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Show t School & Student News Page A5 UVSC instructor receives prestigious designation Explore Life! Summer Camp set to begin next week The Real Estate Educators Association (REEA). an organization serving real estate professionals in the United States and Canada, recently presented the Real Estate Instructor designation to Utah Valley State College's adjunct faculty member, Linda Leavitt. Leavitt is one of only 109 people in the US and Canada to receive this designation designa-tion and one of only nine others in the state of Utah. "The process to qualify for this designation desig-nation is very challenging," Leavitt said. "But it has made me a better instructor." The qualifications for the designation are challenging indeed. Anyone wishing to receive the designation must first submit sub-mit a detailed application outlining what they have done to contribute to the community com-munity and their classes. The application must then pass a 125 question test with a score of 92 percent or better. The final step is to make a non-edited video of the applicant's performance in the classroom. "They judge your performance not only on your real estate knowledge but your overall presentation, how you handle student stu-dent questions, if you know students by name and other things like that," Leavitt said. The video, test and application are reviewed by five judges. Each applicant starts with 50 points and points are taken away if they fail to meet the stringent strin-gent requirements. In order to pass, each applicant must have at least 40 points. Even with all the additional work, Leavitt feels the process was worth it. "Why did I want to do this?" she asked. "Because it made me a better instructor and I have learned so much from this experience." Leavitt's next goal is to earn her bachelor's bach-elor's degree in speech and communications. communica-tions. "I only have a few credits left to graduate," grad-uate," she said. "I am earning credit here at UVSC, and my daughter and I will graduate together." Leavitt's three years of preparation for the Distinguished Real Estate Instructor designation have paid off through not only her personal development, but her professional one as well. "I am truly honored to have earned this designation," Leavitt said. National parks become nature's classrooms in outdoor programs DENVER Back-to-school season is fast approaching and people are already shopping shop-ping for essential supplies and clothes. However, not all students are buying paper, pencils and calculators. In sports and outfitter outfit-ter stores across the country, grown-up students stu-dents from their 20s to their 80s are purchasing pur-chasing different kinds of "school" supplies hiking boots, zip-off nylon pants, rain gear and wool socks in preparation for trips to national parks. These adults will be hopping on motor-coach motor-coach tours, hiking with the National Park Service rangers and participating in many other learning opportunities available in national parks throughout the country. Armed with discretionary time and income, these eager students tend to prefer to study national parks in the fall after the departure of vacationing families. National park visitation statistics show a dramatic drop in visitation from August to September in nearly every major national park. At the Grand Canyon, for example, total visitation in August 2002 was 561,929 while visitation in September 2002 was 394,459. Zion National Park reported a drop from 324,780 in August 2002 to 314,31 in September 2002. Yellowstone National Park visitation dropped from 806,661 in August to 523,902 in September. "We definitely see a change in our guest demographics from summer to fall," said Judi Lages, vice president of sales and marketing mar-keting for Xanterra Parks & Resorts, operator opera-tor of lodges and other concessions in many national parks. "Our guests in the autumn tend to be adults traveling without children who plan to participate in our various interpretive inter-pretive programs like motorcoach tours, trail rides and guided fishing tours." Xanterra offers numerous programs developed to enhance a visitor's experience by educating them about a park's geology, history and environmental challenges. Fishing guides at Yellowstone, for example, are quick to teach guests the proper way to hold a fish to minimize stress and about the merits of the park's catch-and-release program. pro-gram. They'll also provide information about the pervasive nature and potentially devastating devas-tating effects of the lake trout population Yellowstone Lake. At Petrified Forest National Park, Xanterra Parks & Resorts works hand-in-hand with the National Park Service to educate edu-cate visitors about the petrified wood found in the park and to prevent precious park resources from disappearing. Situated near the front of the Xanterra-operated gift shop is display with a large selection of reasonably reason-ably priced petrified wood collected outside the park's borders. Signs explain that park rescues are in jeopardy and encourage visitors visi-tors to purchase "legal" petrified wood instead of taking wood from the park. Formal educational programs are also available. Xanterra has teamed up with the Yellowstone Association Institute and the Grand Canyon Field Institute, both nonprofit non-profit organizations dedicated to furthering understanding and promoting education about the parks they serve. In both locations, "Lodging and Learning" programs provide "field trip" opportunities for education by day and comfortable accommodations, meals and interpretive programs by night. The popular "Trails Through Yellowstone" program includes four nights of accommodations, accommoda-tions, expert instruction from an Institute naturalist, backcountry hikes, meals and other programs. Xanterra and Yellowstone Association Institute offer interpretive programs pro-grams year-round, including during the increasingly popular winter season when most access to the park is via motorized vehicles like snowcoaches. A similar program at the Grand Canyon is called "Exploring the Grand Canyon, a Learning and Lodging Adventure." This program pro-gram focuses on the human history and environmental importance of Grand Canyon National Park. It includes two nights of accommodations, some meals and instructional instruc-tional materials. Participants hike and explore the Canyon along with a guidenaturalist guidenatu-ralist from the Grand Canyon Field Institute during the day and enjoy a comfortable room and hot meal at night. For more information about "Lodging and Learning" and other autumn-season interpretive inter-pretive activities available at Xanterra-operated national parks, visit www.xanterra.com. FACE Pres. Art Riccardi to speak AMERICAN FORK -Art Riccardi, President of the Foundation for American Christian