Local students attend Cispus outdoor camp

Eighth grade students from John C. Thomas Middle School and Naselle Grays River attended the Cispus Outdoor Education Camp in Randle for three days during the second week of May. The event was organized by Wahkiakum Community Network’s Coalition Coordinator, Ginger Hake.

A leadership group of 12 high school students gave workshops on self control, communication, resource acquisition, and decision making. The middle school students also learned about alcohol and drug prevention and treatment. Deputy Mark Hake from the Wahkiakum County Sheriff’s Office put students in a go-kart wearing Fatal Vision, goggles that simulate intoxication, to demonstrate the dangers of impaired driving. He conducted field sobriety tests and discussed distracted driving.

“The high school presenters made the educational component a lot of fun,” Ginger Hake said. “The eighth graders had a great time with the ropes course, playing games, going on hikes, participating in a sing-off and roasting s’mores.”

The camp started with a sack lunch and a hike up to a waterfall and ended two days later with a barbecue, a fun skit performed by Naselle students and an award ceremony.

The event could not have happened without the support of principals Theresa Libby, Stephanie Leitz and Karen Wirkkala, as well as chaperones Paul Johns, Stephanie Gudmundsen, Trina Scrabeck, Sean McNulty and Rob Dalton, and thanks go to EMT Jody Tawater for attending again this year.