COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Options are still being explored but a summer time program that has been offered by the Branch Intermediate School District for nearly 30 years may cease to exist.
BISD Superintendent Kris Jenkins told the district’s board on Thursday that the Agri-Environmental Wilderness Expedition program has lost their leadership.
Jenkins says one person from outside of the BISD has expressed an interest in being a leader.
But she was concerned a BISD employee has not expressed an interest.
The COVID-19 pandemic prevented the program from being offered in 2020 and 2021. The mission of the program over nearly three decades was to expose youngsters to public parks and wild spaces through hands-on, intimate exploration. Students spent nearly a week every summer exploring parks in the western part of the country.
At its height, two buses filled with 70 students would take the trip out west.
Bill Earl started the program in the early 90’s thanks to a grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Sharon and Mark DeMeester continued the program when Earl retired.
After further discussion, Jenkins was told by the board to pursue a possible scaled back version of the program or see if another local school district would be interested.
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