Education (FACE) will address parents and educators edu-cators in a unique lecture on Christian-based location loca-tion through The Principle Approach Saturday, July 26 from 1:30-4:30 p.m. at American Heritage School in American Fork located at 736 N. 1100 East across from the Mt. Timpanogos Temple. Mr. Riccardi has authored and edited various vari-ous The Noah Plan curriculum cur-riculum guides, used by educators throughout the world. His services in education edu-cation include founding Gateway Christian School in Texas, Principal of the Year nomination, middle school principal and "Principle Approach" expert. FACE pioneered The Principle Approach. According to their Web site (www.face.net): "The Principle Approach is America's historic method of Biblical reasoning which places the Truths of God's Word at the heart of education." educa-tion." All parents and educators educa-tors are welcome to attend, however, tickets are required. For more information infor-mation or for tickets call American Heritage School at 642-0055 ext. 503. Tickets are $15 per person or $20 per couple. AMERICAN FORK - Children from all over Utah experienced the fun of exploring life during American Heritage's first Summer Camp session, and are anticipating the last session, which runs from July 28 to Aug. 1. "The children really enjoyed doing activities activi-ties that they wouldn't normally do," said Michelle Cole, camp coordinator. "Our instructors are amazing and they work so well with the children." Students begin the camp week in; Medieval Times, learning to defend their castles with the skills of broadsword fighting, fight-ing, archery, catapulting and rock climbing. Josh Wilson, a 10-year old explorer from Pleasant Grove, enjoyed his climbing experience experi-ence the rock wall. "Just having the goal to get to the top was cool," Wilson said. "I didn't get to the top the first time, but the second time I made it!" Explorers zoom through the school Tuesday in a day of space exploration. Glowing slime, super balls and ceramic story illustrations are the creations for the day. Space explorers also make rockets to use as transportation during their travels. Nine-year old Marshall Cook said, "I have never made a bouncy ball myself before!" Students travel from space to the South Pacific on Wednesday, where they dance and dress like the natives. Later in the day they even make an ocean in a bottle and perfect the art of storytelling one of 11-year old Krysta Felix's many favorite activities. "I really liked how the instructor used her hands to illustrate the story," said Felix, who came all the way from Anaheim, Calif, for the camp. Thursday bring frontier exploration through activities such as horse riding, orienteering ori-enteering and tomahawk throwing. On Friday, Students launch rockets, make giant bubbles and sign water balloons as they enjoy the friendship they have made throughout the week. Once again, the final Explore Life! camp session runs from July 28 to Aug. 1 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Openings are still available for 8 to 12-year olds. Registration can be done right over the phone by calling 642-0055 ext. 503. One precaution though: The camp is addictive! "The children don't want to go home at the end of the day!" said Cole. Freedom Academy secures new building; enrollment now open PROVO - Freedom Academy Charter School has signed a letter of intent to occupy a building in East Bay. Formerly occupied by Franklin Covey, the building is located at 1958 S. 950 East in Provo. "This location provides the stability and the space for Freedom Academy to fulfill ful-fill its vision and serve its families," said Andrea Perri, CAO of Freedom Academy. The 43,000 square feet will be used for K-6 classrooms, class-rooms, a gymnasium and a private preschool. A fence and playground will be added on the west side of the building. Other features include plenty of parking and easy access from 1-15 and Highway 89. Freedom Academy open enrollment continues through Tuesday, July 22. After July 22, enrollment will continue on a first come first served basis. For more information infor-mation call 374-6252 or visit provofreedomacademy.org. Freedom Academy is currently cur-rently interviewing teachers. Interested parties should send a resume to provofree-domacademyyahoo.com. provofree-domacademyyahoo.com. Freedom Academy (K-6) is a chartered public school overseen by the Utah State Office of Education. Classes will being Sept. 2 with an enrollment of approximately 350 students. The school is governed by a seven-member Governing Board; these board members are elected by parent of children attend- Youth cheerleading program to be offered by Orem Rec Center The Orem Recreation Department will be offering offer-ing a youth cheerleading program in conjunction with the flag football program. pro-gram. Participants will be grouped into the following divisions: 3-4 graders and 5-6 graders and placed on squads according to schools. Games are played on Saturdays, beginning September 13th. Cheerleaders will have a 4-day 4-day clinic before the football foot-ball season begins. Registration will be accepted accept-ed at the Orem Fitness Center from July 1st through August 16th, Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The registration regis-tration fee is $25 and includes a T-shirt and pompoms. pom-poms. VOLUNTEER TEAM MOMS ARE NEEDED NEED-ED FOR THIS PROGRAM! For additional information, call the Orem Fitness Center at 229-7154. ing the school. Freedom Academy's daily operation are run by a director who reports to the Governing Board. Freedom Academy uses the highly acclaimed, academically aca-demically rigorous Core Knowledge Sequence, Saxon Math and Spalding Language Arts. Other subjects sub-jects include art, music, Spanish, PE, computer science sci-ence and drama. Certified teachers with extensive training implement these curricula. Freedom Academy offers a traditional, tradition-al, back-to-basics environment environ-ment by limiting class size to 25 students, establishing a uniform policy and requiring requir-ing parent volunteer time of 40 hours per family. Braithwaite signs at WPU William Perm University and head coach Jim Cox recently released a list of athletes ath-letes verbally committed to play football for the Statesmen this fall. This list includes Troy Braithwaite from Orem Utah. Braithwaite played at Dixie Junior College before committing to the Statesmen. He is listed at the Offensive Tackle position at 6' rand 315 lbs. William Penn University opens the season at Drake in Des Moines September 6 at 1:00 p.m. Penn is idle Sept. 13 and then hosts St. Francis (Ind.) Sept. 20 at 1:30 p.m. (- ' u w m a -r- Wo want the scoop y on what's s inppui mi ly In Orem Call in News Tids: 225-1340 mm SFDRTING EOODS WESTERN WESR HARLEY-DAVIDSOII. 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