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A number of Livermore parents with children attending Jackson Avenue Elementary School rallied together to advocate for the reinstatement of a longstanding fifth grade tradition.
Since returning from the coronavirus pandemic, the administration at Jackson had replaced the sleep-away outdoor education camp with a week-long, on-campus science camp for their fifth grade students. It included hands-on activities and off-site day field trips to local parks and outdoor spaces, according to the Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District.
While district officials said the reimagined activity was well-received by students for the past couple of years, several of next year’s fifth grade parents expressed the desire for their children to experience the sleep-away outdoor education camp.
Jackson had intended to keep the on-campus structure in place permanently due to the reduced cost and accessibility to students, including those not comfortable with attending a sleep-away camp. Parents responded by submitting correspondence to the school board expressing why they wanted to see the sleep-away field trip return.
“We believe that returning an off-site science camp to Jackson Avenue will not only complement and enrich our curriculum but also contribute significantly to the overall emotional intelligence of our students. We kindly request the school board’s support in reinstating this long-time tradition for our students,” wrote Viva Chavez, a parent of current and former Jackson students.
Dozens of parents echoed similar sentiments in their letters, including Erin McGuire who expressed concern about Jackson being the only K-5 school in the district to not offer the traditional camp experience.
“Despite the district’s effort with ‘Camp Jackson,’ it falls short in providing an equitable replacement, placing our students at a disadvantage in terms of both academic and non-academic growth,” McGuire wrote. “Participation in a sleepover science camp not only enhances academic understanding but also fosters teamwork, critical thinking, and social skills in a unique and irreplaceable setting. The denial of this opportunity creates a disparity against the principles of equity our education system should uphold.”
Several of the parents noted that they had initially shared their concerns with Jackson principal Tom Jones but felt they weren’t being heard, so they resorted to seeking the school board’s support for their initiative.
Their efforts were successful as the elementary school is now looking to plan for the camp next year.
“After surveying parents, Jackson is in the process of planning a sleep-away outdoor ed camp for next year,” district officials told the Weekly in an email. “Our district budget does not include funding for science camp, so students and families participate in fundraising to help reduce costs. Students who choose not to attend sleep-away camp can attend school for alternate activities,” they added.
Officials said some Jackson parents attended the Feb. 6 school board meeting and thanked the board and district administration for listening to their concerns and for working with the site administration to revisit the options for next year.
Some parents also referenced a fourth grade history field trip to visit one of the state’s Spanish missions in their letters to the board; however, the district did not have information about the status of that experience. “Many things have changed as a result of the pandemic and each school has made adjustments. Some old traditions may be replaced with new experiences,” officials said.
