Environmental Education Environmental Education Field TripField Trip(EEFT)(EEFT)

Grade 7 Grade 7 20132013

General Trip InformationGeneral Trip Information Trip Date: Thurs Trip Date: Thurs September 26,2013September 26,2013 Participants:Participants:

Seventh Grade Teams: Seventh Grade Teams: 7A, 7B, 7C 7A, 7B, 7C Students and Faculty, Administrators, Students and Faculty, Administrators, School Nurse and Parent chaperones School Nurse and Parent chaperones

Location:Location: Fairview Lake YMCA CampFairview Lake YMCA Camp

1035 Fairview Lake Road, Newton, NJ 1035 Fairview Lake Road, Newton, NJ 0786007860(973) 383 - 9282(973) 383 - 9282

“From a scientific perspective, I learned what a swamp looks like…From a social perspective, I learned what teachers are really like.”

Purpose of the EEFTPurpose of the EEFT

To help students get to know team To help students get to know team peers in a positive settingpeers in a positive setting

To assist students in getting to know To assist students in getting to know the faculty and vice versathe faculty and vice versa

To introduce students to our To introduce students to our character education programcharacter education program

To build a foundation on which we To build a foundation on which we can grow our environmental can grow our environmental education program at WESTEX MSeducation program at WESTEX MS

“I loved the stream ecology and the ASE team building”

Transportation to Fairview Lake Transportation to Fairview Lake YMCAYMCA

Transportation on School BusesTransportation on School Buses Travel Time = 1 Hour, 5 Minutes (47 Travel Time = 1 Hour, 5 Minutes (47

miles from the MS) miles from the MS) Students are dropped off or take the Students are dropped off or take the

bus and meet in the MS gym bus and meet in the MS gym between 7:30-7:45 AM on between 7:30-7:45 AM on Thurs 9-26 Thurs 9-26 and are picked up at approx 7:30pm and are picked up at approx 7:30pm that evening [ location to be that evening [ location to be determined] determined]

“I learned that the muck on the bottom of the lake is good for your skin.

Dining HallDining Hall MealsMeals::

Wed: Lunch and DinnerWed: Lunch and Dinner

--Meal Times:--Meal Times:LunchLunch – 1:00 PM – 1:00 PMDinnerDinner – 5:15 PM – 5:15 PM

The camp is peanut free and able to The camp is peanut free and able to accommodate special dietary needs. accommodate special dietary needs. Please let us know if your child needs Please let us know if your child needs dietary accommodations.dietary accommodations.

“The food was pretty good.”

Medical Facilities and Special Medical Facilities and Special AccommodationsAccommodations

Our School Nurse attending tripOur School Nurse attending trip Camp Staff on duty – Camp Staff on duty – Emergency First Aid Kits and AEDs at Emergency First Aid Kits and AEDs at

several locations several locations All staff trained in first aid and CPRAll staff trained in first aid and CPR Newton Memorial Hospital is within 12 miles Newton Memorial Hospital is within 12 miles

of camp and the Township of Stillwater has of camp and the Township of Stillwater has a rescue squada rescue squad

Medication will be transported by the school Medication will be transported by the school nurse. nurse.

“I learned that everybody was just as nervous as I was when coming to West Essex.”

Emotional IssuesEmotional Issues

Staff will closely monitor all student Staff will closely monitor all student interactionsinteractions

Character education is a major focus of the Character education is a major focus of the triptrip

Staff will call home if a student becomes Staff will call home if a student becomes uncomfortableuncomfortable

If a student is in distress or disobeying If a student is in distress or disobeying rules or directions, parents will be called to rules or directions, parents will be called to pick up their child and remove him/her pick up their child and remove him/her from the camp. Safety is paramount!from the camp. Safety is paramount!

““I learned when the sun shines on the lake, you can see 6 I learned when the sun shines on the lake, you can see 6 feet down.”feet down.”

OrganizationOrganization Students will be organized into 15 Students will be organized into 15

teams for all activities and meals teams for all activities and meals based on their based on their West Essex Academic West Essex Academic Teams [ A, B AND C]Teams [ A, B AND C]

Students will be responsible for Students will be responsible for setting, serving and clearing tables- setting, serving and clearing tables- schedule determined prior to arrivalschedule determined prior to arrival

“When teamwork is used well, you could get anything done!”

ActivitiesActivities All students will participate in Action All students will participate in Action

Socialization Experience activities (Socialization Experience activities (A.S.E.A.S.E.) ) These activities facilitate team building and These activities facilitate team building and group cooperation and are the foundation group cooperation and are the foundation for successful transition to the middle for successful transition to the middle school school

Students will also participate in aquatic Students will also participate in aquatic ecology, swamp, survival techniques and ecology, swamp, survival techniques and ridge hikesridge hikes

“I could become close friends with someone I just met.”

