Mar 29, 2012


Photo: Past and present students at LOLPS with teacher Mr. Hull gathered for a fundraiser at the Arden Legion on March 24 to help pay for their year end five day canoe trip in June.

With darts in hand members of the community gathered at Legion Branch 334 in Arden on March 24 to help raise funds for a year-end five-day canoe trip for grade 7/8 students at Land O' Lakes Public School. The trip will take place in June. Organized by parents of the students, the event, which included a darts tournament, bake sale and silent auction, was to help fund the trip for 26 students, who this year decided on a canoe trip to celebrate the school year's end.

Student parent Jennifer Scott, who helped to organize the event said, “Since not every student can afford the cost of the trip, our hope is to ensure that all of the students who want to go will be given the opportunity to do so.”

The students were given a number of other nature-themed options put forth by LOLPS grade 7/8 teacher Mr. Lee Hull, whose class will be taking the trip, and this is the first time that students chose a canoe trip. The other options, which included visits to an Ottawa water park, kayaking, zip-lining and others, lost out in the student vote.

The canoe trip will take place either on the Rideau Lakes or the Depot Lakes. Run by the Gould Lake Outdoor Recreation Center located in Harrowsmith, the trip will also be attended by five or six parent volunteers and Mr. Hull who is thrilled with his students' choice. “We're all looking forward to it and it's exciting since the students will have a chance to really understand the impact of humanity on nature. They will have a chance to learn a number of important skills, like basic survival skills and all of the other practical hands on skills that go along with canoe tripping and camping. Not only will it be a great opportunity for us as a school to lessen our carbon footprint but the students will also learn other important skills like cooperating within a group. They'll be living in nature without their electronic devices for an extended length of time, which will be no doubt be an interesting experience for them all,” Mr. Hull said.

Grade 7 student Nick Power is really looking forward to the trip and said, “I can't wait. We'll be moving our camp site every day, which will be a lot of fun, and doing all of our own cooking, which is something else I'm really looking forward to, as well as canoeing every day.” For grade 8 student Cassidy Savic it will be the longest camping trip she's ever taken. “I've been camping overnight before but just for one day so this five-day trip should be really interesting.”

Parents of the students will holding other future fundraisers to support the student trip. Upcoming tomorrow, Friday March 30, is a spaghetti dinner at Circle Square Ranch in Arden, at 5pm. Tickets are available at the door and diners will be able to make a good will offering to help fund the trip.

 

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