LATE MAY OR EARLY JUNE
Near the end of the school year the entire Lincoln community gathers for an all-day field trip we call Camp Elderberry. This takes place at Panhandle Lake in Shelton on a Friday, typically in late May or early June. The camp is about a 45-minute drive from the school.
Students and parents meet in their classrooms the morning of the event for time together and to go over details for the day. Everyone is dismissed for camp at the same time. Students whose parents are unable to attend are assigned carpools with parent volunteer drivers.
The kids are assigned several outdoor activities during the day, focusing on crafts and outdoor play. Staff and parents lead activities, oversee logistics, help out with the evening potluck, and enjoy the view of the lake from the lawn. Younger siblings are welcome but do not participate in camp activities. Some years, a play place for toddlers and preschoolers is set up, depending on volunteer interest. The day concludes with a giant potluck dinner and the fifth grade graduation ceremony. Families leave whenever they see fit. Many families choose to stay overnight in tents, campers, or in the camp’s open-air cabins. For a lot of families, this is a special time to gather around campfires, roast marshmallows, sing, talk, and bond.
Students are in the care of the school during school hours and are signed out to a parent or guardian by 4:00. If you cannot be present, arrange for a relative or friend to be present in order to sign your child out of school and be responsible for them in the afternoon and during the potluck. If this is not possible, you can sign your child up to be transported back to Lincoln via carpool. We hope you’re able to make arrangements early in the school year to take the day off and join the community for this day of fun and open air, creative play!
