “This was a wonderful day and very informative.” (Seaside   Elementary)
• “Everyone was kind, courteous, and patient with our children.” (McDonald Elementary)

A Stupendous School Year Is Upon Us!

"Getting ready to meet the busloads!"

"Eager listeners"

A new school year has begun! The Education Department has provided training sessions to prepare our volunteers to guide, teach, and enjoy school groups that visit Brookgreen Gardens. Volunteers are needed throughout the year. Interested persons who missed the sessions should contact us.

Teachers, wonderful educational opportunities are available! Registrations have begun to arrive for our three Annual Programs—“Dirt & Worms”, “Gullah Gullah Days”, and “Where the Trees Grow”—as well as our daily program offerings. Check out www.brookgreen.org, under the school field trip tab for all the information you will need from organizing your trip, right down to completing and sending in your Registration Form.

The 2011-2012 school year will be stupendous!

Children Play Early American Games

August was our last Children’s Activity Days of 2011, featuring the theme “Early American Kids at Play”. We had a great turnout!

The children made toys similar to those made by Native American and Gullah children living in this area 200 years ago.

Make-and-take activities included Tambourines, Button and String Game, Arrow Head Necklaces, the Sticks Game, and the Wood Catch it Game.

Especially fun this session was the Ring Toss, a game played by early Native American children.

Although Children’s Activity Days events have ended for the year, the excitement continues. Visit the “Early American Kids at Play” activity station and exhibit at Brookgreen’s Children’s Discovery Room, open daily from Noon to 4:30 p.m.

Bullfrog Campers at Brookgreen Gardens

The hot summer days of July brought in the rising 4th and 5th grade campers.

July 11th ‘s happy group.

July 18th’s happy group

On Mondays we visited the Butterfly Exhibit. The kids watched as Ms. Dana released some newly hatched butterflies.

The Brookgreen bus on Tuesdays took us toHuntington Beach’s Oyster Landing where the campers used seine nets and hand nets to catch the bounty of the marsh. A Naturalist from the park explained each creature found.

 

 

Sarah McGann from our Wildlife Dept. brought the kids a new way of helping out the otters and foxes. On Wednesdays they decorated enrichment balls.

There were several days when Mr. Ron would be waiting for us when we came back from an outdoor activity. He would help us cool down by reading some great books to us.

Every afternoon was filled with fun and creative arts and crafts activities.

 

Thursdays the campers learned how to key out trees by using a dichotomous key.

With a few minutes left before lunch, they explored the Children’s Discovery Room.

Fridays, they finished with a trip on the “Springfield” boat with Sally Kempfer. Later, they displayed their artwork to their family and friends.

A High-spirited 4-H Club Field Trip

On Tuesday, the 26th of July, a delightful 4-H Club group came down from Brunswick, NC. The leaders had gone online to our web site and wanted to take the Girl Scout Wildlife Program.

They began by doing a hands-on activity which showed how birds’ beaks are adapted to birds eating the food they find in their habitats.

Endangered Species was another topic discussed.

And what visit is not complete without talking about snakes?

On the way to the zoo, we encountered a broad head skink. It drew a lot of attention.

We also saw a squirrel’s nest.

Using binoculars and the spotting scope on the Lowcountry Trail, the kids looked for birds.

At the zoo, they were able to meet one of the original plantation owners!!!!! (Well, not really….).

They saw and we discussed all the animals at the zoo — from the otters to the raptor birds.

After lunch, we discussed and named the North Carolina symbols.
It was a good day with a great group of kids!