Fifth Grader starts Fundraiser for School Science Camp

A 5th grader at James Dougherty Elementary School is on a mission to raise funds for an upcoming outdoor educational program.

He is aiming to raise around $1500 from August to November. 'Outdoor Ed' is an Outdoor Science School at Camp Koinonia in Watsonville taking place from December 3-7, 2018 for fifth graders and the price per child is approximately $400. The funds raised will help to reduce the overall costs to the students, a significant portion of which is the bus fare.

Anay Sharma along with his friend Advay Katkol raised $87 from Dk and K back-to-school-night snacks and water sales. This week Thursday, August 23, the kids plan to have more tables and expand their sale at the upcoming back-to-school-night for Grade 1-5. Attendees are encouraged to bring along $1 bills as everything including snacks and water will be sold for a dollar each.

Patch spoke to Anay's Mom, Priyanka Sharma, about his latest endeavor and she said "I am thankful to this delightful community, Dougherty Elementary School and his wonderful teachers who have instilled such great values in my son. Anay has loved doing community service and has represented his team at Destination Imagination State Finals where he and his team raised around $1200 for Kids against Hunger (2 years ago). I am proud to see my son growing up with a sense of responsibility and giving back to the community at the age of 10. His Grandpa, Satya Narain Sharma, Dad, Rohit Sharma and sister, Mihika Sharma wish him all the best! Go Beasty beast!"

The camp is an annual tradition for Dougherty and usually takes place at Camp Aroyo but given the number of attendees this site cannot accommodate all the fifth graders simultaneously.

Camp Koinonia is run by the Santa Cruz County Office of Education and the 'Outdoor Science School' experience will involve teachers taking their fifth grade students to a unique outdoor location for five days while living on the site. Cabin leaders on site are made up of high school volunteers which provides an ideal opportunity to develop the leaders of tomorrow and instill in them the value of community service. All the 5th grade teachers attend training held by the camp to review expectations and procedures for the outdoor school.

Students are immersed in a natural setting and classes are conducted in the Redwood forest, at the edge of the creek, and in the meadowy grassland which allow them full use of their five senses. Increased awareness of the science of ecology helps them to understand the relationship between living things and their environment.

The camp is also a great way to have fun and get to know each other and they emphasize the 3 Rs which are respect, responsibility, and reliability, and get to bond through shared chores and living in a communal space.

Fifth grade teachers are in awe by the way students learn responsibility and independence in such a short time frame at camp and how this experience becomes one of the most fondly remembered throughout the rest of their educational careers. Teachers anticipate that kids will talk about the camp into their adult years.

When asked about her experience of camping with her students, fifth grade teacher Ms Shawna Lettau said "Ask any JDS student what was their favorite part of 5th grade and 9 out of 10 times they will say Outdoor Ed. They learn a lot about themselves, get out of their comfort zones, and make memorable bonds with their classmates, grade levels, and teachers that will last a lifetime."

The students plan to raise money through restaurant fundraisers, bake sales and snack sales over the next two months.

If you would like to help and support them please contact Anay Sharma.