Burlington School Committee Ends Popular 5th Grade Trip

BURLINGTON, MA -- The Burlington School Committee voted to end the popular, annual trip for fifth graders to Camp Bournedale after an attorney raised concerns about accessibility and nursing coverage. School officials said they would work with elementary school principals and fifth grade staff to develop an alternative activity to replace the trip.

"While we know that there will be disappointment among families and students surrounding the end of our Bournedale trip, we are committed to the development of a new activity for future classes of fifth graders that will provide students the opportunity to take part in engaging team-building activities to set a positive tone for their final year of elementary school," the school district said in a note posted on its Website.

School districts from 15 other Massachusetts communities send students to the annual program at Camp Bournedale. The overnight trip was typically held in the fall and focused on environmental education and team-building exercises at the former summer camp in Plymouth. Students stayed in heated cabins with two adult chaperons, and the camp offered 24-hour nurse coverage, according to its Website.

The last group of Burlington students went to the camp Nov. 7-8. The school committee voted Dec. 11, just a month after those students returned. The school district has been offering the trip to fifth graders since at least 2013.

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Photo by Burlington Public Schools.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).