On Friday from 5 – 8 p.m. the Lopez School multipurpose room will be full of fun for the Winter Carnival and Silent Auction. This event is run to raise funds for the fifth-grade trip to Islandwood, an environmental learning center on Bainbridge Island.

For three days this spring, the kids join other students from the Puget Sound-area, to discover natural connections with the outdoors through science, technology and the arts.

Organizer David Bills estimates the trip costs about $2000 in total but is in total support of the opportunity. “It helps for the kids to get off island and to get to know the bigger world, it’s a chance for kids to be a part of an ethnically diverse group.” He also believes that “Islandwood is a great compliment to Lopez’s farm to school program and existing class-based science curriculum.”

The auction features a wide range of items including dinner for two at the Galley, gift certificates for LaBoheme and Lopez Soda Fountain, one night at the Islander Resort, 100 gallons of Propane from San Juan propane, a haircut from Ron the local barber and many more. Throw in the promised pizza and games and it has all the ingredients of a fun, successful carnival and fund raiser.