SALISBURY — Boosters of the Keewaydin Environmental Education Center (KEEC) have begun raising money in an effort to maximize the number of area students able to attend the camp each year.
Based in Salisbury along Lake Dunmore, KEEC “offers hands-on, experiential learning” in environmental studies. Drawing from the natural surroundings, KEEC leaders incorporate history, science, math, language arts, geology and physical education into a series of investigations that integrate with the school curriculums.
Participating Vermont school children are currently assessed a discounted (from $275) $230 for the five-day (overnight) sessions that are held during the spring and fall, according to KEEC Director Tim Tadlock. Approximately 25 schools participate each year.
Middlebury’s Mary Hogan Elementary School earmarks money from its activities budget to help defray costs for its students. Most participating schools rely on local fundraising efforts and camper contributions to enable kids to attend. Other Addison County schools attending the camp include those from Salisbury, Shoreham and Cornwall.
It’s been getting financially tougher for some communities to send their students, so KEEC this year launched the first of what they hope will be regular fundraisers to generate some additional cash to make it easier for some campers to attend.
KEEC recently held a spaghetti dinner that raised $600 and gleaned $300 from a flatbread benefit bake.
For more information about KEEC and to help out, log on to www.keewaydin.org and/or contact Tadlock at [email protected].