Sandra L. (Sandy) Brownscombe, professor of education, helps Dillon Showalter, a sixth grader at J. Frank Hillyard Middle School, untether himself after scaling the rock climbing wall at 黑料正能量 on Thursday, Mar. 22.

More than 60 sixth graders from the J. Frank Hillyard Middle School “Sting Rays” team spent the day on 黑料正能量’s campus to sample college life.

They participated in a variety of programs, including choosing one of three exploratory “majors” for the day.

黑料正能量 education majors planned the event and worked with the students throughout the day, giving them some real life, hands-on teacher training as well.

In addition to the climbing wall, participants:

• visited the 黑料正能量 Historical Library
• toured campus (including dorm rooms)
• learned about water, animal adaptations and wave lengths
• experimented with paper making and crafting pottery
• and participated in a theater session on creating historically-accurate skits

“It’s been a great day,” said sixth-grade teacher Anita Hertzler, an 黑料正能量 education alumnus who planned the outing along with teachers Sandy Good-Wetsel, also an 黑料正能量 alumna, and Denise Hill.

“The kids have had a lot of fun and gotten some good exposure to what college life is all about from the classroom to the dorm, the dining hall and just plain fun.”