Hello Harborside Student Leaders,

On August 4th and 5th, we are set to attend the Character Quest training near Galena Illinois. Attached to this flyer you will find some necessary information for the trip. Please let us know ASAP if you are not able to attend. We are hoping to have this organized as soon as possible.

At the training, our students will go through what the Character Quest staff calls their orienteering program. Students will be given challenges to accomplish in small groups. The challenges will be difficult and will require e effective teamwork and communication. There are trained Carthage students that will be along on the trip that will work with our students. Character Quest will also have their staff on site.

After experiencing the different challenges, our students will work with the college students and adults to discuss and reflect on the obstacles that they faced. It is our hope to help our students to recognize and identify the leadership that was shown and the additional leadership that is necessary to overcome adversity. Ultimately< we hope for our students to bring these leadership skills back to Harborside.

This is a new program for Kenosha Unified students, but the Carthage students have been participating for the past three years. Testimonials from people that have participated have been incredibly positive. Dr. Robert Bonn, Athletic Director at Carthage College stated, “You will not believe the positive impact that this experience will have on your students and your school as a whole!”

Participating students and parents will be taking a yellow school bus to Galena We will stay overnight in tents and leave for home at 3:30 pm the following day. It is approximately a 3 hour drive. (IT IS CRTICAL TO NOTE THAT STUEDNTS WILL BE ALLOWED TO BRING THEIR OWN TENTS THIS YEAR. However it is not required. Character Quest has tents like last year, and they put in some more communal sleeping space (on the ground still). Throughout the year, our plan is to continue to have leadership discussions relating to Character Quest at monthly breakfast meetings. In fact, this group will now begin to serve as our student government group.

Our biggest goal is to build the school that we want for our students through positive student leadership. Character Quest, and the Harborside staff will remain 100% committed to helping you to make our students grow into the best leaders that they can be!

Student Packing List:Pack and dress accordingly for outdoor camping trip.

Sleeping bag or blanketsBug SpraySun Screen

2nd pair shoes & socks required (Preferably older shoes)2nd set of clothes (Nothing fancy – long pants are required)

(Shorts really do not work for this activity. Too much time in the woods. You will also want to bring at least 1 long sleeve

shirt.)Sleeping shorts & shirts

TowelLight rain jacket – If it rains, we will get wet!

Hat (To block sun)Water Bottle

Cell phone ok, but we will ask you to turn it off and keep it in your bag . It is not necessary.

Don’t forget lunch money for both days.  We will stop the bus to eat.)

Other Information: Program will start at 3:00 on the 4th and end at 1:00 on the 1oth

We will meet at Harborside at 11:00 on the 4th to get ready to leave Pick up will be at 4:00 – on the 5th (again at Harborside)

Harborside will pay: The $50 registration fee for each student. We are asking that each family send 25 dollars

per student this year to help cover the costs of the bus and meals while we are there. If money is a problem, please let us know.

We apologize for asking, but there are 50 people attending this year! Exciting, but more expensive!

(Students will be eating MRE – Military Rations only on the evening of the 4th this year. We will have a variety of fruit and granola bars for breakfast the following morning.)

Please, do not bring snacks or candy. Remember, we will be outside in tents. Snacks should not be brought in. The MRE’s are part of the experience. We are roughing it!

We are also asking that each student and adult bring money for lunch on the 4th and on the 5h.

(We will stop on the way out, and on the way home to eat at some kind of fast food place.) Participating students should arrive at Harborside on the 4th at 11:00 am.

Pick up, after the event, will happen at Harborside at 4:00 on the 5th. Mr. Haithcock will keep his cell phone on during the trip Please call (262) 945-1688 if there

are any concerns during the trip.

As always, if anyone needs help with lunch money or a ride to or from school, just let us know.

We are happy to help!

We have staff that have committed to attend, but we are also interested in having parent volunteers to come along to help chaperone. The more you know about this, the better. There are also 50 10 th and 11th grade students invited to attend this year!

If you are interested in coming along, please complete the form below and send it back to school with the student permission slip. (Note – a parental permission slip or a medical form is not required if you , the parent/guardian, is coming on the trip.)

Parent volunteer (name): __________________________

_____ I will stay on site (in a tent)._____ I would rather stay inside if possible at the camp._____ Thanks, but no thanks, I will find and pay for my own hotel._____ I will ride with the student bus to the trip._____ I will drive separately from the group.

Permission SlipI (Parent Name)______________________ give my permission for my

student (Student Name)__________________ to attend the overnight Harborside Trip to the Elizabeth, Galena, Stockton area in Northern Illinois on August 4th and 5th with Mr. Haithcock. I understand that the students will travel to the experience on a bus, sleep in tents, and participate in several outdoor physical challenges.

(Parent Signature)_____________________(Date) _____/______/__2009_

Please ensure that you also include the attached medical information form. Any medication should be brought in a plastic zip lock bag with the students name on it and turned in to Mr. Haithcock. (As always, medication can not be held by the

students.) Please also include a check or cash to cover the $25.00 fee that will help cover

the cost of meals and the bus.

Lodging Information: ____ I am planning to stay in the tent provided by Character Quest. (One large

tent for boys and one for girls. This is the girls tent last year.)

____ I am planning to bring my own tent. ___I am going to share my tent with _______________________________________. ___I am fine sharing my tent with other Harborside students that Mr. H

assigns to my tent.

____ I do not have a tent, but I am willing to stay wherever Mr. H Puts me. (Large tent, or with other students.)

When complete, please fax , drop off, or mail the last three pages to school. (Fax number is (262) 359-8450). The school address is 714 49th St. Kenosha, WI. 53140.