July 7th, 2007

As we journey towards our new home for the next two weeks we are all nervous about meeting new people. Some being hours away and some being just minutes. Some fly and some drive. We meet our roommates and soon become good friends. Our first night we were all nervous and trying to meet new people and become friends. As the night went on we had our first group meeting and watched a video about Oak Ridge "The Secret City." Later that night we journeyed on to pick up a few last minute items needed for our trip.

July 8th, 2007

Starting off the day we took an exciting trip to Maryville College to the "Mountain Challenge." We went hiking to find our destination which was all different places. We then ate lunch in the college lunch room where we had a buffet style lunch. Before dinner we had a couple hours free time where we could go swimming, nap or what ever we wanted to do. We had a wonderful meal consisting of Country Fried Steak, mashed potatoes, corn and rolls. For dessert we had apple pie with ice cream. After dinner we had a guest speaker who talked about the "Heartland of Oak Ridge." We had a group meeting where we got our badges for our next day of work. Before retiring to our rooms for the night we had some free time where some played cards, relaxed and others slept. Then retiring to our rooms for the night saying good night to all of our new friends.

July 9th, 2007

Waking up excited for our first day of work at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). We're supposed to meet our new work group, but before our meeting we toured the computer and robotics area of the lab. We enjoyed our first experience in the cafeteria. The atmosphere of the cafeteria was better than expected. The first day of work was fun and exciting. The day just flew by as we all worked diligently. We all relaxed down by the pool after a good day at work during our free time. After our taco dinner we all went to the movies. With a choice of "License to Wed," "Live Free or Die Hard," and "Evan Almighty." When we all were finished watching our movie and ready to go back to the hotel some of us needed to head to Wal-mart for some for things we needed. When we returned to the hotel it was time for us to retire to our rooms for our early morning.

July 10th, 2007

As we started to roll out of bed early this morning our journey began. We went to work for four hours, afterwords leaving for our field trip. As we loaded on to the greyhound for our trip to the Mayfield's Dairy Farm we said goodbye for the day. While the teachers stayed behind all the students left. Traveling first to the Dairy Farm then to Sweetwater, TN to the Lost Sea for our exciting tours. First we went to the dairy farm for the tour of the bottling processes. Then after enjoying our ice cream from Mayfield's once again we loaded the bus and hit the road again. When reaching our dinner stops we either went to the McDonald's or KFC. After our special dinners we set sail for the Lost Sea in Sweetwater. While touring the lost sea we traveled to a big empty room where all the lights where turned off to experience the room without light. Following our guide down the path some students would trip and fall others walking like the professionals. Eventually we ended up at the lake or the LOST SEA. Traveling out on our glass bottom boat we saw all the rainbow trout. The largest trout they have ever caught was 16.5 pounds, and was mounted in the main gift shop where you could buy anything from a rock to a t-shirt. While loading the bus to head for the hotel we all were enjoying the time to relax before the hotel. Arriving home we all had free time where some slept, surfed the web and others gathered round the pool to play volleyball or relax. Curfew came and we all got ready for bed for our next full day of work.

July 11th, 2007

Today was our first full day of work. We all worked for four long hours studying our projects and working hard right before lunch. As we journeyed toward the lunch room we all stopped and looked at the beautiful sites along the way. After lunch we all jumped back to work for our last half of the day. Leaving work at four we all loaded the bus to head for the hotel. We ate out again for dinner with the choices of Ruby Tuesdays, Red Lobster, Fazolis, and Taco Bell. After dinner we were assigned our bat excursion groups. With group A leaving the others behind to wash clothes and for free time. Before we left the hotel we learned what our presentations were to consist of. Group B traveled to Oak Ridge High school for the bat excursion. While everyone listened we heard about the different kind of bats there were and which ones lived there. They also took a small unscheduled tour of Oak Ridge. During the tour we saw places like The Chapel on The Hill and the old Guest House. While traveling home some slept and then before you knew you were back at the hotel. We arrived just a few minutes before we had to go to our rooms for the night.

July 12th, 2007

Today during work we all worked very diligently as everyone looked forward to group A doing their bat excursion. While group A traveled to the bat excursion group B washed their clothes. Later on after the other group returned we all sat around and enjoyed everyone's fun free time. As we all retired to our room's we made some last minute phone calls andthen most went to sleep early excited for our next day of fun filled adventures.

