Pathfinder events are back
Pathfinder Adventures Outdoor School for Goldendale and Klickitat students is back in operation. The continuation of this program, held at Brooks Memorial State Park, includes sessions for tenth grade students in May. Pathfinder is funded this year with a grant from the Washington State Parks to teach students about math, science, and recreation opportunities here in Klickitat County.
All Klickitat County schools were invited to attend the Pathfinder Adventures Outdoor School. More than 200 students from Goldendale and Klickitat schools will attend sessions of Pathfinder Adventures Outdoor School at Brooks Memorial Park Environmental Learning Center 13 miles north of Goldendale. Each session is two nights and three days of outdoor recreation and environmental education activities. The ninth grade session will be held on May 27-29.
The Goldendale School District is serving as the fiscal agent for this $48,000 grant from Washington State Parks. Other Pathfinder contributors include the GEARUP grant from the University of Washington, Klickitat County Conservation District, Northwest Service Academy, Yakama Nation Fisheries, Columbia Gorge Ecology Institute, Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife, Trout Unlimited, Klickitat County WSU Extension, Columbia Hills State Park, Klickitat Trail Conservancy, and Recreational Equipment Incorporated (REI).
Pathfinder Adventures was chosen as the name for this grant project because it offers students information on possible career pathways while actively engaging them in learning while outdoors. The goals of Pathfinder Adventures Outdoor School also include providing students with class sessions taught by mentors in various math and science related careers.
On Wednesdays and Thursdays at camp all students rotate through eight outdoor classroom sessions on a broad range of outdoor activities and research.
Governor's Disabilities Committee meeting covers broad range of topics
The Goldendale Library's Community Room was packed last Thursday evening for the Town Hall meeting sponsored by the Governor's Committee on Disability Issues and Employment (GCDE).
Parents, persons with disabilities, service providers and city, county and state officials participated in a discussion concerning the status of disability-related services in Goldendale and Klickitat County. Attendees included representatives from Goldendale, Yakima, Bingen and the Tri-Cities, along with County Auditor Brenda Sorenson and State Sen. Jim Honeyford.
Topics of concern included access to supported work programs for developmentally delayed adults, school to work transition, transportation to work sites and community accessibility. Steve Brown, Klickitat County Emergency Preparedness Coordinator, provided a presentation on emergency preparedness for persons of disability. Ryan Warner, Special Needs Planner for the Washington State Department of Transportation spoke on his department's services for persons of disability.
Members of the GCDE gave disability resource materials and information about its programs, including the WorkSource's Disability Navigator Program, Plan to Work program for Social Security recipients, and the Youth Leadership Program, a leadership training program for high school students with disabilities.
A summary report of the event will be sent to all attendees. If you are interested in receiving a report contact Melinda Johnson, GCDE staff at 509 532 3148 or E-mail msjohnson@esd.wa.gov.
Youth art takes center stage at art gallery
Winning art from the The Golden Art Gallery's youth art show is on display through the end of May at the Gallery on East Main St. The event attracted 250 entries from Goldendale and Centerville public schools, the Goldendale Christian school, home schoolers and Head Start. in the area. The youngest artist was a three-year-old from Head Start.
A variety of artistic mediums are represented in the show. The show was judged by a panel of experts, plus a "People's Choice" award chosen by visitors to the Gallery.
For the second straight year, the Best of Show was also the People's Choice winner. Nikki Williams, a student at Goldendale High School, received the most votes from the public, which is used to determine the Best in Show. She also got the judge's nod for High School entry.
Other top placings were exhibited by Samantha Perkins, Goldendale High School, second in People's Choice,; Faith Simmons, fifth grader at the Goldendale Christian School, third in People's Choice; and Judge's Choice awards to Rachel Disch at the Goldendale Primary School, Robbie Johnson at the Goldendale Middle School, and Chelsea Denny at the Goldedale High School, for her pottery piece.
Honorable mention went to Hailey Hudson, Janea Meyer, Shawna Quantrell, Reed Lindhe, and other entries by Faith Simmons and Rachel Disch. Prizes were provided by Cindy Bluemel, of Golden Photo & Art Frame.
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