Outdoor camp is more than s’mores around the campfire for fifth graders at Horace Mann and James.
A tradition at Horace Mann for over 15 years, fifth grade teacher Ann Weilbrenner organizes the event, held at Forest Lake Camp. Linked to the fifth grade science standards such as living and Earth systems, the camp brings dozens of volunteers together to support an outdoor learning experience for our students. Ultimately, it provides an opportunity for students to experience an overnight camp while learning about nature through hands-on, authentic activities. And there is fun too.
This is the first year that fifth graders from James will attend camp with Horace Mann. Students pack clothing and shoes for the weather, bring bedding or a sleeping bag, and necessities such as shampoo and soap. For many, it’s their first overnight without their parents. Twenty high school students, many former camp participants, serve as cabin leaders. They are assigned a group of students to spend the two days with. Five cabins feature bunk beds, with additional cots donated by the 833rd Engineer Company. “Students bond quickly with their cabin leaders,” said Weilbrenner. “They will see their leader again on the field, the court, etc.
Students will arrive at camp at 1:30 on Monday, September 24. Four sessions will be offered on Monday, five on Tuesday. Sessions include First Aid, Fitness in the Forest, Fishing, Art, Shelter Building, Archery, Orienteering, Food Web, etc. Students will return to their school before the end of the school day on Tuesday. Volunteers help prepare meals and provide a full-time on-site nurse.
In the evening, there will be a campfire, camp songs, and entertainment provided by the OHS Improv team and the campers themselves.
There are benefits to having two schools attend camp together. “These students will be your classmates at Evans,” Weilbrenner tells students each year. They start making those middle school connections in camp, band, choir, etc.
There is no cost to the 88 students attending this year. The budget is approximately $4,000, which includes busing, food, camp rental, and supplies for sessions. A Helping Hands Grant from All-State provided $1,000 and the Ottumwa Elks Club is donating approximately $1,800. Other funds come from each school’s instructional budget and donations.
Weilbrenner measures camp success each year through cabin leader surveys and thank you letters sent to the adult volunteers from fifth graders. The thank you letters link to literacy instruction, reinforcing paragraph form and parts of a letter. “A lot of people put in a lot of time and effort into helping so that students can meet new peers and have fun,” Weilbrenner said.