DIDSBURY - Students at Didsbury High School were busy working hard in the community last week as part of the May Monarch program.
May Monarch week gives students the opportunity to raise money to help offset the costs of graduation or other school activities such as extracurricular sports, field trips, etc.
"It's basically a battle of the grades to see who can raise the most money," said vice-principal Curtis Dick. "The kids go out in the community and do odd jobs like painting, cleaning windows, raking lawns, that sort of thing. Rather than hitting up people for donations, they're out there showing hard work and school spirit."
Dick said that 60 per cent of the money raised goes into the student's individual account with the school for school expenses.
"The other 40 per cent goes into a general fund that is used by student council for things like scholarships, Grade 9 camp, which is in its 43rd year this year," he said. "It pays about half the costs that are required for Grade 9 camp, so it's not so expensive for kids in Grade 9 to go out."
Dick said Grade 9 camp will be held out by Mountain Air Lodge southwest of Sundre in early June.
"It's a zero trace camp," he said. "The kids do things like orienteering, archery, hikes, biking, that sort of thing. It's something that started a long time ago and is still running to this day."
Dick said that the camp is a long-standing school tradition.
"Many of the current parent volunteers went on the trip when they were kids," he said. "It's a really neat experience. Years ago everyone camped. Now no one camps in tents. It doesn't happen. So for these kids it's a real experience. They're fending for themselves; they're making lunch and supper; they have to have menus that they show us beforehand. It's a really great experience for the kids. It's something they'll probably remember for the rest of their lives."
