Coeur d'Alene School District 271 Annual 8th Grade Civil War Artillery Simulation held May 11th 2012 at Woodland Middle School. Hundreds of students in Master Teacher Chad Odenthal and Dustin Shafer's U.S. History Classes participated in Cannon Drills shooting cannonballs (basesballs) at student made and decorated soldier targets propped up by sticks. The cannon was built by substitute teacher Donald Delcambre as a project for his student teaching from Gonzaga University. Thousands of area students have experienced This "first in the nation" endeavor which was/is supported by over 30 local businesses and won a financial Award Grant in 2008 from The EXCEL Educational Foundation. Many students experience this as a rite of passage from Middle to High school, and even come back to volunteer their time to help train the classes. One such volunteer since 2007, Joe Mitchell from CDA high school, has enlisted in the real US Army and will be attending basic training this fall. Everyone is encouraged to come and see this out-door event for themselves at either Lakes Middle School in CdA Friday May 25th from 8am - 2:30pm or at Central Valley's North Pines Middle school located on North Pines avenue near Broadway on May 30th 2012 same times. For more info contact Mr. Delcambre at 208-704-2152 or see website www.facebook.com/TheCannonGuy
