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Bank of the West Helps County Children Attend Science Camp

Grant supports SJCOE Outdoor Education and the thousands of students it serves each year

            The Bank of the West awarded a $2,500 grant to the San Joaquin County Office of Education (SJCOE) Outdoor Education program, better known as Science Camp to the thousands of fifth- and sixth-graders who have experienced the program over the past 58 years.

            The mission of the program is to provide an opportunity to explore the natural world while learning about science and learning to appreciate the bounty and diversity of the earth. Students experience this over five days and four nights in the forests of the Santa Cruz Mountains, just miles from the Pacific Ocean.

            The Bank of the West is supporting that mission with the award of the grant. Terri Du Vall, vice president of the bank’s Stockton branch on El Dorado Street, came to the SJCOE offices on Jan. 26 to present the check. The check was awarded through the SJCOE Educational Foundation, which raises money every year to support Science Camp.

            More than 4,400 campers come to Science Camp each year. That does not count the 700 visiting teachers and cabin leaders that join them to make the experience possible.

            The goals of the program are to increase understanding of natural science concepts; develop critical-thinking and information-gathering skills; increase environmental appreciation and sense of responsibility; build self-esteem, and foster cooperation, problem-solving, and social skills.

            For more information, please go to outdooreducation.sjcoe.org.

Posted: 1/26/2016