Fourth graders enjoy history first-hand

Sixty-seven fourth graders, accompanied by three teachers and 17 chaperones, trekked across much of Oregon last week on the annual "On to Oregon" field trip.

Diane Jacobson, fourth grade teacher and coordinator for much of the event, said the 12th annual event was successful and meaningful for the students.

Jill Misener concurred: "Watching the kids realize what they've learned in class is real was the best part for me," she said.

The group started off on Thursday morning, June 25, at 7:30 a.m. and made their first stop at an Oregon Trail site near Timberline Lodge in the Mt. Hood National Forest.

At that spot, pioneers lowered their wagons by ropes over a rocky ledge.

The students visited the nearby site of the tollgate on the Barlow Road where pioneers were charged a $5 toll to pass through. The funds gathered from the toll helped pay for the development of the road.

At Fort Vancouver, the students visited the elegant home of the "Father of Oregon" John McLoughlin. Student Crystal Leis was impressed by the elegance of McLoughlin's home, particularly his big canopied bed. Fort Vancouver served as a center of the Hudson Bay fur trade long before Oregon became a state.

A working blacksmith's shop was another highlight at the fort. Heavy traffic kept the group from visiting the state capitol building, but a dinner at Chuck E. Cheese kept the troupe happy.

The students and chaperones spent the night in the gym at Adams Elementary School in Corvallis in what Jacobson described as "the biggest slumber party ever." An early departure Friday morning allowed the group to make the low tide at the tidepools at Yaquina Head in Newport.

A minus-two tide exposed amazing sea life, including sunflower sea stars and purple sea urchins. A visit to the Oregon Coast Aquarium capped the highlights of the trip.

The fourth graders all seemed to enjoy the field trip, according to their teachers.

"I liked seeing Keiko and the otters at the Oregon Coast Aquarium," said Claire Rerat. Jesse Prichard liked the blacksmith at Fort Vancouver, but wasn't so sure how often he wants to sleep on gym floors.

"It was a great way to end the year," said one parent. "We even had nice weather at the coast!"