Outdoor education is not easy to define in one universal way. Its definition often molds to specific participants, environments, and goals. Creating an atmosphere where participants can learn vital life skills through an activity designed to create a specific experience is exciting and comes with much reward. Sometimes though, the goal for the day is to simply have fun and help build connections between participants. That was the type of program we created for a group of 200 international students Friday September 18.
This group of students ranged from sixth to twelfth grade. With such a wide age range, we split the students up into two groups. One group was for middle school and another for high school. For both groups, there were six to eight activity stations. These activities were designed to teach students skills such as teamwork, critical thinking, communication, and leadership. Afterward, we ended the day with an Amazing Race where teams of students were sent out on a scavenger hunt. The scavenger hunt had two parts. One part consisted of activities that students had to complete as a team. The other part was a photo scavenger hunt where students had to take photos of wildlife in the park.
Overall, it was a great learning experience and a lot of fun for both students and staff. At Adventure Access, we believe that using the outdoors to educate students is a fun and hands on way for students to learn. To learn more about this program, click here.
