We started our trip Wednesday at Hunter’s Honey Farm, a really neat place tucked away on a back-country road in southern Indiana. The residents learned about the life cycle of a bee, how honey is collected, and how beeswax candles are made. Everyone even got to bottle their own honey and roll a candle. We also learned why they cannot make blue beeswax candles. The natural yellow tint of the wax turns the blue coloring green!

After our picnic, the kids spent time exploring the pond and trying to catch fish, painted turtles, and a nonvenomous water snake. Yes, we verified that last part before anyone tried to catch it.

Dinner at Dave and Buster’s gave the students a chance to place their own orders, stay within a budget, and remember to leave room for sales tax. We also discovered that this group has some unbelievable gamers. We ended the evening at an awesome house found by the YSB legend known as Yvonne Duff, where we enjoyed the hot tub, watched movies, and played the card game President.

Thursday took us to the NCAA Hall of Champions, where students could handle equipment from different sports and test their skills through several interactive activities. Erika dominated two of the residents in the soccer shooting competition. Afterward, we walked along the canal, ate at Golden Corral, and headed to the Children’s Museum. The Golden Corral was a great pick because it allowed the residents to try something new without committing to a whole meal of it.  It allowed them to have more of something if they did like it.

The museum gave us plenty of memorable moments. Two of the residents were slinging pigskins but lost the field goal competition to yours truly. Residents also played baseball and tennis before heading inside to explore the dinosaurs, South America, and the powerful exhibit featuring Ryan White, Anne Frank, and Ruby Bridges.

We wrapped up Friday at the Indiana State Fair, where we visited the cow barn, fished, played FFA putt-putt, and fed baby goats and lorikeets. We also enjoyed plenty of fair food. Only Blaine Duff could drink a raspberry milkshake at 9:45 in the morning.

The kids were great, the staff was great, and I feel very fortunate to work with this team.

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Mr. Joshua D. Gibson
Alternative Education Teacher
Jay County High School / John Jay Annex
National ACTE Fellow, Region III
Empowered Teacher Advisory Board