Wofford Heights, CALIF. – From April 27 to May 1st, 7th and 8th grade students from South Fork Middle School will go camping for the week, participating in outdoor education and community service activities.
In the mornings, students will complete four hours of service projects with the United States Forest Service, Kern River Ranger District. Projects include tree planting, trail work, building birdhouses and bat boxes, archeology, work at the fish hatchery, etc.
In the afternoons, students can choose various outdoor education activities. They can hike, fish, raft the Kern River in rafts provided and guided by Kern River Outfitters, kayak on the lake with kayaks provided by Sierra South, and learn cooperation and perseverance on a climbing wall provided by Mountain and River Adventures.
The students also help in camp, with each student preparing at least one meal. California Land Management donates the use of the campground.
The Community Camp Trip is a cooperative effort between the school, involved parents, the United States Forest Service and private businesses in the area. Through the program, students learn about natural resources, responsibility, leadership, service and various careers.
This will be the 17th year of the program. The program was honored with a Spirit of the Land award from the U.S. Olympic Organizing Committee in 2001 and a Service Award from America Outdoors in 1998. Sequoia National Forest estimates that the value of the work that the students have completed is in excess of $75,000.
For more information about the South Fork School Camp Trip, please contact Jim Ritter at Kern River Outfitters at 760-376-3370 or at http://www.KernRafting.com
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