Day 11: Leaving Harris Park onto Spokane: Moving on the way out

 Packed up this morning and we were ahead of scheule from being used to the regular hours now. Packed up and took the long drive to Spokane. There are showers, bathrooms, power plug ins, and HEAT. 

ITS HOT, thick air and humid. Im going to express it is suprising there are not more funding for this program and class, or, more support from the University to be able to support more classes like this throughout the summer. I know that there are basic necessities that are provided, but i feel it can be better. Such as, use of the Yakama Nations camp, if possible. Or volunteering groups working with the youth worker through WIOA, to have the camp get funded and fixed up for use, through the science class, or, the environmetal sect. Im just not feeling like it is getting the full potential it deserves. 

I have been a teen, once, and went to a program funded by the University of Washington, called the Science and Tribes Educational partnership:(S.T.E.P.) 

It was years ago, but the camp consisted similarities, tailored for high school students at the time of course, but it included similar things such as:

Fred Hutchinson experince at the facility for half the day(seattle)

Sailing

Aquarium, biology and animal preservation

Forestry, dams, and a specific target to experience a project and present in front of the directors of the program.

I feel more supplied stays, such as at cabins, like packwood, or others where it is more accomodating in cabins, would be more influential on the students and better accomodations and amneties. Its ridiculous to see how bringing most of our own gear and some sleeping bags seems "good enough", when theres a great budget being provided by the students to the school for the class, for the credits, but bare minimum when giving the support of the "experience". I like it, but i know it can be more. Im dissapointed. I feel there should be more support for the department in this experience. In the program that i went to, yes, basic necessities, but having a shared cabin inside would be more comfortable to to the experience. Especially for students that have never expereinced the outdoors. Its mostly, i felt, that students that may have left  could benefit from feeling more like at home. 

Other than that, im entirely grateful to the showers and accomodations. Its great and im curious to see what is next, although short, I am enjoying it. 

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