Click on the "Donate" button above to make your donation today!

5th Grade Camp

 Dear Fifth Grade Parent(s): 

On May 2-3, 2019 your 5th grader will attend an overnight field trip at Camp Whispering Pines on Mt. Lemmon. The purpose of this trip is to enhance the 5th grade curriculum as well as practice team building skills. Mary Grodman from Community Schools is in charge of the event for Ventana Vista. Community Schools reserves and arranges for the campground, buses, food, and purchases any items used for the classes. The 5th grade teachers, along with Mary, will work with the students during the day on Thursday doing team building activities, cabin banner making, and a scavenger hunt/hike. They are then joined by the rest of the Community Schools staff who help with providing the evening activities on Thursday (star gazing, s’mores, a fire safety class, and leadership games, etc.). On Friday, Community Schools Outdoors runs all the activities, which include learning how to build a shelter, survival skills, a GPS/Geocaching hike, knot tying and survival bracelets, as well as facilitating more fun team building games for the students. The Ventana Vista Family Faculty Organization (VVFFO) funds all of our field trips at Ventana Vista, however the cost of 5th grade camp far exceeds that of a typical daytime field trip.  To offset the large cost, we ask for an $85 donation from each student to provide all of the above mentioned activities, food, and transportation. Donations can be made by sending a check to school with your child, to be given to their teacher, or by credit card on https://squareup.com/store/VVFFO . Checks should be written out to VVFFO and please make a note that it is for 5th grade camp.  No child will be turned away from camp due to inability to pay, so if you are able and would like to donate in excess of $85, that will help fund scholarships for camp.  

Feel free to contact Jen or Cathie if you have any questions or concerns! Please return the form below with donation to your child’s classroom teacher or donate online at by April 12th. 

Jen Richardson/ Cathie Ashley 

Mobile: (415) 519-3250 (Jen) / (520) 401-7656 (Cathie)

 Email: or ================================================

Donation for Camp Whispering Pines - Ventana Vista 5th Grade Camp 

Check made payable to: VVFFO 

Child’s Name: ________________________________________

Amount Enclosed: $____________

Homeroom Teacher: _______________________________________