Vare-y "Special" Earth Stewards

The Philadelphia School District fulfills needs at Vare Middle School Life Support Class for some very special children. Larry Stier, teacher for special needs students from Vare, skillfully guides the class. Larry's unique teaching position allows these students to learn to interact with folks outside their world. Every other week a school bus has brought the class to the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum for outdoor educational experiences. The following report explains the special photo event conducted by and for Vare's Life Skills Support Class.

"What does this say?" asked Chartae, a tall, pleasant thirteen-year-old student from Philadelphia's Vare School. I read Tinicum's Photo Contest announcement to her. "Is that a lot of money?" she questioned as I read the prize list. "I want to enter the contest. What do I do to enter?" You have to take a picture of people, animals, birds or landscape anywhere on the Refuge was my reply. "How can I get to the Refuge? What's a landscape? How can I take a picture?" The questions came quickly. Every answer elicited a new question. "Will you help me?"

Patiently I suggested she take the form home, and talkthings over with someone there. The trip was almost over, and the bus was waiting. "You haven't helped me!" Hurriedly I had her write her name and address on the entry form, and gave it to her. She climbed on the bus and left.

Two weeks later when Chartae returned with the class, the questions immediately began. "Do you have a camera? Can you take me to the Refuge?" No way had this child forgotten "the contest". None of my answers would help her enter.

I realized that if this intellectually challenged girl remembered for two weeks, it was important to her and there must be something we could do to assist.

The life skills class from Vare requires lots of help. Did we have any disposable cameras remaining from our earlier photo contest? Could they be used for a non conforming special photo event? Would the Friends group pay for processing? Would Larry Stier approve? How can we make something happen?

Bill Buchanan pointed me toward Photo Committee Chairperson Larry DiPietro who approved our request for three disposable cameras (81 frames). Teacher Larry Stier felt we could use his class's final visit of the year to the Refuge for a special event. Education Specialist Erika Scarborough worked the event into part of the Earth Stewards program. The Friends Group would pay for processing.

Larry Stier developed three clipboards so the "photographer" and subject of each shot could be documented as the picture was taken. (A great idea for a perfect event !! Very well organized!!) Larry's students were then divided into three groups of three to four each, and we headed for the Refuge trails. The first three pictures of each camera were correctly documented. Then, a few steps farther along, one ofthe boys presented me with a camera that "wouldn't work". Of course it won't work after someone has exposed every shot!! The young man had taken more than his share of the class pictures!! Gone was the "perfect" event!

We reorganized the groups and tried to have the remaining camera work documented, as the kids chose Canada Geese, the bus, students at work on their Earth Stewards project, and landscapes to snap

Picture taking completed, the class climbed onto the bus still talking about their pictures. The film was developed and the resulting pictures mounted in a notebook. Before school ended, the class had an opportunity to see the finished product. Accordingto Larry, it was a cursory look by all students except Chartae who studied each picture and selected her entry for the photo contest.

An entry for the contest is a success for Chartae as well as a fun time for the rest of the class. How often are we able to help fulfill even a small aspiration? The Vare special education class felt extra special that day and at least one young girl hopefully will remember the day with joy whether or not her entry wins a prize. For these kids, the T-shirt each receives will be a grand prize.

Phillips Petroleum, by sponsoring the photo contest was in this case, an integral part of John Heinz Refuge educational program. The fact that assets were readily available enabled this extra special program and event to happen quickly and with no red tape. A sincere "thank you" from all of us at Tinicum.

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