An endangered environment

School officials said they can no longer afford to fund Camp Schmidt, especially when faced with a $155 million gap in the school system's $1.6 billion budget. Officials are also cutting 400 teachers and 92 librarians, among other personnel. Barring a last-minute influx of cash, the camp will close June 30, officials said.

The possibility of closing the camp - which has hosted, on average, 7,000 students a year for nearly four decades - has sparked an outcry from politicians, parents and Camp Schmidt alumni. Bowie resident Rachael Dickey has started a Save Camp Schmidt group on Facebook. As of Friday, there were a little more than 200 people who had joined.