Woodhull Returns from Greenkill with Memories
Many wonderful memories returned to Huntington with Woodhull Intermediate School sixth graders who made a recent four day trek to the Greenkill Outdoor Education Center at the New York YMCA’s camp in Huguenot, about ten miles from Port Jervis.
The Woodhull youngsters participated in a series of informative and unique lessons, hiked and experienced a variety of outdoor activities and thrills. The students traveled three hours by bus to the camp, slept in on-site dormitories and ate in the Greenkill dining hall.
Outside of their traditional classroom settings, the Woodhull sixth graders developed enhanced leadership and communication techniques, studied the environment and learned wilderness skills. Using the center’s 1,150 acres of pristine forest as a classroom, Greenkill’s experienced program instructors engaged students with hands-on activities that focused on education through exploration, while meeting state education standards.
The Woodhull group was able to enjoy four days of hiking, ecology activities, team-building challenges and a campfire lunch. The youngsters were assembled in groups and hiked through wooded areas with a trained naturalist, studied pond and forest ecology, learned about orienteering and survival skills and other related outdoor themes.
“A visit to Greenkill gives students the opportunity to learn outside of their everyday classroom,” said Jason Marker, Greenkill’s program director. “We were thrilled to give Woodhull’s 6th grade classes the opportunity to see, touch and feel nature. Teaching in small group settings allows our program instructors to cater to each student’s learning style in a fun, safe environment.”
Sixth graders from Jack Abrams Intermediate School made a separate four-day trip to the Greenkill facility. The annual journey is coordinated by Huntington teachers Allison VonVange and Keith Meyers, who are attentive to even the smallest of details and who participated in the trip themselves when they were sixth graders in the district. The two faculty members have planned the trip for the past 13 years. Teacher chaperones travel with the students.
“For over 30 years, Huntington’s sixth graders have looked forward to the annual trip to Greenkill,” Mr. Meyers said. “I feel that it is one of the best opportunities the Huntington School District has to offer. In addition to forest ecology, water ecosystems, geology and other outdoor studies, the students learn to work as a group and respect each others’ differences. For many it is their first time away from home, providing a great opportunity to build independence while with friends.”
Jack Abrams School is named after the man who originally discovered Camp Greenkill for the Huntington School District in 1976. Mr. Abrams was working as principal of Jefferson Elementary School at the time. One of his colleagues, Anthony Baressi, who later served as Jefferson principal, helped organize Huntington’s participation in the camp program. Since then the district has sent about 7,350 sixth graders to Camp Greenkill.
“I really liked the all-day hike,” one Woodhull student said. “We got to spend the whole day out in the forest with our naturalist and have a cookout lunch.” Some of the most popular activities included learning about reptiles and amphibians, outdoor life skills, making friends within their dorm and the environmental games, especially “Camouflage.”
The Huntington Foundation provided financial assistance for families needing it to send a son or daughter on the trip.
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