Sitting in the Lucy Hammer Room at the James Blackstone Library in Branford, CELC students learn about how to write effective introductions and conclusions for their research papers. This is only one aspect of the larger world that is part of our year-long thematic study of Ancient to Modern Civilizations.

Each year at CELC we have a particular theme that weaves its way into areas of academic and experiential study. In addition to CELC’s 5^th-8^th grade curriculum, the thematic study is included through literature, math, science, etc.  Theme is also where students learn to write formal research papers.

During the past month, CELC students  have chosen a different civilization and time period to study, gathered resource materials, researched and read about their topics.  They were then taught to create a working outline and to take notes that correspond to the parts of the outline.  First drafts are now beginning to happen, and over the next few weeks, each will have completed a formal paper that achieves a grade level–appropriate word count, table of contents, bibliography, interesting visuals, and an attractive cover page. [Read more...]

Find out more about this exciting and innovative middle school program for students grades 5 – 8.

Contact us to schedule a visit !

Connecticut Experiential Learning Center (CELC) students benefit from small classes in a safe and exciting environment that builds leadership, promotes a love of learning, and challenges students to think for themselves.

CELC offers a full-time middle school program and special events for homeschoolers.

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for 2013 -14 Academic Year

The auditorium at the Blackstone Memorial Library will become transformed into a “living museum” of ancient civilizations, representing months of research and study by students of the Connecticut Experiential Learning Center (CELC).

The public is most welcome to attend this interactive “living museum” event Friday, 31 May 2013 from 12:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Each project contains a variety of informational items, including a timeline specifying dates of the civilization, list of important events that occurred within the time period; hand-drawn maps of ancient compared to modern geographical locations and place names of the region studied; a research report; and a plethora of visuals, dioramas, models, and more.

The students dress in costume to portray an invented persona representing the civilization studied, creating an authentic historical fiction account of their persona’s family, occupation, lifestyle, etc. and will eloquently share this story as visitors enjoy each display.

Visitors are encouraged to ask questions to find out about aspects of each civilization that is represented. From cuneiforms to Greek alphabet, from the story of Alexander the Great to the invention of the wheel, we invite you to join us as the civilizations of the Indus Valley, Persia, Mesopotamia, Incan Empire, Greece, the Celts, and the Maya all spring to life once again!

CELC students work with environmental educator Lucy Meigs throughout the year studying and exploring nature.  Lucy shares her passion for the outdoors and her expertise in botany, geology, and vernal pools. Vernal pools are temporary pools of water that provide habitat for distinct types of plant and animal life.  These pools are especially fascinating, as they changes throughout the year and are critical for “obligate” species – those species that rely on vernal pools for different parts of their life cycles.

During winter, vernal pools are often covered in ice and snow.  During spring and early summer, they contain water, and by late summer are completely dry.  The obligate species that rely on bodies of water depend on having enough water via rainfall and on having temperatures that are right for their needs.

Some of these species are fairy shrimp, mole salamanders,

[Read more...]

Boundless Log:

Bound for Boundless! 16 April: 5 a.m. airport shuttle to Newark, New Jersey. Hanging out in the United Club eating bagels and paying cards. Smooth flight, landing at 1:20 p.m. in Nassau, Bahamas. Greetings from Captain Jeff. Wind is right, and conditions best to set sail. We begin our 6-hour journey to Ship Channel Cay in the Exumas. A fine meal and a first night’s sleep aboard the gently rocking sailboat. The night is dark and the sky chock full of stars. We’ve arrived!

Tuesday, 17 April: Hello, Day! Surrounded by turquoise blue waters, white sands, pure and simple island nature, and we are the only people here. [Read more...]

Ancient cultures around the world are all very different, but the threads at the heart all weave the same story, the same messages and same wisdom. The times we live in are of great transformation. This workshop explores these shared threads of story and wisdom of several ancient cultures and how they can be of use to us on a personal level in a modern world. These teachings enable us to more deeply understand ourselves and the community in which we live, and to deepen our awareness and connection with Mother Nature.

 Some of the elements that we explore are the thousand year-old Peace Maker’s story and the Thanks Giving Address of the Haudenosaunee Six Nations Confederacy from North America, the marriage of the condor and the eagle and the five elements from the Atis Kichwa of Ecuador, the universal concepts of the Medicine Wheel, the Kanyini Principles of the Yankunytjatjara Aborigines from Austrailia, and the teachings and metaphors of the lotus flower from India. [Read more...]

This week at CELC learning continues with a poetry study, archery with Ranger Joe, conjugating Spanish verbs, multi-step equations, and oh so much more.  

CELC students create exquisite handcrafted cutting boards and swivel-top boxes during a woodworking class with master craftsman Ken Rowe of Krowe’s Nest Studio in Durham, CT.

CELC students witness signs of Spring that occur in vernal pools using collection pans and viewing scopes for close observation of an amazing array of life, such as frog and salamander eggs, tadpoles, insect larvae and other creatures.

CELC students visit Congregation Beth Shalom Rodfe Zedek in Chester, CT as part of their study of ancient civilizations and cultures.  Rabbi Rachel Goldenberg shares the Torah scrolls and other information about Jewish history. [Read more...]

by Anton, CELC student

Finally, it was time to leave for our bird-watching hike with Celia, an ornithologist leading us in a point-count study for the Branford Land Trust. We are keeping track of migratory and cosmopolitan birds that we see within a marked area of the Weil property.  Migratory birds are those that stop in an area for a period of time, and cosmopolitan birds are birds that stay in an area. I was ready, so I rushed out the door to catch up with the group on the way to Stony Creek’s Weil  property. Stony Creek is part of New England’s seacoast community and the first shoreline community settled in the 18th century.

When we reached the parking lot, I was handed binoculars and tiptoed into the woods that looked like a maze just waiting for us. There were only a few green leaves surviving the winter on the now almost-bare branches of the very tall,plentiful trees.In Stony Creek there are many kinds of birds [Read more...]