Is Clear Creek a
camp or
a school?
Clear
Creek looks like a camp, complete with
cabins, a dining hall, a campfire area, and trails running through a
mountain
setting. You will have opportunities to
hike, sing campfire songs, and perform skits.
Students also set the dining tables and help with clean-up after
meals. While hiking, our trail leaders
will teach you a lot about nature and science.
You may also learn a thing or two at the campfire or in the
dining
hall. So, Clear Creek is both
a camp and a school.
Are there wild
animals?
Yes. Clear Creek is in the Angeles National Forest, which is a
protected
area
of conservation set aside for, among other things, wildlife
habitat. We can't guarantee that you
will see wild animals,
but typically we see ground squirrels, gray squirrels, bats, various
types
of lizards, birds, snakes, and amphibians like salamanders and
frogs. It is possible that you could also see raccoons, foxes,
and
coyotes. Bears and deer live in the area, but are infrequently
seen.
Can we touch the animals?
Yes and no. The wild animals don't usually let us get close
enough to
touch, and for safety's sake most shoudn't be touched, but
in
the spring and summer you can often pick up a frog or salamander down
in
the creek. We also have a museum with some pet animals like a San
Diego
Gopher Snake that you can hold or pet. Our dove cage is also a
popular
place where students can hold the doves.
Do we have to hike?
Yes. Hiking is a big part of the Clear Creek weekend and you
should
be prepared to participate. Our longest hike is about 2.5 miles,
and
we stop along the way for lunch. We also have a night hike and a
geology
hike, each of which are much shorter. These hikes are
opportunities to
learn something about the natural world, to get some exercise, and to
enjoy
a beautiful place with classmates and friends.
How
long are the hikes?
The Saturday morning Canyon Hike is about 2.5 miles, the
Saturday Night Hike is about 1 mile, and the Sunday morning Geology
Hike is
also about 1 mile.
What
clothes should I bring?
You will need long pants (all the way down to your ankles)
for the hikes, as well as shoes that go all the way around your foot
and cover
your toes and heels (no sandals or slippers).
In the summer it's usually hot, so light clothing is a good
idea,
including a light jacket or sweater for the evenings.
Light colored clothes are also beneficial because they retain
less heat.
What
else can I bring?
See the list that your teacher has for recommended items to bring as
well
as for items not to bring. You may want to bring a water bottle
to
carry on hikes, but you are not allowed to bring other drinks or food
because
they can attract animals into your cabins. You may want to bring
mosquito
repellent, but you shouldn't bring scented
hairsprays, gels, or lotions because these tend to attract
insects. You may want to bring something
to read or a deck of cards. Inexpensive or disposable cameras are
a good idea. Items to definitely not bring include knives
or other
weapons, matches or fireworks, electronic games, televisions, music
devices, cell
phones (no reception up here), or any items that are illegal or
disallowed for
minors to possess.
What time do we go
to
bed?
Regular lights out (all quiet) time is 10:30 p.m. This may be
earlier
than you are used to going to bed, but we are required to give you and
our
staff 8 hours of sleep time. The
day
is active and busy, so we think you will appreciate the chance to get a
good
nights sleep.
When do we wake up?
Rise and shine is at 6:30 a.m. If you wake up
earlier,
just lie back and rest a while longer. You'll be busy soon enough.
What do we do
on
the night hike?
The night hike gives you a chance to explore in a unique
way.
Different animals are out, the stars can be seen on clear nights, and
things look
very different. You will study some astronomy, nocturnal animals,
and
human perception during the hike with some games and experiments, and
most
nights you will have the chance to use the telescope. Night hike
includes a solo walk, where you will have the opportunity to walk a
small
portion of the trail by yourself. Don't worry! Your
counselors
and teachers will be nearby and there's no way to get lost. Many
students
say that the solo walk is their favorite part of the night hike.
And if you really
don't feel comfortable, you can walk it with a friend.
Do we have free
time?
Yes, but most of the weekend is scheduled program time. You'll
have
some time before and after breakfast and dinner to shoot baskets, play
ping
pong, visit our birds, or hang out and take pictures with friends (we
have jump ropes, soccer balls, handballs, carom boards, and other
playground equipment). You will
also have some time in the cabin before bed to read, play cards, and
hang
out. So yes, you do have free time, but it is limited to certain
times within the schedule.
Will we roast
marshmallows?
No. We have a fire pit at our campfire/amphitheater area, but it
is
covered and very strictly regulated by the U.S. Forest Service.
Clear
Creek
is in a thick chaparral area, a plant community that burns easily, so
it's not appropiate to have flaming marshmallows on
sticks.
Can we buy stuff
there?
No. We don't have any vending machines or a store for food,
drinks or
other items. So don't worry about bringing money, because there's
nothing
to buy.
Can I bring my
Walkman
or Gameboy?
No. We want your Clear Creek experience to be very different
from
your
normal day at home or school. There's not a lot of time in
the schedule to use these things anyway.
What if it rains?
We still have our regular activities in the rain, with a few
modifications. We still hike, and if you don't have a raincoat we
have plenty of rain ponchos
for you to use throughout the weekend. We have our campfire
indoors
(no fire, but still a lot of fun). And depending on how much rain
we
get, we may do other activities indoors as well.
Does it ever
snow there?
Yes, but not often. Maybe once or twice in a regular
winter, and
the snow melts quickly. We are at 3100 feet in
elevation, still pretty low to get cold enough for snow.
Is there a pool?
Yes. We use it during the summer only, which we start on
June 1st
and end on September 30th. If you come during that
period,
bring swimsuits in if you like. We typically swim for a
couple
of hours on Saturday afternoon.
