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Poland students make the best of camping ‘trip’

Submitted photo Among various activities outlined by faculty and camp counselors for “Camp McKinley” was making a bird feeder. Pictured is 10-year-old Zach Marantis of McKinley Elementary School in Poland.

POLAND — With students unable to attend Camp Fitch this year, one school district decided to bring camp to the kids.

Fifth-grade students from McKinley Elementary School in Poland participated in two days of activities for what was renamed “Camp McKinley.”

“The camp was a way to provide some kind of normalcy in an abnormal situation,” said Dave Purins, principal of the school.

Zach Marantis, 10, had never been camping before the May 21-22 “Camp McKinley.”

“I liked when we made s’mores,” Zach said of his favorite activity, adding that with his dad, Dean, the duo slept in a tent in the family room.

A team of faculty members developed the itinerary for the campers, which included recipes and camp songs. Counselors also got involved, Purins said.

“One of the coolest parts of this is we had our camp counselors, our high school juniors and seniors who were going to go to camp with our kids, record messages and activities,” he said.

Zach’s mother, Kim Marantis, said she made sure to include activities designed by the counselors, such as a basketball challenge and making a bird feeder, to the family’s experience “because they (the counselors) looked forward to this, too.”

Families were asked to camp either outside or partake in activities in the house, with students sharing slides of their adventures. The camp was last week.

Receiving positive feedback for the event, Purins said that families enjoyed the outings.

“It’s a special time of the year. Our hearts break for our kids, especially with the social and emotional things they have missed this spring,” he said.

Zach echoed the sentiment, saying he would rather be in school to see his friends, and also to keep school and home life separate.

“I don’t like school at home. I don’t really like having homework at home,” he said.

Trying to navigate the pandemic, Purins said the district is proud of the way the community has rallied around each other.

“I think that’s the foundation of any good school system, a connection with the community and the reliance upon the great families and great kids we have,” he said.

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