Mrs. Paula Eastman - Principal
Mr. Paul Hornberger - Coordinator

"Over 1,400 website hits in our first year at Hoag..... THANKS!"

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Background

The 5th Grade Outdoor Education Program is a three day educational camp experience that challenges our students to look more closely at the natural world around them. Camp Seven Hills (owned by the Girl Scout Council of Buffalo & Erie Co.) is located in Holland, New York and offers the perfect facility and setting for our programs. (Facility/Rental Information) Highland Elementary was the first of our schools to go to camp, and since then generations of our school community have come together around the campfire, building friendships and memories that will surely last a lifetime!









Our camp program originated in a 1969 Highland Elementary trip to Franklinville, NY. Since then, the program has been hosted by many different camps over the years, including the 4H camp, Camp Aloha, and Camp Seven Hills. The outdoor education program has enriched students at grades 6, 4, and 5 over the years, adapting with various Lake Shore Central reorganizational plans. The Faces of staff and students may have changed over the years, but the program has endured all!









In June of 2009, students from Lake Shore Central's "W.T. Hoag School" headed to camp for their very first outdoor education experience. This first trip proved to be a huge success in every way imaginable. The students, parents, staff, and administration were so excited to create many new memories, with respect to the strong traditions of past.

The 5th grade outdoor education program is a community effort involving students, parents, Lake Shore Central administration, staff, retired and volunteer instructors, the our local PTG's, The Evans Police Dept., and WNY United Against Drug & Alcohol Abuse. With the support of numerous area organizations, students from the Highland (Derby, NY) and Willliam T. Hoag (Angola, NY) areas continue to experience this unique opportunity before they head off to the Lake Shore Central Middle School.

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The Totem Circle of Friendship
Added to the program due to the hard work of Highland Phys. Ed. teacher, Mrs. Charlene Schneckenberger (Mrs. "S"), each day we gather at the "Totem Circle" to honor our flag, share important information, and spend time together with our friends. Students, teachers, and chaperones will create a can that will be added to others in their group to build a totem (Fish, Turtles, Hawks, Raccoons, Butterflies, Beavers & Snakes). Symbolic of friendship and teamwork, our totem circle proudly welcomes visitors to our gathering area at Empire Lodge.

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Instructional Classes










Compass Crusaders Instructors- Capt. Charles Danzi(Evans Police) & Mrs. Paula Simon(LSC Retired Teacher)
Applying their knowledge of directional compasses, student teams will navigate their way through our orienteering course. Students will work cooperatively to try to earn various prizes by successfully finding their way through a sequence of compass settings.










Pond Pondering Instructors- Ms. Dawn Weber & Mr. Peter Simon(LSC Retired Teacher)
The "Hunter's Cabin Pond" offers an excellent evironment for our students to explore a healthy pond ecosystem. Following an instructional segment, students will explore this habitat with a critcal eye to examine its living organisms more closely. Every class brings many new discoveries!

Putting "Our Kids & Community" First!