Ridgefield students, staff visit outdoor school

Ridgefield — Each year, Ridgefield fifth-graders travel to Cispus Outdoor Learning Center in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest for a week of outdoor school. The students hiked, learned survival skills and gathered around campfires. This was the 49th year that Ridgefield students have visited the center. Cispus started 49 years ago with John Hudson, the principal at Union Ridge Elementary School. Carla Bonebrake, the health aide at Union Ridge, was part of the inaugural class. Bonebrake now attends outdoor class as support staff for the district. Her mother, Allene Wodaege, managed the camp for 25 years.