6th graders enjoy field trip

ROYAL CITY - Royal City sixth graders have been enjoying a field trip to Camp Casey every year since 1990. It just may be the most fabulous of all field trips.

The students stop for lunch at Snoqualmie Falls, ride a ferry across Puget Sound, stay at an old U.S. Army fort on Whidbey Island, study Washington State history, study marine life, tour Coupeville, enjoy the beaches and even go bowling.

"The students have a completely new experience," said program director and teacher Jens Jenson. "Most have never been on a ferry, many have never been to the west side of the state, and the vast majority have had no experience or exposure to marine biology or early Washington State history."

Jens Jensen participated for the first time 13 years ago. He has been director of the excursion for 11 years.

"It is a big event and fairly exhausting, but the kids love it and it is an essential part of the fabric of what we do in Royal," Jensen said.

This year's group went on May 18-20.

The U.S. Army opened Fort Casey to guard the entrance to Puget Sound from Whidbey Island in 1890. It was named in honor of Brigadier General Thomas Lincoln Casey, the last U.S. Army chief of engineers.

Fort Casey became part of the "triangle of fire," along with Fort Worden and Fort Flagler, and its big guns were first fired on September 11, 1901. The fort was retired in the 1950s, and it became the property of Seattle Pacific University, which shares it for educational purposes.

One of those educational uses is the Fort Casey Sea Lab, where the study of marine biology is conducted. The Royal students visit in groups of 35 to hear a lecture and view aquatic life.

Camp Casey is a three-day experience for the Royal students. More than 100 are involved. They stay in the barracks the Army left behind. So do the 25 or so adults who volunteer to chaperone.

"Most of the buildings have had refurbishment, but not complete replacement," Jensen said. "The bathrooms have been modernized, and some of the buildings have been divided into rooms, as opposed to large open sleeping areas. We stay in both types of buildings."

The first and third days are mostly travel, but the activities begin upon arrival on the first day and end the evening of the second day.

"All of the parents who attend volunteer their time to chaperone, and the staff in attendance are not paid anything extra for attending or organizing the trip," Jensen said.

This year's volunteers included parent and school board member Warren Small, who is widely known for his culinary artistry. He volunteered his time, equipment and talents to plan and prepare all of the meals.

"I have not totaled up the volunteer hours for everyone in attendance over the years, but this trip represents one of the many things that are selfless and special about this community," Jensen said.

Jensen noted that, in the last few years, the Camp Casey experience has started to see 6th grade students who are the second generation in their family to make the trip.

In the Coupeville Bus Tour, long-time Coupeville resident and school teacher Diane Eelkema tool the students on a guided tour of the Coupeville area and shared stories about the area's colorful history.

The Forest and Meadow Walk two-hour class is limited to 60 students per class. Students were taken on a guided walk to observe and learn about the plant and animal life in and around the forest and meadows on the Camp Casey grounds.

The Sea Lab is a one-hour class limited to 35 students per class with a lecture, lab tour of the aquarium, and a time for questions and answers.

In the Lighthouse Tours, students toured the Whidbey Island lighthouse and viewed historical information about Fort Casey.

On the return trip, the students toured the Flying Heritage Collection created by Paul Allen at Paine Field in Everett. Students viewed the planes of the fighting airman of World War II.