Outdoor School faces unexpected difficulties
Outdoor School has been a tradition in CVUSD for over 30 years. However, the program has faced unprecedented difficulties due to the Woolsey Fire, which destroyed the site of Camp Bloomfield on Nov. 9, 2018.
Luis Lichtl, assistant superintendent of instruction, stated that Outdoor School has always been a cherished program for CVUSD sixth graders. “We have a very high percentage of students, nearly 90%, that participate annually in our Outdoor School Program,” Lichtl said. This is partly attributed to Camp Bloomfield, which served as its site for years. Students would stay at the camp for around three days, participating in an assortment of educational activities outside of the classroom. “(Camp Bloomfield) provided a quality experience for our students… including the opportunity to hike to the beach and learn oceanography through observation and inquiry,” Lichtl said.
Stephen Sipes, Outdoor School coordinator, has been heavily involved in the preparations this year, especially after the Woolsey Fire. He was not sure if Outdoor School would happen this year, and as a result, had to cancel much of the progress he made. “I had 75 percent of my staff hired when the fires hit and I had to let them go,” Sipes said.
After news of Camp Bloomfield’s destruction, Sipes’ first step was to find a new campsite. He contacted about 30 camps in Southern California and even considered holding another program for participating students. “We had in the works a series of three-day field trips,” Sipes said, at sites such as Lake Castaic and the Malibu Lagoon.
On Jan. 16, a verdict was reached: Outdoor School will take place at Ojai’s Camp Ramah this year. Sipes believes that certain aspects of Camp Ramah, such as easily accessible bathrooms and showers, make it suitable to hold the program. “Camp Ramah is a step up from Camp Bloomfield. It’s really nice and they have a lot of different activities that you can do there,” Sipes said.
During this process, community members have been supportive of the district. “Parents are eager to provide students with the experience that is synonymous with our district while understanding that the fires… have created our dilemma and difficulty,” Lichtl said. Further updates on Camp Ramah and the Outdoor School schedule can be found on the CVUSD Outdoor School page.
