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April 19, 1948--After two years of planning, the first class of
elementary school students arrived at Camp Hi-Hill for a week-long
outdoor education experience. The sixth graders from Roosevelt were
the first of thousands to have the memorable experience in the Angeles
National Forest. For many, it was the first time they’d gone
to the mountains and experienced nature.
For J. Holley Ashcraft, it was a dream come true. He was the physical
education department assistant to Walter Scott, supervisor and coordinating
director of municipal recreation and school recreation, kindergarten
through city college.
An avid fisherman and outdoorsman, Ashcraft believed the outdoor
experience would provide a healthy, valuable learning experience
to children who might otherwise never see the healthful scenery,
plants, animals, geology and ecosystems nearby.
In 1946, Superintendent Kenneth E. Oberholtzer and Dr. Frank Harnett
wanted to do more for youth in the community. With their approval,
Ashcraft attended a national conference in Michigan to see what
they were doing there to take city kids to study the out of doors.
He heard that old Camp Singer, formerly a Girl Scout Camp owned
by John Opid, might be available. Located near Mt. Wilson, it was
directly inland from Long Beach and could be leased by the city.
At that time the City of Long Beach and the school district participated
in coordinated school and municipal recreation governed by the Long
Beach Recreation Commission.
The city had held a naming contest. More than 3,000 names were
submitted. Camp Hi-Hill was selected. Over the years it has been
changed to Hi-Hill Outdoor Science School, but most often it’s
simply called Hi-Hill by the students who have gone there.
In January 1949, the City of Long Beach bought the property and
later sold it to the Long Beach Unified School District after the
coordinated municipal-school recreation program had been discontinued.
Over the years, more than 250,000 students have experienced the
hiking, cabins, memory sticks, camp songs, astronomy, rock collecting,
bird watching, plant identification and the wonder of the water
cycle, the food chain and discovering the plants, streams, insects
and animals that exist in this very special place--thanks to the
pioneer efforts of Holley Ashcraft.
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