Camp High Hill Mt. Wilson Los Angeles Hello, After many years going all the way back to the late 40s, the Long Beach City School System had a week long outdoor camp up the local So Cal mountain range bordering metropolitan Los Angeles. The 5th graders were the only ones allowed to go to the camp for a week of outdoor exposure and nature education in the forest compound. It had been going on for generations of young kids in Long Beach schools. It had been a tradition, but stopped in 2008 due to dangerous fire conditions and the ever present budget cuts. But, for 2024, LBUSD planning return of beloved Camp Hi Hill at new location Plans are in the works for the district to bring back its week-long outdoor learning expedition for fifth graders next school year, with the location changed to the YMCA’s Camp Oakes near Big Bear, off State Route 38. “I know that when we sent students into the mountains, a lot of the time that was the first experience for those students to be away from home, and to be in a different area like the mountains. It’s an incredible opportunity, and a treasured memory.” Jnaki That week was an eye opener for me and years earlier, my brother had the same type of experience… being away from home, away from our parents for a week! Outdoors under the stars for evening walks was something else. So many stars and a learning experience looking up into the dark, but lit up sky with a zillion stars we normally do not see at our own houses. The wonders of how small our whole world is compared to "Space, the final frontier..." Sorry, I could not resist the connection... ha!