Board approves sixth-grade outdoor education trip to Timberly in East Troy after Taft closure

The Galena City School District Board of Education approved a sixth-grade outdoor education field trip to Timberly in East Troy, Wisconsin, after the district learned the longtime Taft Outdoor Education Center would close.

District staff described a months-long search for a winter outdoor-education site that matched Taft’s programming, housing and meal requirements. Presenters said Timberly offers a wider range of class options than other sites the district evaluated, has on-site meals and dorms that meet the district’s handicap-accessibility needs, and guarantees tubing and toboggan options by making snow if natural snow is lacking. Staff described Timberly as about a 2 hour, 21 minute bus ride and said the site would be taught primarily by Timberly staff with district teachers assisting.

The board’s motion to approve the Timberly trip passed unanimously. During discussion, a district presenter said estimated per-student costs “if we go through all the classes we really wanted” would be about $2.20 per person; staff said bus costs may be supplemented by fundraising and that the district will seek motor-coach pricing and cover some costs historically paid from district funds. The presenter also said the district aims to return students by dismissal time on the final day.

Why it matters: The approved site preserves a multi-day experiential program that district officials said students have attended for decades. Because Taft closed unexpectedly, approving Timberly maintains continuity of the sixth-grade field trip for this school year; staff said two buses or motor-coach arrangements and additional fundraising will be used as needed to cover transportation costs.

Provenance: The Timberly discussion and vote appear in the meeting transcript where staff reviewed the history of Taft, evaluated alternative providers and presented Timberly’s offerings before the board’s motion and roll call.