More………..ActivitiesMore………..Activities

-- There is a -- There is a Trading Post Trading Post for students for students to buy souvenirs, sweatshirts, etc – to buy souvenirs, sweatshirts, etc – each student has a scheduled time to each student has a scheduled time to shop in the trading post.. Average shop in the trading post.. Average price of sweatshirt is $25-$30 and T price of sweatshirt is $25-$30 and T shirt $15.shirt $15.

-- Other small items available as well.-- Other small items available as well.

“I learned many animals could lose their habitat because of global warming”

West Essex Survival PackWest Essex Survival Pack

THIS IS INCLUDED IN THE PRICE OF THIS IS INCLUDED IN THE PRICE OF THE TRIP! THE TRIP!

The light backpack is made of nylon The light backpack is made of nylon and contains:and contains:– A rain ponchoA rain poncho– A water bottleA water bottle

All items in our school colors!All items in our school colors!

“The team building was cool because I got to help other kids I never talked to or have seen before.”

InformationInformation

All families will receive – details AND All families will receive – details AND directions about downloading necessary directions about downloading necessary forms regarding:forms regarding:– Equipment and PackingEquipment and Packing– MedicationMedication– FormsForms– RestrictionsRestrictions– GuidelinesGuidelines

– YOU WILL BE CONTACTED BY EMAIL AND/OR YOU WILL BE CONTACTED BY EMAIL AND/OR PHONE MESSAGE…[ WE ARE GOING GREEN!]PHONE MESSAGE…[ WE ARE GOING GREEN!]

SPECIFIC CONCERNSSPECIFIC CONCERNS

If you have specific concerns that If you have specific concerns that you need to discuss , please do not you need to discuss , please do not hesitate to contact Mrs. Paula Arbadji hesitate to contact Mrs. Paula Arbadji or Mr. David Montgomeryor Mr. David Montgomery

- parbadji@westex.org- parbadji@westex.org

- dmontgom@westex.org- dmontgom@westex.org

Things to leave at homeThings to leave at home

FoodFood- any type of food is forbidden outside - any type of food is forbidden outside of the dining hall . Water bottles are of the dining hall . Water bottles are permittedpermitted

IpodsIpods, electronics, expensive electrical , electronics, expensive electrical equipmentequipment

Cell phones- Cell phones- the reception is very poor- but the reception is very poor- but can be used to call parents on the way can be used to call parents on the way homehome

Expensive clothing- Expensive clothing- remember we are remember we are camping!camping!

PLEASE PAY ATTENTION TO PLEASE PAY ATTENTION TO DUE DATES!!!DUE DATES!!!

Fee for the trip is $120 due by June 1. All Fee for the trip is $120 due by June 1. All information is on our website www.westex.org information is on our website www.westex.org under under MIDDLE SCHOOL- STUDENT LIFE TAB-FIELD MIDDLE SCHOOL- STUDENT LIFE TAB-FIELD TRIP INFO AND FORMS TRIP INFO AND FORMS

ALL FORMS and payment should be completed ALL FORMS and payment should be completed and mailed/delivered to middle school attention and mailed/delivered to middle school attention David Montgomery- 7David Montgomery- 7thth GRADE TRIP by GRADE TRIP by

JUNE 1 ,2013.JUNE 1 ,2013. Total fee includes meals, busses , activities, Total fee includes meals, busses , activities,

survival pack and a great way to get to know the survival pack and a great way to get to know the 77thth grade teachers and students! grade teachers and students!

PARENT CHAPERONESPARENT CHAPERONES

On our website is a form for parent chaperones. If On our website is a form for parent chaperones. If you are interested, please complete the form and you are interested, please complete the form and include it with your child’s payment and include it with your child’s payment and information . We will be assessing the need for information . We will be assessing the need for chaperones in chaperones in SeptemberSeptember at the start of school. at the start of school.

There is NO charge for chaperonesThere is NO charge for chaperones If chaperones are needed, they will be chosen on If chaperones are needed, they will be chosen on

a first come basis- however if you have a a first come basis- however if you have a medical concernmedical concern please contact Paula Arbadji at please contact Paula Arbadji at parbadji@westex.org and Denise Logan at parbadji@westex.org and Denise Logan at dlogan@westex.org dlogan@westex.org

“ I learned that swamps turn into forests.”

““We survived the 3 mile hike!!!”We survived the 3 mile hike!!!”

“ “ I learned that my teachers are pretty I learned that my teachers are pretty good at basketball”good at basketball”

“ “ I loved all the activities”!!I loved all the activities”!!

“ “ I am so glad that I came here”I am so glad that I came here”

They are ready for us…….They are ready for us…….

Please get your payment and Please get your payment and forms in on timeforms in on time…………

We are looking forward to a We are looking forward to a great trip! Thank you for great trip! Thank you for your cooperation! your cooperation!

Any questions? Contact..Any questions? Contact..

parbadji@westex.orgparbadji@westex.org

dmontgom@westex.orgdmontgom@westex.org