Greater Sense of Place
The Greater Sense of Place Experience is presented in the memory of Barry Hopkins
Barry Hopkins of Catskill was a devoted art teacher at CMS
and naturalist who helped create “A Greater Sense of Place.” This is
an innovative program that helps students appreciate and
understand the world in which they lived. Barry’s passion inspired
thousands of people to appreciate the beauty of our world and to
respect and protect the delicate balance of our natural environment.
Barry died in July 2007 after a long battle with brain cancer. Mr.
Hopkins shared his love and depth of knowledge of the Adirondack
and Catskill Mountains with many people. He delighted at being on the trails identifying
wildflowers, paddling a canoe while listening to the call of the loons, or searching for the
setting of a Cole or Church painting.
Barry was a dedicated member of the NYS Outdoor Education Association, the NYS
Art Teachers’ Association and the recipient of lifetime achievement awards from both
organizations. He also served as the vice president of the board of directors of the Greene
County Council of the Arts and was recognized for his many contributions to that
organization. Above all, Mr. Hopkins had a passion for teaching people to appreciate the
beauty of the world around us as well as to respect and protect the delicate balance of our
natural environment.
Greater Sense of Place
• Everyone participates!
Full Day Workshops
• Only select one full day workshop
Kayaking & CanoeingWhile paddling the waters of the Catskill Creek, the Hudson River, and the Livingston Marsh, students will learn the skills necessary when using a kayak and will experience the varied world of nature along the way. You will visit the Nautical Museum at the Catskill Point as well. (Bring extra dry clothes.) Permission slip required. Bring a bag lunch (no glass please!) Your clothes may get wet. Also bring a plastic zip lock bag to keep your valuables.
Hiking North & South LakeHike: Leisurely Hike
This light hike will explore the areas surrounding North/South Lake. You will hiking all day but the terrain will be relatively flat and easy to hike on. Permission slip required and bag lunch required (no glass please!)
Hike: Fitness HikeThis hike will explore the ledges, forest interiors,
babbling brooks that inspired our forefathers. “Go to the mountains and get their glad tiding.” For nearly 200 years artists and writers have flocked to the Catskills to capture the image of mountains. This will a more difficult hike. Permission slip required and bag lunch required (no glass please!)
Olana
Students will be taking a tour of artist Frederic E. Church’s former home. They will then be spending time outdoors discussing how the artists of the Hudson River School composed and executed their paintings. Students will sketch the views using the same techniques that made these artists famous. For the second part of your trip, you will hike the trails at Olana. Bring a bag lunch (no glass please!) Permission slip required.
Walking Tour of CatskillWalking around the village of Catskill, we will become detectives and look for clues about Catskill’s past in the architecture that survives today. We will also think about Catskill in the future, and learn about planning that has begun to protect Catskill’s shorelines from flooding from storms like Irene. Bring a bag lunch (no glass please!) Permission slip required.
Thomas Cole House & Gravestone Rubbing
You will examine Thomas Cole’s 1839 painting studio and learn what it was like to be an artist in the 19th century. You will also learn about the life of Thomas Cole, the Hudson River School of Art, and about the historic site. You will then create sketches based on these experiences and turn these sketches into original paintings. Spend the second half of this day doing gravestone rubbings at the Irving Cemetery. Research some of the famous people who are buried there. Permission slip required.
Safe Sitter Course
This course is being offered in partnership with Columbia Memorial Hospital. If you complete this class you can earn your babysitting certificate. You must be a minimum of 11 years of age to become certified.
Cohotate Preserve & Netting
Take a short down the Cohotate Preserve. Learn about your local wildlife, the history of the preserve and participate in some netting!
Bronck House & Beekeeping
Learn about the history of the Brock House. Also learn about what it takes to
be a beekeeper from our very own candid former social studies teacher, Mr. Muggeo.
Learn to Sew
Students will make a nine patch square and sew it into a pillow. Students will learn to cut, piece, and sew on a sewing machine. You will be staying on campus.
Fishing/Camping Skills
Bring your fishing pole and prepare to spend the day polishing up your fishing and camping skills. Permission slip required and bag lunch required (no glass please!)
Mountain BikingDo you think you’re strong enough to ride your mountain bike on North Lake roads and trails? Student must bring a bike with off-road capability to school. It will then be transported to beginning of trail. Helmet and bag lunch also required. No Glass Please. Permission slip required.
Photography & Journalism using imovie
• Learn how to make an imovie in this one day workshop. There is so much to creating a movie that you may not know about!
Hike through History- Saratoga Battlefield
Take a walk back in time through the beautiful Saratoga National Historical Park. Here in the autumn of 1777, American forces met, defeated and forced a major British army to surrender. This crucial American victory in the Battle of Saratoga renewed patriots’ hopes for and eventually led to our country’s independence. This full day workshop includes a hike through sections of the battlefield, a visit to the interactive museum and gift shop. Participants should wear comfortable walking shoes and bring a bagged lunch and optional spending money for the gift shop.
Ice Skating
In the morning learn a little about ice skating and how it is an important part of some peoples lives. Then in the afternoon, have you ever had the opportunity to ice skate? Spend the afternoon skating your worries away. Permission slip is required.
