Summer Heritage Camp
The annual Summer Heritage Camp explores the history of the settlers, indigenous Native Americans and New World pioneers in a remote terrain that is once again at the frontlines of today’s borderlands issues. The Heritage Camp has its roots in the early “Artist In The School” curriculum provided by the River Pierce Foundation for students at A. L. Benavidez Elementary School from 1991 to 1995. While it was only an hour a day for 8 weeks, with an emphasis on the fine arts, the format was revised in 2003 when award-winning teacher Melita “Gigi” Rodriguez was invited to participate in program planning.
Kathleen Guerrero is an educator born in Laredo, Texas. She graduated from St. Edward’s University in Austin, and has taught language arts, Social Studies, science for 30 years, retired since 2001. Her first insect net is 63 years old and hangs in the “bug room” displayed along with entomological specimens, bird nests, feathers, sands, seeds, leaves, sea life, mushrooms and lichen, and other natural specimens collected while traveling the U.S. and various countries in the world.Her involvement with The River Pierce Foundation is centered on leading summer and outdoor education camps, informed by her training at Region 16 Education Support Center, Amarillo; Panhandle Chapter of Texas Master Naturalists; and Math and Science Conferences. Guerrero remains current by attending advanced training programs, and undertaking extensive research developing new programs.
