1. Environmental Education Field Trip (EEFT) Grade 7 2014

2. General Trip Information WHEN: September 23,2014 WHO: Seventh Grade Teams: 7A, 7B, 7C Students and Faculty, Administrators, School Nurse and Parent chaperones WHERE : Fairview Lake YMCA Camp 1035 Fairview Lake Road, Newton, NJ 07860 (973) 383 – 9282 WHY: TO LEARN ABOUT EACH OTHER AND WEST ESSEX

3. What do students who don’t go on the trip do?  Students not attending will come to school and participate in an “ in school” trip.  Perks:  1 hr lunch  Meet new people in a smaller group  Team building on campus  Meet new teachers  ETC

4. Transportation to Fairview Lake YMCA Transportation on School Buses Travel Time = 1 Hour, 10 Minutes (47 miles from the MS) Students are dropped off or take the bus and meet in the MS gym between 7:30-7:45 AM on Tues 9-23 and are picked up at approx 7:30pm that evening at NOTRE DAME CHURCH on CENTRAL AVE IN NORTH CALDWELL

5. Can we eat on the bus ?? Yes, you can eat on the bus.. And share with your teachers. ☺ YOU cannot carry food with you,, any candy left over STAYS on the bus. You will have it for the ride home because you will go home on the same bus THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO FOOD IN YOUR SURVIVAL PACK ! YOU CANNNOT HAVE FOOD WITH YOU ON THE TRAILS. !

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

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

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

9. Organization Students will be organized into 15 teams for all activities and meals based on their West Essex Academic Teams [ A, B & C] Students will be responsible for setting, and clearing tables- schedule determined prior to arrival Yes you will be serving and cleaning!!!!

10. WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO THERE?  Every student will rotate through 4 activities.  2 are before lunch and 2 are after lunch  2 ASE activities – team building  Ridge Hike 1.5 miles up /1.5 miles down  Survival [ working with your team try to survive ]

11. How does this all work? When we arrive at Fairview Lake, we will have a quick orientation meeting from the staff We will then line up at the basketball courts according to the team you were assigned to. Groups 1-15. Once you are all there,, you begin activity #1

12. Dining Hall Meals: Tues: Lunch and Dinner --Meal Times: Lunch – 1:00 PM Dinner – 5:25 PM The camp is peanut free and able to accommodate special dietary needs. You will eat with all girls or all boys, from different TEAMS

13. What are we eating ???? LUNCH: CHICKEN FINGERS, SMILEY FRIES ☺, VEGETABLE, SALAD BAR DINNER: THANKSGIVING DINNER TURKEY AND ALL THE FIXINGS… SALAD BAR DESSERT

14. “The food was pretty good.”

15. “ I loved all the activities”!!

16. HOW DO I KNOW WHAT TO DO? Every student will get an info sheet that tells them the following Name : Olaf the Snowman Bus number: 7 Activity Group # : 12 Anna and Elsa Group Leaders- Anna and Elsa Table # for Meals : 4 Serving Assignment : LS or LC DS or DC DS or DC

17. Ok,, so what is my job?? LS- lunch server LC- lunch cleaner DS- dinner server DC- dinner cleaner

18. What does that mean? LS- lunch server- gets to the dining hall 15 minutes before lunch to set up LC- lunch clean up- clears away the dirty dishes after lunch DS- dinner server- gets to the dining hall 15 minutes before dinner DC- dinner clean up clears away the dirty dishes after lunch

19. More………..Activities -- There is a Trading Post for students to buy souvenirs, sweatshirts, etc – each student has a scheduled time to shop in the trading post.. Your TIME TO SHOP WILL BE ANNOUNCED around meal time. Average price of sweatshirt is $30-$40 and T shirt $15-$20. -- Other small items available as well.

20. Can I only buy certain things?  Each student can purchase 2 items of candy and one beverage  Each student can purchase whatever clothing or souvenir items they want  PLEASE BRING SMALL BILLS LIKE $1’S AND $5’S,, IT IS HARD FOR THE STAFF TO BREAK A $20

21. West Essex Survival Pack  THIS IS INCLUDED IN THE PRICE OF THE TRIP!  The light backpack is made of nylon and contains: –A rain poncho –A water bottle All items in our school colors!

22. WHAT SHOULD I CARRY IN MY SURVIVAL PACK?  WATER—Westex water bottle and extra bottle of water  BUG SPRAY  PONCHO  TISSUES  BANDAIDS  LIGHT JACKET OR SWEATSHIRT No food,, no food, no food,, no food !!!!!!!! NO CANDY !!!

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

24. Special information   Staff will closely monitor all student interactions   Character education is a major focus of the trip   Staff will call home if a student becomes uncomfortable   If a student is in distress or disobeying rules or directions, parents will be called to pick up their child and remove him/her from the camp. Safety is the main goal!

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

26. “We survived the 3 mile hike!!!”

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

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

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

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

32. Things to leave at home Food- any type of food is forbidden outside of the dining hall. Water bottles are permitted I pods, electronics, expensive electrical equipment Cell phones- the reception is very poor- but can be used to call parents on the way home Expensive clothing- remember we are camping!

33. What happens at Notre dame Church?  You will call your parents 15 minutes before we arrive so that they can meet you there.We should get there between 7-7:30  Once you find your parents you are free to leave  See you in school on Wednesday !!!  * no school on Thursday ! ☺

34. SPECIFIC CONCERNS  If you have specific concerns that you need to discuss, please do not hesitate to contact  If you have specific concerns that you need to discuss, please do not hesitate to contact Mrs. Arbadji or Mr.Popat  - parbadji@westex.org parbadji@westex.org - vpopat@westex.org - vpopat@westex.org@westex.org

35. “ I learned that swamps turn into forests.”

36. “ I am so glad that I came here”

37. They are ready for us…….

38. Any more info???? YOU WILL GET ALL YOUR NECESSARY PAPERS ON MONDAY…Sept 21 IN YOUR SCIENCE CLASS FROM Mrs Arbadji, Mrs Becker or Mrs Zuhl You can also ask additional questions in science class…….. Have a great weekend…rest up……….. We are going to have great time !!