SAN DIEGO -- Students and teachers from Mesa Verde Middle School in Poway returned to Camp Cuyamaca Monday, a 58-year-old mountain education center which was nearly destroyed by the Cedar Fire in October.

The camp has been the location of a sixth-grade outdoor education program run by the San Diego County Office of Education since 1946.

Camp administrators said that they were thrilled to be back.

"I've been here for 16 years and I too lost my house here in the Cedar Fire. So, just being able to come back to this site gets half my life back in order again," camp administrator Cindy Gross said.

About 260 students are attending camp through Friday.

Camp administrators said they are especially grateful to all the firefighters and staff who helped save the center mess hall in October.