What will we eat?
Typical dinners include lasagna, ravioli,
taquitos, chicken,
or hamburgers. Dinner also comes with salad and dessert.
Depending upon the main dish, dinner may also include rice, french
fries, rolls or beans. Lunches are usually sandwiches, fruit,
crackers and juice, followed by cookies and milk. Breakfasts
might
be cereal, yogurt, pan dulce (Mexican sweet bread) or pancakes.
Can I bring a
cellular phone?
No. Cellular signals are not received here in the mountains and
cell phones are listed on your packing list as something not to bring.
PARENT QUESTIONS:
Are there wild
animals?
Yes. Clear Creek is in the Angeles National Forest, which is a
protected
area
of conservation set aside for, among other things, wildlife
habitat. We can't guarantee that the
students will see any wild animals, but typically we see ground
squirrels,
gray squirrels, bats, various types of lizards, birds, snakes, and
amphibians like salamanders and
frogs. It is possible that we could also see raccoons, foxes, and
coyotes. Bears and deer live in the area, but are infrequently
seen.
Can I go with my
son or daughter?
No. Clear Creek is an LAUSD facility that only receives school
groups
with approved employee supervisors. Only LAUSD
students and employees are allowed to participate. This helps us
assure the safety of the students while in our care. Also,
a big part of the weekend, for many students, is the opportunity to
share
experiences independently from family.
Who will be
supervising the students?
A
teacher from your child's school assumes the
role of lead sponsor and selects other school employees (teachers,
teacher
assistants, and/or other paraprofessionals) to go along on the trip. A minimum of three adults from the school
are required to attend, but schools may send more with permission. The Clear Creek staff that will be
conducting the weekend program include the Center Manager, the Program
Coordinator, four Outdoor Education Assistants, and the Cafeteria
Manager. The Outdoor Education Assistants
function as
cabin counselors and trail teachers.
All center staff must pass the Districts rigorous hiring
process, including
background checks by the FBI and the Department of Justice.
How much does it cost?
Students in the school's free-lunch program pay nothing for
their meals at Clear Creek. Students in
the reduced-lunch program pay $1.60 for meals, and all other students
pay $8.00. In addition,
each student is asked to pay a total of $0.90 (90 cents) for
insurance. The school district pays for
all facility and operating costs.
Visiting schools are responsible for arranging transportation.
What happens if
someone
gets hurt?
We
generally see the same types of injuries that
you would expect to see on the school playground, namely bumps, scrapes
and
bruises. Our staff is trained in Red Cross
1st
Aid and CPR. We treat minor injuries on the spot and return the
student to
regular activities, monitoring them as needed.
For more severe non emergency situations, we would transport a
student
and their teacher to Verdugo Hills Hospital Emergency Room. In
the rare event of
a serious emergency, we would call 911. There is a U.S. Forest
Service
fire
station one mile from our site where paramedics are located, ambulance
service
is available within 15 minutes, and a Sheriff's helicopter transport
can arrive within a few minutes.
Immediate attempts would be made to contact parents in the event
of any
injury requiring medical attention.
What happens if
someone gets lost?
Your child's welfare is our primary concern. A
child has never been lost while in our
care. Students are supervised by an
adult at all times and are never allowed to go off on their own. Student leaders take frequent head counts
and are trained to take appropriate actions in the event of a missing
child. Students are also counseled on
what to do if they should become separated from the group.
Do boys and
girls sleep
in different cabins?
Yes. Boys and male staff stay in the boys' cabins, while girls
and female staff stay in the girls' cabin.
What will my
child be doing
while there?
Clear Creek is an outdoor education center. It is our goal to
provide the most positive outdoor experience possible for your
child. Students will be exposed to information about the natural
world around them,
how it works, and their place in it. They will hike and learn
about the local ecology. They will also participate in team
building games, arts & crafts, archery, swim (June through
September only), and campfire program. For many, the weekend will
test their
physical
fitness, and still others may be challenged to face their fears of the
unknown.
However, in presenting these challenges to your child, we take every
precaution
to assure his or her safety. Students will learn about
themselves and the world in which they live while spending the weekend
in a beautiful place.
Can I call?
No. We ask teachers not to give out our telephone number.
It would be very difficult to remove a student from the program to
receive a phone call. In addition, we attempt to keep
our phone lines open for Clear Creek business. However, you can
contact your child in an emergency (see "What if I must get in touch
with my child?").
Can my child call
me?
No. We have 60 students each weekend and only two office lines
for district business - it is impractical for students to
call home. If a child has a fever, the teacher
may contact you to ask permission to dispense Tylenol. In cases
of unacceptable student behavior, the teacher may contact you to
request that you pick up your child upon suspension from the outdoor
education program. Otherwise, you should not expect to hear from us
over
the weekend. So please don't ask your child to contact you when
they
get here. If there were any problems with a school groups’
arrival,
you will be contacted regarding alternate plans such as picking up
your
child from school.
Can my child
take a cellular phone?
No. Cellular signals are not received here in the mountains and
cell
phones are listed on your packing list as something not to bring.
What if I must
get
in touch with my child?
In the event of an emergency that requires you to contact your son or
daughter, call the Los Angeles Unified School
Police (213) 625-6631. The school police desk officer will be
able
to put you in
contact with us.
What if
my child
gets homesick?
This happens very rarely during our relatively short weekend
program. In addition, Clear Creek staff are very adept at
helping children adjust to their new surroundings. In the event
that a child is exceedingly homesick well into their second day here,
the teacher from the school will be asked to contact the parent
for direction.
