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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (June 8, 2016)
❘ / SIUSLAWNEWS ❘ @ SIUSLAWNEWS WEDNESDAY EDITION Siuslaw News Coast Life O UTDOOR A DVENTURES ❘ JUNE 8, 2016 ❘ SECTION B SENIOR NEWS CALENDAR INSIDE — 8B HITS THE BULL ’ S - EYE PHOTOS BY JACK DAVIS/SIUSLAW NEWS Popular 4-day program in its third season returns to Camp Cleawox B Y J ACK D AVIS Siuslaw News Students learn archery at Siuslaw Middle School’s Outdoor Adventures program held May 31 through June 3 at Camp Cleawox Girl Scout Camp. A bout 200 Siuslaw School District fifth and seventh graders participated in Siuslaw Middle School’s third annu- al Outdoor Adventures pro- gram held at Girl Scouts of Oregon’s Camp Cleawox May 31 through June 3. The 17-station four-day program included outdoor activities like kayak- ing, canoeing, fishing and archery, as well as survival skills, first aid, com- pass and map reading and plant and ani- mal identification. Native American sto- rytelling, dance, drumming and tradi- tional tool usage were also part of the program. Students were broken into small groups that traversed the trails through- out the Girl Scout camp during the four days, spending time at each of the 17 stations. According to middle school vice prin- cipal Andy Marohl, the district used to have a sixth grade outdoor school, but it was cut from the budget about eight years ago. “I personally like this model better,” Marohl said. “It brings two groups together and adds that mentor element of responsibility to the students.” Marohl said the decision to include the fifth and seventh grade classes was to create a sense of community in the middle school. Student kayakers and canoers (right) explore Cleawox Lake with the supervision of district staff and volunteers. “We chose the fifth and seventh grades because they will be our sixth and eighth graders this coming fall,” he said. “We like to see the eighth graders taking a leadership roll in welcoming in our new sixth graders.” Outdoor Adventures is funded by sev- eral grants, donations and money raised by the fifth and seventh grade classes throughout the school year. “Kiwanis Club gave the program $3,500, Western Lane Community Foundation gave $1,500 for the pur- chase of a public address (PA) system, which will be available district wide,” Marohl said. “The Parent Teacher Association gave us $1,500 and fifth and seventh grade fundraisers brought in just under $2,000. We also received some smaller private donations. “I like that students are raising money for the camp because it gives them ownership in it,” he added. In addition to funding, the program has received an outpouring of support from local organizations and govern- ment entities. U.S. Coast Guard taught canoeing and kayaking, Western Lane Ambulance taught first aid, Department of Forestry taught compass and map reading, U.S. Forest Service taught ani- mal identification and endangered species stations and Salmon Trout Enhancement Program (STEP) volun- teers taught fishing. “STEP has been doing very well,” Marohl said. “The kids caught more than 70 fish on Tuesday and more than 100 on Wednesday.” Lynn Anderson ran the Indian Education program with native story- telling and drumming. Jesse Beers explained how Native American tradi- tional tools were used, including a dugout canoe. Tom Grey, a school employee, became certified specifically to teach archery for Outdoor Adventures. In addition to school staff, more than 70 volunteers helped with the program. “I want to thank all the volunteers and the community for its support,” Planners estimate that 200 students attended the four-day camp, learning about Native American tools (left), animal identification (right), water and boating safety and much more. Marohl said. “Every year there is an outpouring of support for this program. It has gotten better every year. We appreciate the grants and the number of hours that volunteers put in.” Because this is the program’s third year, this year’s seventh grade class is the first to return to the program. They were fifth graders three years ago when the program started. “That has been very helpful with the culture around the camp because they have been here before and that generat- ed its own excitement,” Marohl said. “It has also made those seventh graders better mentors to the fifth graders. Things are working a lot smoother this year than they ever have.” Looking forward, Marohl hopes to expand the program to include at least one overnight camping experience for seventh graders next year. “That will give fifth graders some- thing to look forward to,” Marohl said. “I am looking forward to keeping the momentum going.” Marohl has been chosen to be the middle school principal starting July 1, when current principal Andy Grzeskowiak takes over for retiring Siuslaw School District Superintendent Ethel Angal. CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM