Monday May 7th, 2007
Dear Parents and Middle School Students,
We are going camping again! We are going to the Deschutes River State Recreation Area. We are going Wednesday afternoon through Friday morning, May 30th – June 1st. It should be great fun and much sunnier and warmer than our last few trips.
We need drivers! Our carpools will be loaded and on the way from Trillium around 1:00 Wednesday. We are encouraging the students to have already eaten lunch or eat lunch at school before leaving.
It is about an hour and a half drive depending on traffic along I-84. The campground is just past The Dalles in the Columbia Gorge. We shall leave for home from Deschutes River by 10:30 am Friday, and you can pick up your students at the usual end-of-school time (12:00 pm). Please decide on whether or not you can chaperone, help with meals and facilitate the cooking, and/or volunteer to drive back and forth. Let your advisor or liaison know as soon as possible
We also will have email sign-up, phone calls, and a list at the front desk and with each advisor. Parent support makes this trip run smoothly. Since we have about 20 more students in the middle school this year, and extra chaperone or two will be greatly appreciated.
As a staff we came up with a list of essentials for each student to bring:
Sleeping bag
Tent (please bring an extra to loan if you have one!)
Flashlight
Rain gear (you never know)
Sunscreen (it will probably be hot!)
2 pairs of pants (shorts good too)
2-3 short sleeve shirts
1 long sleeve shirt
1 jacket (this is important: it is always cold in the morning)
2 pairs of shoes
4 pairs of socks
Reading material
Journal (if you wish)
Frisbee, kite, football, games etc.
1 plastic bag
1 garbage bag
We have been asked about swimming. The Deschutes River can be unpredictable in certain times of year and we have NEVER allowed the students to swim. Wading and enjoying some calm waters is not out of the question, and the park rangers will help us make this call. It is not encouraged however, and we will have chaperones accompanying folks down to the river at all times. Please do not pack a swimsuit for your student.
It can be very chilly and windy at any time in the gorge, even when the sun is shining beautifully. Be prepared by dressing in layers, and don’t forget a jacket of some sort that will cut the wind factor. It always gets cold at night. Have warm, dry clothes available.
On this trip there will be required group activities led by parent volunteers and staff members after lunch both days (2-4 p.m.), as well as after campfire each night. This might include trips to the river, the surrounding forest (filled with Oriole nests), hiking, bacci, Frisbee, touch football, jump rope, badminton, and more. There will be plenty of time to read, hang out with friends, and have quiet time to oneself.
There are some rules of course, and some things to leave behind:
• Your teacher will be organizing the sleeping arrangements in the tents. Once this is done NO ONE may move or change tents. Consider this rule set in stone. Lights out at 10:30 p.m. and this is also the signal for quiet time. If students cannot settle, they will be moved. Boys and girls sleep separately without exception.
• Please DO NOT bring along any electronic devices (this includes Walkmans, CD players, Gameboys, PSPs etc.). We are camping. Feel free to bring an acoustic musical instrument, board games, cards, books, or a song!
• Snacks will be provided so please, NO soda, NO candy, and NO sugary snacks. If you have a student with blood sugar issues, let the staff know.
• The adults will be doing the cooking. There is no need for you to bring matches, knives of any sort (even Swiss Army or Leatherman tools), campfire hatches, or tools of any kind.
• There will be parent chaperones sleeping over and helping with the carpool. Please consider every parent as a staff member of Trillium on this trip and give him or her the attention, gratitude, and respect that they deserve.
NOTE: If you have paid the beginning of the year activity fee it covers the price for the camping trip.
We hope that you and your student will participate in this end of the year event. It is a wonderful way to relax and reflect on how we have gotten to know each other. And please let us know, again, if you would like to help in any way. We need your support. We look forward to having a great time. Thank you!
Kurt, Tobie, Nick, and Kirk
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