Field trips offered to Ridgewood summer school students
Students from Ridgewood High School stopped for a group photo at Cedar Point. Contributed | Beacon
WEST LAFAYETTE – Thanks to the 21st Century Community Learning Center Grant, Ridgewood High School was able to offer students a whole new summer school experience.
The Summer Options Program focused on providing students with choices related to their learning needs and individual interests. Information was passed out in English classes and made available to all eighth through 12th grade students.
The grant also funds the Beyond the Bell Afterschool program and its staff members planned a variety of unique learning opportunities for the students. They could sign up for Credit Flex/Credit Recovery, Education 110, a three hour College Credit Plus class through Muskingum University, health, a rocket launch project and field trips. The trips were designed to incorporate learning and fun while providing parents with a significant savings since all activities were free. The only cost would have been souvenirs and food, but the students were encouraged to pack lunches.
“We wanted to give them the opportunity to see things they may never have the chance to that also have an educational value,” said Brian Crilow, director of Coshocton C.A.R.E.S. He coordinated the trips and helped chaperone them.
The road trips were taken to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Great Lakes Science Center, The Wilds, which included a safari tour, zip lining and horseback riding, the Pro Football Hall of Fame and Laser Quest, Legacy Lanes for bowling, Cedar Point, Cabin Creek Miniature Golf, including its driving range, batting cages and sand volleyball courts and the Columbus Zoo.
“What I enjoyed about the trips was that they gave us something fun to do in our free time,” said Olivia Slusser, a recent graduate. “I didn’t have anything going on these days so going on these trips gave me something fun to do with my friends.”
Students could sign up for one trip or go on all seven.
“My favorite part was the Pro Football Hall of Fame and Laser Quest,” said Camron Bradford, an 11th grader. “I enjoyed my team and tagging others in Laser Quest. I had an awesome time.”
Tenth grader Caleb Sanders’ favorite trips were to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Laser Quest and Cedar Point and he got lessons out of several of those.
“I enjoyed the field trip to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame because not only did we get to see cool stuff from historical bands, but we also got to see and learn about the Harlem Renaissance and how rock music originated.”
At the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Sanders also learned about how the sport of football has progressed and the safety concerns that have come along with the game.
The trips were chaperoned by Crilow, Rebecca Wells, Darrell Ball, Ann Doberstein, Savannah Slusser, Kevin Rainwater, Patsy Cruxton, and Tracy Neal.
“This is one of the neatest experiences I’ve had the chance to be part of,” Crilow said. “They were well behaved and you could see the excitement in their eyes.”
One of Wells’ favorite parts of the trips was seeing the kids interact with each other.
“We had a range of ages and social clicks, but they included each other,” she said. “The mingled when they eat lunch and if someone was sitting alone someone would go over and sit with them.”
Wells even went zip lining with them at The Wilds.
“I relished the opportunity to interact with the kids outside of the classroom and learn more about them,” she said. “You got to see parts of their personality that you don’t get to in a structured classroom setting.”
Wells, who teaches at the high school, had the job of setting up a way for everyone who went on the trips to communicate.
“I used an app called Remind,” she said. “You could send group messages through it or messages to individuals without having to give out personal numbers.”
Peggy Ball is Ridgewood’s 21st Century Site Coordinator. The grant is for four years and this was the first year for it. Crilow said they are hoping to work the trips into summer school again next year since they were so well received by the students.
“I am so glad I was able to make it to all of the trips,” said Kelsi Reynolds, a ninth grader. “I enjoyed every second of the adventures. With these trips I have gone some places I have never went to before. I don’t have a favorite trip. I loved going on all of them. It was also a very fun way to hang out with friends. I have to thank the school and my parents for letting me go.”
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