Craver Middle School, Colorado City, CO May 1-4, 2017

[Prone to Knit]

For the fourth consecutive year, Project Appleseed went to Craver Middle School in Colorado City, CO. This was part of their intensives week. Students are allowed to select their choice of class. Some of the other options this year were hunter safety, scrap booking, jewelry making, women's rights, infectious diseases, and doing a book review. Approximately 120 of the 180 students in this school chose the Project Appleseed class. Thirty were allowed to attend. The parents had to opt their child into our class.

The instructors involved in this were:  oneshot_onehole, Franktown_Kid, JustJax, ColoradoBoots, MedicDan, topcat, Skinner, Colorado Pete, and Prone to Knit.

We spent two days in the classroom, teaching about our shared American heritage, mainly April 19, 1775. Reenactors came in to tell of their kit and clothing, and what life was like then. The students did hands-on projects, such as making flags with symbols depicting what's important in their lives, making hardtack, and cartridges (using wax ball they molded and coffee grounds for gun powder). During the Revolutionary War, this task often fell to the children. Stories were told of dangerous old men and women, and children that stood up to make a difference during the war. They got to participate in a tax game, which riled many. We made history come alive!

Gun safety was discussed over and over. The students were allowed to handle firearms for a short period in the classroom, then the firearms were removed. There were no magazines or ammo in the room. They had to ask to see one, we picked it up and we both determined it was clear. At that point we handed it to the child. They had to say thank you, a sign to us that they had control of the firearm, and verify clear. They were allowed to dry fire, all the while keeping the muzzle in a safe direction. They then had to lock the action open, put the safety on, and verify clear before handing it back to us. We double checked clear and verbally accepted it as clear before laying it on the table.

On Wednesday, we went to the range, Sangre Shooting Sports Club, in Westcliffe. The club volunteered the range and charged no fees. All safety rules were reinforced throughout the day. We started out shooting .22 rifles. You would have been so proud at how safe these kids were and how they respected the rules. Later, a couple Garands and AR-15s were brought to the line for the kids that wished to shoot them. We had a good group of volunteers at the range which included gun club members and parents. A big thank you to the Colorado AR-15 Shooters forum for their donations and volunteers. We go through a lot of ammo!

Feedback on our years there from the teachers is that the students that go through our class become better students in all their subjects, having a new interest in the world around them.

Pictures will be coming.

http://www.krdo.com/news/top-stories/westcliffe-middle-schoolers-learn-history-and-gun-safety/479619933

http://www.selfdefensegunstories.com/?powerpress_pinw=331-podcast
Our very own Elizabeth (ColoradoBoots) discussing current gun stories. The first minute she discusses Craver and Appleseed.

[scuzzy]

Approximately 120 of the 180 students in this school chose the Project Appleseed class. Thirty were allowed to attend. The parents had to opt their child into our class.

The instructors involved in this were:  oneshot_onehole, Franktown_Kid, JustJax, ColoradoBoots, MedicDan, topcat, Skinner, Colorado Pete, and Prone to Knit.

http://www.krdo.com/news/top-stories/westcliffe-middle-schoolers-learn-history-and-gun-safety/479619933

[Ames]

Awesome!  120 out of 180.  These kids are hungry.  Starving, really. This is very inspiring!

[d2331]

Nice! 

[Skinner]

Once again we were not only teaching history we were making history. Not often do you hear about guns and school in such a positive manner. Everyone was SAFE and everyone learned.

As appleseed Instructors we all love what we do but a big THANK YOU goes out to the range and it's members, the parents, the volunteers who helped. Every year we do this there is a guy that drives in from Fort Morgan (four hours one way) just because he wants to help. America is full of wonderful patriots.

With more young people with attitudes like these kids this country has a great future.

[Prone to Knit]

Pictures

[Prone to Knit]

A few more.

[hogfamily]

HUZZAH!