UNION RIDGE ELEMENTARY fifth graders take notes along the trail on the waterfall hike at Camp Cispus.
LED BY THEIR CAMP counselor, Ridgefield High School senior Carter Allen, students use the outdoors as their classroom.
RIDGEFIELD – For 46 consecutive years, fifth graders in the Ridgefield School District traveled to Randle, WA, to engage in five days of outdoor learning at the Cispus Learning Center.
Started by longtime Ridgefield resident and principal, John Hudson Sr., the program has provided a memorable learning adventure for Ridgefield’s elementary students annually since the 1969-1970 school year.
While at Camp Cispus, students use the outdoors as their classroom, receiving lessons in geology, biology, astronomy, emergency shelters and campfire safety from their fifth grade teachers. They study hands-on science and gain appreciation for the outdoors.
Union Ridge student Cameron Jones said, “I learned that one thing a person or an animal does can impact a lot of other things. In nature, a beaver can block water, killing trees and affecting where other animals are able to live. We need to be careful about how we impact nature.”
Parker Daniels said, “I learned that soil can have different pH levels. You can test it by getting a sample and putting drops on it. Then you observe the color to see if it’s acidic.” His brother, Max, added, “You’ll mess it up if you touch it with your hands.”
Daily hikes through the surrounding forested terrain give many students their first opportunity to experience some of the beautiful and interesting natural features found in Washington. Hiking destinations include ponds, a creek, a river, a waterfall and a cave.
Donovan Tront described his experience, “I liked being outdoors in nature. I especially liked the waterfall. We got to walk behind the waterfall which was really cool.”
Students sleep in cabins at the camp and eat their meals in the large dining hall. Each day begins with a flag ceremony and ends with a campfire. There is a focus on teaching manners, cooperation and responsible behavior. Of course, the camp experience would not be complete without the fun camp songs and skits.
Claire Jones reflected on her experience, “I will always remember the campfires, singing songs and everyone having a good time every night.” Max Daniels recalled, “I loved the campfires. We did a skit about the enlarging machine. When we finished, everybody laughed.”
A unique feature of the learning experience is the camp counselor role played by Ridgefield High School students, who must apply to be camp counselors for the week. Those chosen support the adult staff and volunteers in providing supervision for the fifth graders. The counselors stay in the cabins with students at night, lead students from one camp activity to another during the day, and support the teachers in facilitating the learning activities. In the process, they gain valuable leadership experience and receive the admiration of the younger campers who view them as role models.
Senior Jacob Burggraff shared his reasons for becoming a counselor, “I loved camp as a fifth grader, and since then I’ve always wanted to go back. I wanted this year’s fifth graders to have an experience like the one I had.” Asked about his preparation for the camp, he said, “We met every week in advance of the trip. We received medical training. We learned about what to expect when working with kids and what strategies we could use to lead a group of fifth graders. We also spent a weekend at Cispus to learn about the camp.”
All of the preparation made for a memorable week. “I really enjoyed seeing how excited the fifth graders were to be outdoors,” said counselor Sophie Miller, a senior. “They were pointing out plants and other interesting things that they saw.” She added, “The kids became very close by the end of the week. They had to rely on each other for support, because their parents weren’t there. It was awesome. I loved it.”
“The counselors were super nice, and they were supportive when we were homesick,” said Claire Jones. “My counselor was really, really fun to be around. She knew all the songs and taught them to us,” added her sister, Cameron.
Union Ridge fifth-grade teacher Laurie Pritchard has been taking students to Cispus since 1998. She has been one of the lead coordinators of the program for over a decade.
When asked about how she believes students benefit from the program, Pritchard said, “Fifth graders return seeing the world around them through a new pair of eyes. We do things at camp to protect the environment and to stay safe in the outdoors. When we return, students suggest doing some of the same things to improve how we work together back at school.”
She continued, “Many students that thrive in the outdoors, have struggled in the regular classroom. The success they experience at camp gives them new confidence when they return to the regular classroom.”
Pritchard also touted the benefits for the high school counselors, “They become mentors to the younger kids and guides for their learning. They learn compassion and understanding.”
Outdoor School would not be possible in the Ridgefield School District without the tremendous support of parents, volunteers, donors and the Board of Directors. In addition to the teachers and camp counselors, many community members believe in the experience so strongly that they make the trip to Cispus along with the students each year. Some even use their vacation to allow them to participate. They serve as the kitchen staff and prepare materials for the activities. There is even an on-site doctor.
Tront summed up the experience, “I made a lot of new friends, even my counselor. They have good food, too. I got to learn things I would have never learned sitting in the classroom.”
The Cispus Outdoor Learning Center is operated by the Association of Washington School Principals. For more information on the center, visit www.awsplearningcenters.org.
