Fun And Learning At The Same Time?!?

My name is Alex and I am very lucky to be part of the Performance Learning Program (PLP). Basically, instead of using textbooks, like in an ordinary school, we use iPads as a big part of our learning. We also have the chance to go on these amazing field schools as well! I have always loved learning and trying new things, especially facing challenges, to overcome the to be a “goal-accomplisher”! I also love sports such as soccer, skiing, swimming and basketball! 

The northwest trek wildlife park was really fun and I loved learning new things about the living things and their habitats. First, we looked at some feathery friends; owls, eagles. Next, we went on a tram ride and found some bison, elk, big horned sheep, and many more. After the tram we saw some bears, cougars, beavers, otters, etc. I think that it is important to have this “zoo” here because it can teach kids and adults to take care of the animals because it is their planet too.  Also, to possibly convince people to not do any hunting, etc. I think what would mostly inspire their work today would be mainly just all of nature. Nature and wildlife is a beautiful thing and the northwest trek wildlife park is telling us that it could be like that forever.

In front and behind the base, facing the water, there are two mountains of dirt so that people coming in to attack can’t see them. Also, if they were the ones attacking, they would have a huge cannon pop up and shoot at the enemies’ boat. Before this mega base there were two other bases; one made out of dirt and the other made out of bricks. The one made out of dirt was built to protect from gun shots because it would absorb the bullets. Although, it rained a ton in Oregon so they had to rebuild it almost every day. The base made out of bricks did not protect them from gun shots but did not melt in the rain. This I when they discovered concrete and decided to make the mega base that we have today. The base isn’t perfect though and is not very safe to use today. 

Favourite meal of the day: dessert at Dairy Queen!

Hatfield Marine Science Center Speedy Science

The criteria that was used for the experiment was the scientific method which is the question, hypothesis, materials+methods, collecting the data and a conclusion. My group and I were asked to do an experiment on six crabs (3 small ones and 3 big ones) and make them race. We thought that the smaller crabs would win since they are more agile, etc but, on the other hand, it turns out that the bigger ones won. We think that even though the smaller ones may have been more agile, the bigger ones were more quick to figure out what was going on unlike the smaller ones who stayed in one place for a long time. 

I am looking forward to doing the Highlife adventures because...

I am excited to see an elk because it’s the animal that really represents Oregon. Also, I’ve never seen one in person, sure I’ve seen deer, but they are not exactly the same. I hope to see one at the Northwest Trek Wildlife park. 

The Astoria Column is 125 feet tall and is covered on the outside by a Sgraffito that depicts history of this area.

This was a moment of my life that certainly changed my world view. It was a summer day up Indian arm, we went to go play on these floating things on the water near a friends house. I climbed one (as you can see) and got my ankle stuck in one of the handles. I was hanging from there for quite a while. I told my friend to go get some help, she went to get her dad. He kayaked there and started to climb the floating object that I was hanging from, it started to tip while i was still on it, it was falling on me. I was almost completely exposed to water, thankfully, I had a life jacket on which really helped me. My friends dad had no choice but to rip the handle off so I could get out. 

Depoe Bay is known as the smallest navigatable harbor. On March 11, 2011, the port was damaged by a tsunami caused by an earthquake off the coast of Japan. 

Tillamook Cheese Factory and Izzy’s Buffet

My thoughts on eating the food at Izzy’s buffet...

The reason that Tillamook was founded here in Oregon is because it used to be a farmer-owned co-op in 1909. In 1851, the first settlers arrived in the Tillamook Valley and enjoyed the oregon coast’s cool, wet climate because it gave the land more rivers, bays, green grass (perfect or raising cows!) and healthy plants! Over time, they have evolved and started to sell their own dairy products: ice cream, cheese, etc.

The people of Cobble beach or Yaquina head call this attraction a “marine garden”. If everyone could bring rocks home with them, he beach would not be so much of a garden anymore. 

This is Kaia and I touching a dead clams that we found on the shore. The tide wasn’t low enough so we didn’t have the chance to go to any tide pools.

Cabella’s

Rhiann, Ally and I trying to be elephants! 🐘

I think that activities like this are important to smaller towns because it would attract more tourists. Also, it could sort of “represent” the town in some way  just like the Statue of Liberty represents New York City or how the Eiffel Tower represents Paris. Highlife adventures clearly got a lot more tourists to come visit Astoria, Oregon because of how exciting their company and zip lines are. This zip lining company must be pretty lucky to have such nice and enthusiastic employees as well to get costumers to come back another time. I certainly loved going zip lining today and would absolutely love to come back.  

Today, it was the bus ride that was the greatest (and longest) part of the day. We were either jamming on to some music or sleeping mostly. 

Columbia River Maritime Museum First Nations Section

There were many things that impacted the first peoples when the colonists arrived in their area. Firstly, the culture of the First nations is very different today from what it was like back then. Also, the residential schools didn’t do much good either. The horror of those schools impacted generations to come, to this day, First Nations are affected by it. Lastly, I am glad that those schools don’t exist anymore, still many things including the ones mentioned really impacted and changed the first peoples and their culture.

The sea lions that are sitting on the docks are al males that haven’t found a female to start a family with yet. 

Cannon Beach is most well known for Haystack Rock. It is sometimes called the 3rd largest intertidal rock in the world. 

Columbia River Maritime Museum Crossing the Bar Section

I would probably not be willing to cross the bar mainly because of all the shipwrecks that have happened in that area. Also, I would need to study that certain subject for at least ten years and would need lots of sailing and/or boating experience which does not really appeal to me. On the other hand, if I were to do it, it would be a great experience if I were to survive crossing the bar and a great story to tell to my friends and family.

Hatfield Marine Science Center Visitors Center

The reason that they have a tsunami machine here in the visitor center is to make people aware, that this area is a tsunami prone zone. Just like in Florida, where they have hurricanes, this machine would serve as a sort of drill. They also have tsunami drills just like the one on October 18th of every year.

Hatfield Marine Science Center R.O.V. Challenge

My group tried to make an ROV that was not too big and not too small but that could still work for the task that we had to do with it (pick up silverware and marble with a magnet). One of the challenges that we had was the size, we tried to make it as small as possible but still efficient. Building it and making sure the sides were equal was also hard since the tubes weren’t all equal sizes. We did our best to make them equal and make the ROV as efficient and good as possible and we definitely succeeded. I wouldn’t really change anything next time other than having other people who didn’t have as much of a chance to control the ROV more opportunities. 

I think that my group did a pretty good job with the R.O.V. Challenge. After we built the R.O.V., we had to put little floatation devices so that the R.O.V. would still float but not too much, that took quite a while since it had to be perfect and very precise. There was a competition was to get as many objects as possible to win in 30 seconds. The most that we got was 7 or 8 objects which is pretty good and we won against the team that we were versing. It was really fun I think that my group and I worked really well as a team together and also had some fun along the way. I’m glad to be in a group with them since we all work very well together and none of us know each other from school since we all went to different ones! I am really glad to be in this class, we all get along so well and work well together!

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