Pottery CreationWedge! Throw! Slab! Slip? These are just a few of the words and techniques that you will learn about at the Sugar Maples Center for Creative Arts. Have you ever wanted to use a potter’s wheel? Spend the day in the Center’s clay studio with Maureen Donovan and learn all about clay building and throwing on a wheel. You will also get a tour of the other professional art studios at the center. Every student will create at least one clay piece. Bring a bag lunch (no glass please!) Permission slip required
GeocachingGeocaching is a treasure hunting game where you use a GPS to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, outdoors. You can start right in Catskill and then go anywhere in the world! All you need is a GPS (or smartphone) and the ability to think outside the box. We will hike around Catskill and discover hidden treasures that you have probably walked or driven by every day. Please bring a water bottle and wear comfortable shoes and let the high tech treasure hunt begin! Bring a bag lunch (no glass please! Permission slip required. If you have one, bring a cell phone to use the GPS.
Half Day Workshops
• If you select a half day workshop, remember to register for an am and pm workshop!
Nursing Home- AM
Students will walk up to Kaaterskill Care in Jefferson Heights and work with the residents on crafts. The students will also learn about the residents and their histories. Permission slip required.
Zumba- AM & PM
• Do you enjoy dancing? Zumba could be for you. Come learn the basics of Zumba and have some fun! Permission slip required.
Painting with Chalk Paint-PM
What is chalk paint? What are its uses? What is it like to won your own business? Learn the answers the these questions and so much more! Permission slip required.
Felting Woolen Sculptures
Spend the afternoon with craftsman, Wayne Fisher making works of art out of wool. Learn a process in which a needle is used to reshape the wool into your creation.
Fire Department- AM
We so often hear that clang of a fire engine’s bell or the wail of a siren that we don’t think much about what that means. This workshop is designed to create an understanding of the training necessary to be a firefighter and will offer the participants the opportunity to hear about real life firefighting experiences. Permission slip required.
Martial Arts & Self Defense- AM & PM
Triumph/DoJo Martial Arts will present a program in the gym, designed to give you a basic understanding of how to best avoid dangerous situations that might be encountered in everyday life. Included in this program will be a beginner’s understanding of self-defense techniques.
Daytime Astronomy- PM
Do you think you can study astronomy in the daylight? Come find out with retired science teacher and artist Wayne Fisher.
Flag FootballDid you know Greene County has a flag football league? Come learn the rules and regulations of flag football and participate in a game.
Pizza
Learn the art of making pizza from scratch. An expert at Village Pizza II will teach you how to make pizza dough, select toppings, and bake a pizza. Best of all you get to taste the finished results.
Apollo 19 AM & PM
Learn about the Apollo 19 recovery mission from our very own Roger Lane who was a part of this.
No New Friends
Pilates-PM
Learn the basics of Pilates and what it is like to run your own business from.
GCCA
Experience your first art exhibit at the Greene County Council on the Arts. Then take a tour of a couple local artisans businesses on Main Street, Catskill.
Apple Picking- AM
Take a tour of an apple orchard, pick some apples and have a snack. Permission slip required.
Pie Baking- PM• Bake some tasty treats containing apples picked in the morning workshop. These
treats will be donated to the local food pantry
Law Enforcement- AM & PM
Learn from our own local law enforcement officers what it really is like to be a police officer. What does it take to become a police officer and what types of jobs exist within a police department.
Catskill Middle School
PERMISSION SLIP I GIVE PERMISSION FOR MY (SON, DAUGHTER)
(Full name of student)
TO TRAVEL TO ON
FOR THE PURPOSE OF
APPROXIMATE TIME OF RETURN TO SCHOOL IS
IT ( IS, IS NOT) NECESSARY FOR MY CHILD TO TAKE ALONG (HIS/HER) PRESCRIPTION.
IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY, I CAN BE REACHED AT ____________________________
OR _______________________________
Yes/No My child will need a bag lunch prepared for the trip off campus.
Date: _________________________
In case of accident or serious illness, I request the school to contact me. If the school is unable to reach me, I hereby authorize the school to call the physician indicated below and to follow his/her instructions. If it is impossible to contact the physician, the school may make whatever arrangements seem necessary.
Signature of parent or guardian ______________________________________________________________
Printed name of parent guardian _____________________________________________________________
Remarks: ________________________________________________________________________________
Allergies: ________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
Other Conditions: _________________________________________________________________________
Local Physician’s Name _____________________________________________________________________
Address _________________________________________________________________________________
Office Telephone No. __________________________Other Telephone No. ___________________________
GSOP FIELD TRIP SELECTED BY STUDENT
GSOP WORKSHOP
Regular Dismissal Time
(phone number)
(phone number)
(Date)
Sign Ups• 8th grade will have first chance to sign up Thursday and Friday during
academic seminar – come to Mrs. Funck’s Science room 26 with your permission slip signed and a pass – first come first served!
• 7th grade will have second chance to sign up during academic seminar Monday – come to Mrs. Funck’s Science room 26 with your permission slip signed and a pass – first come first served!
• 6th grade can begin to sign up Tuesday during their lunch periods- a table will be set up outside the cafeteria.
• If you have not handed in a permission slip and signed up by Wednesday, September 15th or we will be placing you in a workshop
• We carry on the workshops rain or shine• T-shirt money can be handed into the office – you must have your
permission slip as well as exact change in cash! You do not have to order shirt!
Create Dream Catchers- AM & PM
• Spend half of the day creating dream catchers to share with the local nursing home as well as for yourself. Relax and chat with your friends as you watch a movie pertain to Native American Culture.