Ken Crawford

By Jim Johnson

The News

RIVERSIDE

The Highland school board approved another year of the school district hosting Camp Highland at the elementary school in Riverside over the summer.

The YMCA runs the program, and YMCA Director Amy Schulte met with the board Monday evening to talk about the 2019 program and to pitch ideas for the coming summer.

“The community really embraced the program,” Schulte said.

The 2019 program was cut short because school districts ran into June due to the high number of snow days during the school year. Camp Highland did not start until June 10.

The camp averaged more than 30 campers each month – 34 in June, 31 in July and 35 in August.

The camp has been growing in popularity, Schulte said. In 2018, the camp averaged 20 kids, 32 in 2017 and 21 in 2016.

Looking ahead to the 2020 camp, Schulte asked if another classroom could be used in addition to the gym.  This would allow the camp to split younger and older campers.

Several board members urged district administrators to make this happen.

Superintendent Ken Crawford said another classroom was possible.

“I feel like the numbers are pretty strong,” he said.

The board waived fees the district charges for outside groups to use school facilities.

“We are looking forward to another good summer camp at Camp Highland,” Schulte said.