2019Viewbook_Final

COMMUNITY VIEWBOOK
Office of Mary C. Barlow, Kern County Superintendent of Schools

Perspective

By Rob Meszaros
6th Grade Parent

Reflections of my week at Camp KEEP

The Kern Environmental Education Program — at KEEP. For many students, it’s the first time they
better known as Camp KEEP — is celebrating its 50th are away from their parents for an extended period.
anniversary in 2019. Since April 1969, KEEP has been Nothing tests a young person’s independence and
a rite of passage for so many young people in our confidence more than some time away from their
community. In fact, it’s estimated that approximately nest.
a quarter million students have benefited from the
program over the years. The schedule at KEEP is finely oiled. Everything
is so well orchestrated with each meal, day hike and
I had an opportunity to visit KEEP as a counselor activity flowing seamlessly together. The kids are
with my son and his Stockdale Elementary highly engaged and it’s exciting to witness the joy that
schoolmates in early February. What an experience! various aspects of the program bring to the students.
For some, it’s the first time they have the opportunity
Here, the classrooms have no walls and instead of to see the ocean, hold a snake or climb to the top of a
book work, there is plenty of foot work exploring the mountain.
land and life that makes up California’s central coast.
KEEP’s naturalists led us on two educational hikes Each evening culminates with everyone gathering
per day, packed with engaging, hands-on science around a blazing campfire for an hour of songs and
lessons. We learned about the various ecosystems storytelling at KEEP’s amphitheater. Then, it’s lights out.
and geology on our treks to nearby tide pools, sandy
beaches, mountains, creeks, sand dunes and the It was a long, exhausting week, to be sure. But,
Morro Bay National Estuary. I survived and in hindsight, it will go down as one
of the best, most memorable weeks ever. It was
There are also lasting social benefits. Students and transformational on many levels for both the students
counselors share the enriching experience of living and me.
in cabins together, eating community meals, playing
science games by starlight, singing songs around a If you ever have an opportunity to visit Camp KEEP
campfire and falling asleep to the sounds of nature. as a counselor — take it! In the meantime, to learn
There are plenty of life lessons to be found as well more about Camp KEEP and its rich, 50 year history,
visit campkeep.org/50years.



The past Year at KEEP

This fall we found ourselves looking back 50 years ago to when a few visionary administrators and
outdoor science enthusiasts, under the guidance of then County Superintendent Harry Blair, started
what would later be known as Camp KEEP. From this humble beginning, Kern County Superintendent
of Schools has provided 50 years of opportunity for children to learn about and explore science and
nature in the outdoors.

During this past year, KEEP By the Sea settled area, a new learning center, butterfly garden, as
into the new Arroyo Grande campus, developing well as painting and deck repairs were completed.
walks and routines for student scientists. By the Sea In August, the long-awaited new student
students now learn about oak woodlands, sand dunes, bathroom and shower facility was finally finished!
decomposition, beaches, tidepools, and humans’ Simultaneously, KEEP Ocean had all buildings
impact on the natural world. An exciting aspect of the freshly painted and many new linoleum floors
human impact studies is the students’ involvement installed in the student trailers.
in the Beach Keeper program. Every week, while
learning about sand dunes and beach ecosystems, KEEP Ocean experienced a relatively smooth
students make a positive impact on their environment year, despite a number of powerful winter storms
by removing trash left by humans. Last year, BTS that knocked down trees and cut power to the
students cleared over 1,100 lbs of debris from the camp. Those adventures just made the week a little
Pismo beach area, from places as far away as Asia! more interesting for the students and staff! Adding
to the excitement was a donation of 29 microscopes
With the help of KCSOS’s Maintenance and to KEEP Ocean from Beth and Jake Hunter of Stem
Operation crew, BTS campus improvements at Taught. They also provided a supply cart, scientific
Camp Arroyo Grande continued throughout the tools, and hands-on curriculum materials for 4th- 6th
year. A refurbished amphitheater and campfire grades. Staff is developing individual microscope
lessons to debut next school year, focusing on
plankton, sand, and compost studies.

