Outdoor School

Objectives

The objectives of the school's outdoor education programs can be broken down into four areas: inter-and intra-personal skills; environmental awareness, ethics and stewardship; integration of academic skills and knowledge; and outdoor skills.

                         

Click here to see our 2009 Outdoor School photo gallery.

Purpose

Some children today often find life easier and more compelling in front of a TV or computer screen.  Not our Middle School students, who attend a three-day Outdoor School. This experience combines hands-on natural science education, leadership skills, outdoor fun and recreation in a beautiful setting. Trained instructors use the environment as an interdisciplinary context for learning and expose students to activities that nurture their enthusiasm for learning through direct observation of and participation in the natural surroundings.

Ideally, Outdoor School is meant as a way to fosters students’ critical thinking about the world around them and encourages a deeper understanding of the relationship between biological and cultural diversity, leading to an enhanced self-awareness and a greater pride in personal accomplishments.

Leadership games and initiatives and a special challenge course help develop leadership skills and allow participants to explore goal setting, collective achievement and cooperative strategy.