During the week of September 29, 2025, Penn-Trafford School District’s fifth-grade students participated in the district’s annual Environmental Learning Camp at Deer Valley YMCA Camp in Meyersdale, Pennsylvania. The long-standing tradition offers students a hands-on outdoor education experience that combines science, teamwork, and adventure.
Each fifth-grader spent two and a half days immersed in nature. Students from Level Green, Sunrise Estates, and Trafford Elementary Schools attended from Monday through Wednesday morning, while Harrison Park and McCullough Elementary Schools took their turn from Wednesday afternoon through Friday.
Throughout their stay, students enjoyed a variety of outdoor learning activities, including archery, team-building challenges, fishing, stream studies, and lessons on Pennsylvania wildlife and ecology. One of the highlights of the week was the hike up Mt. Davis, the highest point in Pennsylvania.
The trip strengthened students’ understanding of the environment and also created a memorable milestone in the Penn-Trafford experience.
Harrison Park students Dawson Grominski, Matias Martinez Portillo, and Ryan Weishaar with Trafford Middle School principal, Mr. Greg Capoccioni
McCullough students Olivia Liprando, Payton Dempsey, and Lydia Durham pause for a break during their hike
Mr. Marasti, Harrison Park’s principal, leads the fishing station with a group of students
Trafford Elementary students Elijah Juarez, Darian Nezianya, and Luka Dorosh
Students from McCullough and Harrison Park Elementary Schools enjoyed the waterfront; Leo Palko, Madeline Smith, Maci Bernard, Ronnie Onderick, Dominic Weiss, Bryson Mee, and Breccon McPartland