Camping together is the way we start our year.  We get together for a week to plan, agree on our laws, apply for our jobs, get our systems set up, elect our tribal leaders and get to know each other.   We come away from that first week connected.  I love having this time to get to know my students as people, and to begin our work for the year together.
Right:  Jonah and the dinner crew making pasta.
Below left:  Gary and the early morning breakfast crew.
Below:  Lina, Kahvi and Will chop veggies with Reka.  Gary supervises.

In the afternoons, we swim, dig, read, catch lizards, hang out, and become friends.


Students spend their mornings in classes.   They apply for jobs, discuss the qualities of leadership and the attributes of successful students. They do science experiments and work on projects together.

At night, students vote on legislation that they write in committees in the afternoons.   Modifications to our constitution and new laws for our handbook are hammered out around the campfire. 

Back-To-School Camping Trip
Camp Mattole
    We leave Monday, August 30th for a five day trip to Camp Mattole near Petrolia.   Parents are responsible for getting students to and from the camp.   Most parents are carpooling and we are driving down together.   Let me know if you have room in your car, or if your student needs a space in someone else’s car.  We leave from the school at 10:00 a.m. on Monday and will leave from the camp Friday at noon.   Drivers should plan to arrive at 9:00 a.m. on Monday and 11:00 a.m. on Friday so that we have time to load-up.  
Camp Mattole has little red cabins along the Mattole River with bunkbeds.  There’s a big kitchen and several classroom spaces.       
   We’ll spend our days doing some hands-on science, writing our student handbook and updating our Constitution, exploring the river, getting to know each other, and setting some goals for the year.   There will be a regular schedule with “school” assignments, but there will also be a lot of fun. 
    I’ve included a packing list, permission forms and a map with emergency phone numbers.  You can reach us on my cell phone 498-1770 and at the camp phone 629-3308.   A map, driving directions and a packing list are given below:
                        
                                       

Driving directions to Mattole Camp & Retreat Center 
66.6 mi – about 2 hours 9 mins

1. Take Hiway 101 South to the Ferndale Exit
2.Drive through Ferndale on Main Street
3.Turn right on Bluff Street/Ocean Ave
4.Turn left almost immediately up the hill on Wildcat Avenue
5.This becomes Mattole Road and you stay on it for about 36 miles
6.Camp Mattole is on your left, up a dirt road right before a bridge.


Camping Schedule 2010
Monday, August 30th:
9:00 Arrive at school.
10:00 Leave from Laurel Tree Learning Center  
12:30 Arrive at camp, eat our sack lunch, unpack, go over boundaries, go swimming at the river.
Join the daily schedule in progress –

Daily Schedule:
8:00 Breakfast
8:45 Cabin inspections
9:00- 10:00 We’ll break into four groups for activities including planning our projects for the year, reviewing and writing legislation, cooking class, and science activities .
10:15 -11:15 Rotate groups
11:30 – 12:30 Rotate groups
12:30 Lunch
1:00 Literacy hour – writing, reading or thinking (also called napping) in your own bunk.
2:00 River time!  Put on your sunscreen and we’ll swim, play, hunt for frogs and turtles, etc.
4:00 Snack
4:30 – 5:30 Afternoon Rotation
5:30 Free Time
6:30 Dinner
7:30 Campfire/committee presentations.
9:00 Get ready for bed, Brenda reads aloud.
10:00 Lights out!

Friday, September 3rd
8:00 Breakfast
10:00 All gear out and ready to be loaded into cars, campground cleaned
11:00 Parents arrive to pick up
12:00 Lunch, loading cars and hitting the road.
2:30 Arrival at Laurel Tree Learning Center.  Any parents not driving, please pick-up your students there no later than three.

Emergency numbers:  Brenda’s Cell phone (707) 498-1770, Camp Mattole (707) 629-3308

Packing List

Lunch for Monday

Waterbottle

Sleeping bag and pillow

Four summer outfits

Underwear and socks

One warm sweater/jacket for evenings

Swim suit and towel

Water shoes or old tennis shoes for wearing in the river!

Toothpaste and toothbrush

Hairbrush/Soap/shampoo

A book to read

One spiral notebook and pencils

Sunscreen/sun hat

Insect repellent

Flashlight

Any medication the student is currently taking w/instructions in a Ziploc.