First and second grade Mackinaw City Public Schools students will compete on the basketball court to raise money for their annual camping trip. Entry to the game in the school gymnasium Monday, March 22, at 6 p.m., costs $1. An auction benefiting the trip will be conducted during halftime.

The camping trip, which Mackinaw City grade school students have enjoyed for nearly 35 years, is a multi-faceted educational opportunity, first grade teacher Karen Valot said. Students learn to focus and achieve goals by raising money during the basketball game and holding bake sales, and they learn mathematics skills by examining how much money they raised and how much they need to reach their goal.

While on the camping trip, students will learn about local wildlife and go on nature hikes, said second grade teacher Ronnie Budzinski. They will “forage” for their breakfast by exploring their surroundings and finding bags of cereal and other food scattered about.

“As they get older, that's one of their fond memories,” she said of the trip.

The trip will be made on Earth Day, April 22, and students will stay in cabins. They need to raise $350. Two bake sales have raised about $125 combined. Extra money will be put toward the end of the school year picnic on Mackinac Island.