Remember the fun of summer camp—exploring new things, making new friends, wearing clothes you could get dirty, and eating camp-style food? Compare that to the way most adults learn at conferences—lined up in rows of uncomfortable chairs, dressed in even more uncomfortable clothes, eating fancy food that looks better than it tastes.

What if we could learn as adults like we did at summer camp?

Ann Marie Przybyl, director of the Western New York Professional Development Consortium, has made that possible for adult educators. Each year, under her direction, increasing numbers of GED® teachers and administrators gather for GED Day Camp. They learn the latest information about GED preparation and testing, master new skills, and best of all, they have fun doing it.

"I am a former Girl Scout camp director," says Przybyl. "When I was younger I directed summer camps for many, many years. When I started with the GED program, I was looking for a clever way to make going to a conference fun. I wanted GED teachers to feel like they did when they went to camp."

Accordingly, Przybyl deliberately chose a hotel in a more rural community so attendees felt like they were arriving at camp. She titled all the workshops in camp lingo. Presenters tossed out suits in favor of jeans and cargo shorts.

Nonetheless, many participants arrived in suits the first year, carrying briefcases, and ready for another typical working day, according to Przybyl. They were greeted by presenters in hiking boots with whistles dangling from their necks.

"Pretty soon people realized that we weren’t kidding about making this fun," Przybyl says. "Each year, we give away something else for camp—compasses, whistles, water bottles, camp mugs. Those who have attended every year just about have a complete set of camping gear."

Numbers tell the story of how well the idea has been received. The first day camp, back in 2002, attracted about 75 people. The latest had swelled to more than 230.

Participants hear updates from the national and state level packed with statistics, trends, and information about subject areas students are struggling with. This is always the first session, called "muster."

But Przybyl doesn’t send anyone home with numbers swirling in their heads. She develops the rest of the conference to help participants find ways to make the numbers meaningful and address the challenges.

"When teachers hear in muster that students are doing poorly in computational math, we make sure the workshops address ways to help students with computational math," she says.

Przybyl also makes sure that there are sessions for new as well as experienced teachers.

"When a new GED teacher comes, she may be interested in a session on learning the calculator," Przybyl notes. "The next year she may want strategies for using the calculator. It’s the same with other basic topics. If you start with essay writing, the next year the teacher may want a session on how to use props from the real world to write an essay. We try to add tools and classroom strategies for brand-new teachers, experienced teachers, and everyone in between."

And teachers aren’t the only ones coming to camp. Administrators are increasingly likely to be in the audience.

"The overview and updates from Albany often attract GED program administrators," Przybyl says. "These people are terribly busy, but they will come to get the heads up from the federal GED folks. We do a lot of different trainings. This is one of the few not required for administrators that they do attend."

The sessions change from year to year, guided mostly from participant input.

"We ask everyone to fill out an evaluation," she says. "A really rich evaluation gives you a chance for feedback and tells you what people are looking for. We build the camp around topics that participants say they want."

"Campers" also have an opportunity learn about the resources that are available, according to Przybyl. Vendors are on hand to demonstrate their products and explain how they can be useful in the classroom.

And don’t forget the food.

"We always have a true camp lunch—chicken, potato salad, ice cream," Przybyl says. At first we would bring in s’mores, but now we have too many people. Still, it is always a big camp dinner."

If you think all of this sounds great but way too much work, think again.

Recently, Przybyl was in her office working on the agenda for the next GED Day Camp when her boss walked in.

"I really do appreciate that this is a big job," he said.

She had to confess that it really isn’t. "We take the evaluations from the previous year, sit down with the state and federal GED folks to find out what needs to be addressed, and build the agenda from there. Once you do it the first time, it is a lot of fun and not a lot of work."

For more information, call Ann Marie Przybyl at 716.631.1236 or email her at amprzybyl@gmail.com.

