Wasco Students Gear up for First-Ever Trip to Camp KEEP Thanks to Strata Credit Union, CRC
Thursday August 22, 2024
Over the past 53 years, more than a quarter million Kern County sixth graders have taken weeklong field trips with their classmates to Camp KEEP. The journey to the outdoor science school, operated by the Kern County Superintendent of Schools (KCSOS), is a local rite of passage of sorts.
But students at Palm Avenue Middle School and Thomas Jefferson Middle School in Wasco have not been a part of the tradition due to financial constraints. That will change this year thanks to a generous gift from Strata Credit Union and California Resources Corporation (CRC). The two organizations have teamed up to provide tuition, transportation, and supplies for 280 students to attend KEEP this school year.
Officials from Strata Credit Union and California Resources Corporation attended back to school nights in Wasco this week to surprise students and families with a $250,000 gift that will send all sixth graders to Camp KEEP this year.
Did you know?
Camp KEEP hosts more than 8,000 Kern County sixth graders every year at its two campuses on the central coast.
“We are incredibly grateful,” said Brad Maberry, superintendent of Wasco Union Elementary School District. “This opportunity will not only enhance our students’ understanding of the environment but also instill in them a sense of responsibility towards preserving it for future generations.”
Russell Sentes, deputy superintendent of KCSOS, whose division operates the two camps on the central coast, said going to KEEP is the first time many students get to see the ocean or even travel outside county lines. Students take daily hikes to beaches, tide pools, forests, creeks, and Morro Bay. They eat community meals and share cabins with their peers. They keep a journal, do art projects, and can hold snakes and touch sea stars. In the evening, they sing songs around a campfire, play science games, and tell stories.
“KEEP is about learning about the environment but also provides great life lessons and gives students a taste of independence,” Sentes said. “Many students who attend have never been away from their own homes for an extended period.”
Strata’s VP of Community Relations Kelly Fargo said the idea to provide support was born out of the desire to do something special to celebrate the credit union’s 75th anniversary. They approached the school district hoping to sponsor a handful of students who couldn’t afford to attend.
“When we learned that none of the students in the district have ever attended because of the $400 price tag, we knew we needed to help,” Fargo said.
Strata Credit Union contributed $150,000, plus sleeping bags, duffels, backpacks, hygiene kits, ponchos, beanies, and water bottles so that nothing could be a hinderance to the students attending. CRC came alongside to contribute an additional $100,000.
“This project has been a privilege, and we hope to continue it for years to come,” Fargo said.
We are delighted to support the students of Palm Avenue Middle School and Thomas Jefferson Middle School in their journey to Camp KEEP. Education is at the heart of our community, and we believe that experiences like Camp KEEP are invaluable for fostering a lifelong appreciation of nature and environmental stewardship.
Brandon Ivie
CEO at Strata Credit Union
Students explore the mudflats at Morro Bay.
Students have been visiting Camp KEEP for more than 50 years.
By Robert Meszaros
Rob Meszaros is Director of Communications for the Kern County Superintendent of Schools, where he has served since 2012. In his role, Meszaros oversees media relations, internal and external communication strategies, publications, Marcom, branding, and multi-media content creation. Before joining KCSOS, Meszaros was the PIO for CSU Bakersfield and earlier worked for seven years at The Bakersfield Californian.