Haw River Field Trip 2016
For Rising 5th Grade Students
October 5-7, 2016
Students will spend three days and two nights studying ecology in the wetlands environment within Haw River State Park. The skilled instructors of the park’s Summit Environmental Education Center will lead students through fun and engaging activities designed to help students better understand the biodiversity that can be found in North Carolina.
Our field trip to Haw River State Park will give students an incredible opportunity to study ecology through fun and engaging activities taught by environmental experts. Students will develop group interaction skills, self-confidence, and environmental knowledge that directly coincides with the 5th grade science curriculum, all within a setting that cannot be replicated at school.
Sample Daily Schedule and Possible Activities
Note - Schedule and activities will be determined by Haw River State Park and are subject to change.
Day 1
10:00 - Arrival (flexible; add 2.5 hours to departure time)
10:15 - Introduction in ampitheater
10:30 - Large Group Games and Adult Orientation
11:00 - Split into groups
11:15 - Ice Breakers
12:00 - Lunch
1:00 - Learning Group Activities
3:00 - Cabin Check In
3:45 - Snack
4:00 - Learning Group Activities
6:00 - Dinner
7:00 - Nighttime Activities
8:30 - Camp Fire
9:00 - Snack/Bedtime to follow
Day 2
8:00 - Breakfast
9:00 - Large Group Activity
10:00 - Learning Group Activities
12:00 - Lunch
1:00 - Learning Group Activities
3:00 - Rest and Relaxation
3:45 - Snack
4:00 - Learning Group Activities
6:00 - Dinner
7:00 - Nighttime Activities
8:30 - Camp Fire
9:00 - Snack/Bedtime to follow
Day 3
8:00 - Breakfast
8:30 - Cabin Check Out
9:00 - Large Group Activities
12:00 - Lunch
1:00 - Departure
Possible Activities
Animal Adaptations
Bat Ecology
Campfires
Predator/Prey
Soils Investigations
Teambuilding
Wetlands Ecology and Identification
Wilderness Survival
Cost: $110
Fundraising Opportunities
We will be selling Butter Braids in April. Last year this helped us raise about $700 for the trip, reducing student cost by about $7 each. More information will follow.
Haw River Dance (May 13, 2016)
The Blackburn PTO will be hosting a dance to support our Haw River Field trip.
Any parent who volunteers to chaperone this dance will have $20 taken off their child's Haw River payment. The remaining proceeds from the dance will be divided evenly among students to reduce the cost of the trip. More information will follow.
(Please keep in mind that chaperoning this dance has no bearing on whether or not you will be a chaperone for the actual field trip.)
What Next?
Please contact us if you know of a church or local business that would be willing to donate money toward the trip, either to reduce costs or sponsor individual students.
There is no need to purchase any clothing or supplies for the trip. Updated packing lists will be sent home In September, but please be aware that clothes shopping is not necessary.
More information will be sent home in September, including the following:
- packing guidelines (updated for 2016)
- chaperone information
- medication forms and physician's orders
If you have any other questions, please email me at fletcher_ross@catawbaschools.net.