E.X.P.L.O.R.E.
(Educational Xperiences through Play, Learning, Opportunity, and Rambunctious Energy)
E.X.P.L.O.R.E. is a summer day camp program founded by Ms. Kelsey and
former St. Gall teacher Mr. Aaron Gerstenmaier. This summer, 2011,
E.X.P.L.O.R.E. is in its SEVENTH season and is being run by Ms. Kelsey and
some very special guests. E.X.P.L.O.R.E. is open to all St. Gall students who
will be starting 7th and 8th grade in the coming fall. This year,
E.X.P.L.O.R.E. is open to students in classes 2012 and 2013.

E.X.P.L.O.R.E. was designed to teach students and introduce them to the
disciplines of art, science, language arts, history, and current events with
an emphasis on social justice and community service. More than that,
E.X.P.L.O.R.E. is an opportunity for students to see the city of Chicago,
volunteer in high-needs areas, learn about other cultures, learn about one
another, and learn about themselves. Students who participate in
E.X.P.L.O.R.E. have the chance to travel all over the city. "Explorers" have
travelled to the beaches along Lake Michigan, the Art Institute of
Chicago, canoed down the Chicago River, taken in baseball games at
Comiskey Park/U.S. Cellular Field, stocked shelves at The Greater
Chicago Food Depository, toured and eaten in China Town, scavenger
hunted in Grant Park, walked Michigan Avenue, visited the John Hancock
Tower, and travelled all the way down to Chicago's Navy Pier to see
performances of Cirque Shanghai. Last year, E.X.P.L.O.R.E.R.s learned
about world cultures through food, and they had the opportunity to make
meals of their choosing to serve to family and friends on the last day of
camp.

Requirements for E.X.P.L.O.R.E. are few. Students must attend all three
weeks of the program and must be entering 7th or 8th grade in the fall.
Students also sign behavior contracts indicating that they will abide by the
rules of E.X.P.L.O.R.E. and St. Gall School. Students and parents also must
sign permission forms for all field trip activities allowing students to
travel via school bus to visit various areas of the city. There is a $25 fee
to help cover costs for students, but some students qualify for
scholarships, and much of the cost is covered by donations to the program.
The $25 fee is one-time and covers the entire 3 week program.

E.X.P.L.O.R.E. is a positive experience for all students who participate.
Recent Explorers can tell you....

"Going to see the "cool globes" downtown really opened my eyes to how
wasteful we are and how we can help make our earth better."
--Jennifer, Class of 2009

"The scavenger hunt downtown was cool because we got to see a lot of
new places."
--Giovanni, Class of 2011

"Are you ready for E.X.P.L.O.R.E.?!?!"
--Adriel, Class of 2012
St. Gall Home
Programs
E.X.P.L.O.R.E. 2011 approaches!
Get your permission forms in to Ms. Kelsey!