By: Mary Herstel
McCall Outdoor Science School
At the McCall Outdoor Science School (MOSS) for the first time this past June, the
ÁNiMO program brought together local Spanish speaking students from the ages of 10-
14 to practice leadership skills and build relationships with one another, the natural
environment, and their community.
Drawing on her background in Spanish/English language teaching and curriculum
design, MOSS graduate alumnus Alyssa Uhl took the initiative to develop the dual-
language ÁNiMO program. Uhl collaborated closely with the Multilingual Learners
Program Director of the McCall-Donnelly School District, Sarah Covault. Covault
supported Uhl in connecting with Spanish speaking students and their families in
McCall. In the final stages of program development, Uhl articulated a clear goal: to
create “…a more equitable space at MOSS for those in our community experiencing a
critical need of affordable summer childcare.”
During the 3-week Spanish speaking session from June 10th to 28th, students in the
ÁNiMO program immersed themselves in a range of activities designed to foster
curiosity and connection with the natural environment and each other. Using Ponderosa
State Park as a classroom, they studied macroinvertebrates in the Lily Marsh and
canoed across Payette Lake to Duck Bay where students made observations of the
natural world and worked together to make meaning of what they learned.
The program also emphasized community engagement and stewardship. Local author
and speaker Emily Wakild visited, and ÁNiMO partnered with local organizations like
The City of McCall, the McCall Public Library, Brundage Mountain, and MCPAWS
Regional Animal Shelter.
Instructors ensured activities were student-centered, culturally responsive and
engaging. For example, upon discovering students' shared passion for dessert, they
organized a baking session in the MOSS kitchen. The result: an afternoon of joy as
students came together to prepare a beloved treat, Pastel de Tres Leches.
The transformative power of outdoor programs is evident in the restorative outcomes
they foster. For instance, during the first days of ÁNiMO, students initially hesitated,
unfamiliar with each other and their surroundings, lacking a sense of belonging.
However, as they worked together to craft the Pastel de Tres Leches later in the
program, their progress became apparent. Campers involved in this program were encouraged to embrace their childhood and find happiness in nature and with each
other. Over the three-week program, instructors witnessed a remarkable evolution:
increased confidence, enhanced collaboration, and heightened social and
environmental awareness among the students. ÁNiMO's profound lesson lies in the
effectiveness of multilingual specific outdoor programming, demonstrating significant
educational, self-efficacy, and environmental stewardship benefits for a diverse student
population.
On their last day, instructors gathered students at Osprey Point to reflect on their
experiences with ÁNiMO. As they perched on the Peninsula’s highest point, students
independently responded to journal prompts with their favorite memories from the
program, what they learned about themselves, and what they learned about the
community. Favorite memories included–
Canoeing
Getting library cards
Playing with the kittens at McPaws Animal Shelter
Group-baking Tres Leches cake in the MOSS kitchen
Bike Rodeo Day with the City of McCall
Swimming
Planting the pollinator garden
They learned that they are each inherently unique, their community has access to
beautiful nature, and that it is good to respect each other as well as the nature around
them–one student also made sure to note their newfound enmity of mosquitos.
Instructors made sure to reflect on the experience too. One instructor learned how it is
possible to successfully carry out a dual language camp that makes students feel
understood and heard in their native language. All instructors agreed that this
experience inspired them to continue working with Latine students, providing them with
experiences of joy, trust and understanding.
After three weeks the ÁNiMO team became a close-knit family and there were tears as
farewells were said on the last day of the program. Student responses and their interest
in next summer’s program affirmed the present and future value of MOSS programming
for McCall’s Latine population.
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