As the KEEP campuses head into the next
decade, we look forward to the next 50 years to
continue to provide opportunities for all students to
get outside, explore nature, grow in independence,
and participate in hands-on science.

Camp KEEP By The Sea students get a lesson on the
human impact on the natural world.

By the Numbers 250k The approximate number of students who have attended KEEP in its 50 year history

8,795 The number of students expected to attend KEEP during the 2019-20 school year

9,000 The number of chocolate brownies served by the KEEP kitchens in the 2018 -2019 school year

230 The number of combined students the two KEEP campuses can accommodate each week

121 The number of schools served by both KEEP campuses in the 2018-2019 school year

92 Degrees, the school-year high temperature reached on November 5, 2018

32 Degrees, the school-year low temperature reached on February 6, 2019

27 The number of KEEP staff members that make KEEP special

Camp KEEP Turns 50

In the first known photo of CAMP KEEP circa April 1969, students gather at Camp Condor near Pine Mountain Club.

The Kern Environmental Education Program (KEEP) spring of 1972, where it continues to operate today.
was developed in the 1968-1969 school year in response Because of its popularity, a second campus was
to the desire to offer an environmental education
opportunity for students of Kern County. The Kern County opened in 1987 in the Sierra foothills near Glennville. The
Superintendent of Schools office (KCSOS), working with camp was operated on the grounds of Camp Dickson
representatives from local school districts, developed YMCA. KCSOS purchased the YMCA Dickson Camp in
a five-day environmental education experience. A 1990 and officially re-named it after KEEP Sierra.
novel feature of KEEP, is that from the beginning, it
was designed with mobility in mind. The program was A third campus — KEEP Cambria — was added in 1992.
designed so it could easily be moved from one location Because California’s central coast was a more popular
to another. destination for local schools, KEEP Sierra was closed in
2003 and programs were condensed to the two coastal
The first camp was held in the spring of 1969 at Tehachapi campuses.
Mountain Park and Camp Condor near Pine Mountain Club.
In spring 1971, KEEP was moved to Hart Flat. During the 2017-18 school year, campers scheduled
to attend KEEP Cambria were accommodated at two
In fall 1971, KEEP Ocean operated at a temporary temporary sites due to on-going construction on the
location at Hazard Canyon within the Montaña de Oro property where KCSOS had long leased land for KEEP
State Park in San Luis Obispo County. KEEP Ocean moved Cambria. A new campus located in Arroyo Grande opened
to its permanent home in Montaña de Oro State Park in in August 2018 — known as KEEP By the Sea — to replace
KEEP Cambria.

Acknowledgements The non-profit KEEP Foundation accepts
monetary donations for campus improvements
Many thanks go to the KEEP Foundation for its ongoing and scholarships. Contact Desiree Von Flue at
dedication and fundraising support of the program. More 661-636-4646
than $40,000 was raised by the Foundation through
community donations in 2018 -19, including a donation in
the amount of more than $15,000 from Sparking Image
Car Wash. All proceeds through the KEEP Foundation
fund “camperships,” to help send students with a
financial need to Camp KEEP.

KEEP would like to thank the following supporters:

Stem Taught – Beth and Jake Hunter: Microscopes, cart,
science tools and curriculum materials

John and Desiree Von Flue Family: Amphitheater paver

Rosedale North School: Amphitheater paver

Zoo Med: New snake tank supplies

Wild Birds Unlimited: Bird books, binoculars, teaching
supplies

Elizabeth and Ed Roberts: Jogging stroller &
thermometer

Sun X: Gallons of sunscreen

Donors Choose: A variety of donors helped buy solar
lights, snake tanks and supplies, a microscope viewing
camera and science sacks (hands on mobile laboratories)

Keep up with KEEP!
CAMPKEEP.ORG