	A sample of camp sesions
	Muster (Updates from Albany) Kimberly Malcolm is back from the GED Testing Office at NYSED with the annual update from Albany. She will have insights about planning for GED 5th edition Tests, as well as regional and statewide data to review. Questions and answers are part of this session. Compass Work (Reading Basics for GED Prep) Reading is the most basic of skills. It provides access to other skills and knowledge, and is critical for GED Exam comprehension and success. This workshop will provide an overview of the skills and knowledge needed to understand how phenomes, or speech sounds, are connected to print; the ability to decode unfamiliar words; the ability to read fluently; and information about fostering reading comprehension. Your Camp Counselor is: Tanya Lipinski Trail Blazing (Effective Implementation Strategies to Engage Students in Mathematics) We will demonstrate how an integrated instructional approach, utilizing multiple representations, technology and problem solving, can be used to address "concept gaps" found through various assessment tools. Combining technology and research-based instructional strategies students can develop a conceptual understanding of mathematics concepts. Concepts ranging from operations, whole numbers, integers, fractions and decimals to geometry and algebraic thinking will be addressed. Participants will receive a CD and corresponding lesson support materials which can be used in a variety of learning environments ranging from resource, intervention, enrichment, and regular classroom use. Your Camp Counselor is: Perry Gelakis of Neufeld Math Winning at Tug of War (Engaging Reluctant Writers) Writing is one of the most difficult things to teach adults, yet it is central to passing the GED Essay. In this workshop you will learn how to inspire and support the reluctant writer through exploring the process of writing including brainstorming, revision, and writing a final copy. This is a hands-on workshop where you will have a chance to try these strategies yourself before bringing them to your students. Your Camp Counselor is: Sibby Falk Hide ’n’ Seek (Memory Tricks and Test Taking Strategies for GED Students) At the request of those who missed Nancy and Pat’s presentation at last year’s Day Camp, they are back with a repeat performance! Nancy and Pat have identified the best practices from last year’s workshops and have combined them into one session that will assist you in preparing your students for the exam. Your Camp Counselors are: Nancy Grouse and Pat Mahan of HSL Services C.I.T—Counselor-in-Training (Content Area Lesson Structure) This is the perfect workshop if you are a new GED Teacher, or if you’ve been teaching GED forever and are buried in too many resources! In this session you will hear the history of the GED Exam and learn how to teach it in content areas. You will align your teaching with NYS Goals and Performance Indicators, while you structure your lessons based on the specific skills required for each section. This training is fast paced and promises to help you organize your instruction for optimal comprehension and success. Your Camp Counselor is: John Iorio Advanced Camping Skills (GED Beyond the Basics) In today’s world, 80 percent of the fastest growing jobs in the U. S. require some higher education after high school. GED students need these higher-level skills in order to be competitive in the job market. This session will focus on how workplace materials can be used in the classroom in order to provide higher level instruction and improve students’ academic skills in the areas of writing, reading, and mathematics. Participants will receive sample materials and other resources they can take back and use in their programs. Your Camp Counselors are: Susan Pittman-Shetler and Bonnie Vondracek-Goonan Fire Building! (Engage the Brain and Motivate Yourself and Your Students) Marcia Tate is a former classroom teacher and staff development director, as well as an award winning motivational speaker. In this workshop she will help you find that inner motivation and rekindle your enthusiasm for teaching your students! Her suggestions for brain-engaging activities will give you some practical ideas for revitalizing your teaching and learning. Her enthusiasm and insight will have you laughing, clapping, and anxious to get back to your students!!

GED PD online from two of the counselors

If you were to attend the GED Day Camp "Advanced Camping Skills" session, you would meet Susan Pittman-Shetler and Bonnie Vondracek-Goonan, who, among their many adult ed credits, were also the principal writers for a free professional development website sponsored by KET to help teachers gain working knowledge of the GED exam and develop strategies for helping adult learners. In preparation for release of the current GED exam, Pittman-Shetler and Vondracek-Goonan were chosen to provide national GED 2002 teacher training workshops sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education and the GED Testing Service. KET chose them as primary content writers for the website. This website is full of valuable information, it’s easy to use and it’s free. See for yourself at ket.org/GED2002.