July 13th, 2007

As most were awake we all got ready to travel to UT and Pellissippi State Technical Community College. As we listened to the lecture on anthropology we seen some pretty cool and interesting facts about how you can donate your body to science. After leaving the anthropology lecture we headed for the agriculture part of the tour. During this tour we all toured the on-campus garden and greenhouses. While attending the garden we all had a large group picture. After touring we journeyed to the engineering building where we toured the Hill and the The Estahouse. When finishing up our tour we loaded back on to the bus and traveled to Pellissippi Tech. where we toured the campus in three different groups. As we toured the beautiful campus we all learned about things like where most of the classes and offices of the advisors were. Right before leaving for our next destination we learned about the benefits of financial aid. As loading on the bus we all got ready to go to the Bass Pro Shop. On our way there we got stuck in traffic as the road work continued. After leaving the shop we all got on the bus and crossed the road to the Tennessee Smokies Baseball Stadium where they lost the game by three points to the Moble Maybears. After the game we stayed to watch the fireworks that I would have to say were great. After leaving the game we loaded the bus and went back to the hotel where we all went straight to bed to get up the next day for another exciting day.

July 14th, 2007

While waking up a little later than usual we all loaded the bus and headed out for the day. Our first stop of the day was the Ripley's Aquarium where we had an hour to tour the aquarium before our next destination. Our next destination was the theme park Dollywood. Where we had two meal coupons for our lunch and dinner. As we all went our separate ways we enjoyed the day where we explored all the rides and all the scenery. While the long lines seemed to drag on and on we only seemed to ride few rides and stopped to shop in the gift shops right before leaving. As we all left the park tired and ready for bed we still had a good while to go before our curfew which was at 11:30 pm. As we all had free time we all sat by the pool and some watched movies and others just laid in there rooms and went to sleep early.

July 15th, 2007

Waking up some went to church and others slept in and just watched TV or swam in the pool till the others got back from church. As our day continued on we all walked to AMSE or the American Museum of Science and Energy. Here we all watched a short film and then we all toured the museum where there was many different exhibits. After leaving the museum we all walked back to the hotel where we had a little bit of free time before our dinner. We ended up eating at Ryan's for our buffet dinner. As we traveled back to the hotel after our delicious meal we were told that we had to meet in the dining room for our project meetings. We all joined our research groups for planning our presentation. After our group meeting we had some free time were we played in the pool, watched movies and other different activities. We all went to bed so we could get up early the next morning for hard day at work.

July 16th, 2007

As our early morning came we all got up for work on this monday morning. Arriving at the lab we all get straight to work. The day seemed really long for us because we all slept in the day before. The day came to a slow close as we all loaded aboard the bus. while departing form ORNL we all sleeped as we journeyed to West Town Mall where we had two hours of free time to eat and shop. We traveled back to the hotel to get ready to work on our group presentations. We all joined around tables and gathered all the information needed as in what each group was doing. Our group meetings came to an end and we all had an hour of free time to do what ever was needed. While some played out by the pool others went online or went to bed early. Turning in for the night our chaperones came and checked our rooms for curfew and we all hit the sack for the night.

July 17th, 2007

Yet another full work day layed ahead of us on this day. As soon as we arrived at the lab everyone rushed off to get to work in order to complete the tasks that were due before the final project. This day went by pretty fast because we were all working hard and wrapping up some of our jobs. When the bus came to pick us up at four o'clock, we all went back to the hotel and had about an hour and a half of free time. Then Buddy's Bar-B-Q catered to our hotel and everyone ate all the barbequed pork, chicken and potato salad they wanted. After dinner we had a meeting, then broke off into our groups before going to bed in preparation for another day.

July 18th, 2007

Today was another full day of work as we all left the hotel. Arriving at the lab we all got very busy. As some groups took different tours some stayed very busy at work. After our days work was through we all journeyed back to the hotel for some free time after our hard day at work. Around six o'clock we all had dinner from a catering company which is really good. After our dinner we all got together to work on our group presentations. As the night came to an end we all went to bed to prepare us for our last day of work at the lab.

July 19th, 2007

As the day approached quickly we all get ready for work and load the bus for our last day of work. We only had a half day of work to finsh our projects. As the day came to a close at the lab we all eat lunch and get ready to leave the lab to go practice our presentation. As we all practice our presentation's. We all gather for our last dinner together. With only one half a day we all pack our clothes for our last day.