We are excited to begin preparing for Mountain School! This is a nationally recognized environmental education and field science program that Conway School 5th graders will be attending.

Specific information about Mountain School will be sent home by your student's teacher a few weeks before camp and they will answer questions during the Zoom Meeting (see link below)

Your student will bring home a Mountain School packet with all of the necessary information. This newsletter is just to give you an overview and provide a few forms to help you get familiar with what the camp and what your student will need.

We know that sometimes finances are tight for families and the cost of camps is an unexpected expense, or just doesn't fit into the family budget. And, we want ALL students to have the opportunity to attend camp.

Thanks to the Conway School Board the cost for students and chaperones in 2023, 2024, and 2025 is only $30. The board will evaluate the budget and leverage outside funds when possible to reduce the cost of camp in future years.

We do not want the cost of attending camp to be a barrier to any student. If you need assistance paying the registration fee, please contact your student's teacher or Angela Pederson in the district office.

If you want to spend an exciting three days at Mountain School, please return the Chaperone Paperwork your child's teacher will send home. Based on the setup of the camp we will need male and female chaperones to assist us. We are also limited on the number of chaperones that can attend due to both the lodging at Mountain School and the cost for each person.

If your student is not currently taking medication, they may be by the time camp starts, so please review this information from our school nurse.

In preparation for your student going to Camp there are a few things you need to know about your student and medications.

If your student currently has medication at school (inhaler, epi-pen etc) you do not need to complete any additional medication authorization forms and those medications will go to camp with your student's teacher.

If your student takes any daily or as needed medications (allergy medications, seizure medications, thyroid medications, advil, tylenol etc), I will need a health care provider authorization form signed by both you and the health care provider. The medication will need to be in the original container (no baggies or medisets will be allowed). Please only send enough medication for the 3 day trip and keep the rest at home.

Sometimes students start taking medication for an illness or other issues right before camp. We need those authorizations so we can continue to administer the medication. We also have students who have seasonal or situational allergies, for example, they are fine at school but, if they are going off into the woods they need allergy medication. We will need authorization forms for those medications even if they are over the counter.

We cannot administer medication on the trip without the forms.

The completed forms and medications will need to be at school no later than the 20th of February so that I can get everything ready to go to camp.

If you have any questions, you can reach me by email at mcook@conway.k12.wa.us

Thank you,

Monica Cook

School Nurse

Chaperones and adults are allowed in the dining hall at 6:30am for coffee and tea

DAY 1

10:30 – 11:00 Arrive at Learning Center and unload bus

11:00 – 12:30 Student lunch & orientation, chaperone meeting & lunch

12:30 – 4:30 Exploration in small trail groups

4:15 – 4:50 Return to amphitheater for regrouping and games (ADULT BREAK)

4:50 - Meet in amphitheater to dismiss for free time

5:00 – 5:50 Assist students’ move into lodges and supervise free time

5:50 - Meet in amphitheater (Help students come prepared with WARM LAYERS for activity.)

6:00 – 7:00 Dinner

7:00 – 8:30 Evening Programs

8:30 – 9:30 Return to lodges (Lights out typically by 9:30)

DAY 2

7:50 Students gathering in amphitheater, chaperones meet in Dining Hall

8:00 – 9:00 Breakfast

9:00 – 4:30 Exploration in small trail groups

4:15 – 4:50 Return to amphitheater for regrouping and games (ADULT BREAK)

4:50 - Meet in amphitheater to dismiss for free time

5:00 – 6:00 Supervise student free time

5:50 - Meet in amphitheater (Help students come prepared with WARM LAYERS for activity.)

6:00 – 7:00 Dinner

7:00 – 8:30 Evening Programs

8:30 – 9:30 Return to lodges (Help students organize/pack gear)

DAY 3

7:40 – 7:50 Staff will arrive to check students out of dorms

8:00 – 9:00 Breakfast

9:00 – ~10:30 Exploration in small trail groups

10:15 or 10:45 Closing Circle

11:00 or 12:00 Lunch, load bus, and depart