Outdoor Education in Montgomery County “ Nothing is real until it is experienced”

Outdoor Education in Montgomery County“ Nothing is real until it is experienced”

“Providing opportunities

for all students in Montgomery

County to engage in authentic

learning outside of the four

walls of the classroom”

Introductions

• Karin Wade, 6th grade Team Leader, math teacher and SMS Outdoor Education Coordinator

• Joan Shane, 6th grade Team Leader, math teacher and SMS Outdoor Education Coordinator

• Marion Finkbinder, 6th grade Administrator

“Nothing is real until it is experienced”

Dates

• December 3-5• December 5-7

**Details to come regarding your child’s date.


Overview • What is outdoor

education ?• What are the program

components and how does this work to support MCPS curricular goals ?

• Nuts and Bolts of Outdoor Education for your child

• Question/Answer Time


Questions?

• If we do not answer your question during the presentation, PLEASE write the following information on an index card:

– Your question– your name– child’s name– email or phone number so we may contact you


When you hear Outdoor Education, what do you think of ?• The word “camp”• Campfires, games

and singing• Kids sharing meals,

doing k-p, crafts, etc.• Kids having fun• Recreational activities


While these occur, they are not the major focus of the program...


What is Outdoor Education ? Using the outdoors as

a natural classroom to provide students with authentic learning opportunities and applications of classroom skills.


Major goals of the program• Make the students’

educational programs more meaningful by applying the knowledge and skills acquired in the classroom to real-life situations


Major goals of the program

• Provide students with many direct experiences in using scientific processes including observing, measuring, classifying, hypothesizing and predicting


Major goals of the program

• Engage students with performance-based, authentic learning opportunities and experiences


Major goals of the program• Begin the cultivation of

students’ awareness, knowledge, appreciation, and concern for their natural environment


Residential Outdoor Education

• Supports and extends the enduring understandings for science

• Provides applications of the scientific inquiry method

• Uses appropriate technology ( GPS units, data bases, Automated Weather Systems )

• Supports use of mathematics as a tool to solve everyday problems


Residential Outdoor Education (continued) • Provides practice with

proportions, data and statistics, measurement and geometric concepts

• Provides students with opportunities to address the four processes of balanced literacy program: listening, speaking, reading and writing

• Facilitates student collaboration• Provides leadership

opportunities


Outdoor education learning opportunities correlate highly to performance-based learning...

• Outdoor Education...• Is multidisciplinary• Combines independent and

cooperative learning• Emphasizes authentic learning

experiences• Increases students’

background knowledge• Involves prediction, application

and extension of classroom knowledge

• Provides authentic assessment opportunities


Outdoor education learning opportunities correlate highly to performance-based learning (continued) • Performance based learning ...

• Integrates all disciplines: reading, writing, science, math and social studies

• Combines independent and cooperative activities

• Emphasizes authentic problem solving and solutions

• Provides content and assesses student skills and critical thinking


Your Children will be BUSY!

• Day Classes– Watershed Study– Predatory Prey– Student Service

Learning– Confidence Course

• Evening Classes– Night Hike– Campfire– Pictionary– Craft


Watershed Study

• Students explore the meaning of the watershed and learn their place in it

• Collect and analyze data to determine stream health at outdoor education

• Apply the techniques and knowledge to study their local stream


Predator/Prey• Students will research

predator/prey relationships

• At outdoor education students will participate in a simulation activity and collect data based on their experience

• Students will analyze the data to better understand the roles of animals in the food chain


Student Service Learning

• All students must earn 75 service learning hours to graduate from an MCPS high school

• Students are supposed to earn 10 hours in 6th grade.

• Part of the 10 hours will be earned at Outdoor Education by doing various service projects


Confidence Course

• Each center has a confidence course comprised of mentally and physically challenging events.

• All activities are designed to increase confidence, promote teamwork, and improve human relations.


Forest Community

• Students will increase their awareness and appreciation of the total forest community

• During forest exploration the students will study unique trees, identify trees, explore leaf and soil samples.


Wildlife • Students will be involved in

a series of outdoor activities focusing on various aspects of the wildlife community.

• These might include simulation games, hikes observing evidence of wildlife, surveys, and studies of animal adaptation.


Weather

• Students may collect authentic weather data at a variety of locations at each outdoor education site.

• Students will gain experience using weather-related instruments, interpreting data, and making a weather forecast.


Outdoor Education Preparation


What to Pack

• Sturdy shoes (2 pairs)• Hat• Gloves or mittens (cold

weather)• Jacket• Sweatshirts• Sweaters• Long pants or jeans• Pajamas• Shirts

• Socks (lots!)• Underwear• Waterproof raincoat or

poncho• Sheets and blanket or

sleeping bag, pillow• Toiletry items• Bag lunch for day 1

(no glass bottles)


What You Might Pack

• Disposable (recycling) camera

• Lip balm, sunscreen• Insect repellant (non-

aerosol)• Blow dryer (one per

cabin)

• Slippers• Shower cap• Flip-flops or sandals for

shower use• Stationary and stamps• Pen or pencil• Watch• Book to read


What NOT to Pack

• Electronic devices (including CELL PHONES)

• Aerosol Sprays• Curling Irons• Firearms

• Matches• Money• Glass bottles• Gum, candy, or food• Knives• Flashlights


Forms Needed: Permission Medical


Permission Slip due by 11/9/12

Don’t forget tetanus shot date and dietary restrictions


Cost of trip is $76

• Includes food (except for Day one lunch which can be bought from SMS cafeteria), lodging, and insurance

• Payment plans (3 payments, 2 payments, etc.)• If this fee creates a financial hardship, PLEASE fill

out the financial aid form in the packet• Chaperones are free • No child should be excluded from Outdoor Education

because of financial issues.


MedicationForm—Due to SMS Nurse with medication by November 30

(One form for EACH medication)


Outdoor Education at the Smith Center


Smith Center Info

•(301) 924-3123•5110 Meadowside Lane Rockville, MD 20855

•SMS, Child’s Name, Science Teacher’s Name


CABINS (Boys and girls in separate cabins separated by

driveway)


Cabin Interior

Classroom

Bunks (10 bunk beds in each cabin)


Bathrooms


Dining Hall


Nurse’s OfficeMCPS Nurse 8AM-5PM, “Night Nurse” 5PM-8AM


Staffing

• On site Coordinator• Vice Principal• Team Leader, SMS Teachers• Parent Volunteers


We NEED Parent Volunteers! (Fill out the Parent Volunteer Form)

• Spend the day• Spend the night and help chaperone a cabin• Help with night activities (campfire, craft, etc.)• Load and unload luggage bus at SMS• Donate money to buy supplies• Donate supplies


Donations Needed: (We prefer money so that one person can shop)• Permanent Markers• Masking Tape (to label luggage)• Sandwich-sized Ziplock bags• Marshmallows, graham crackers, chocolate bars for

smores• Thread and gimp to make friendship bracelets


Day of Departure

• Drop off child at SMS at 8:45 AM (meet in cafeteria)

• Cannot take the MCPS bus to SMS that day (not enough room for luggage/nobody to chaperone until 8:45)

• Label luggage (one bag of clothes, one bag of bedding, one bagged lunch)


Day of Return

• Students will arrive back at SMS around 1:00pm• They will NOT be allowed to go into SMS• PLEASE be at SMS to pick up your child or make

arrangements.• There will be nobody to chaperone your child after 2

PM on the day of return.• We will need help unloading the luggage bus and all

of our supplies• Your child (and the teachers) will be tired.


“ Americans have long thought that nature could take care of itself-or that, if it did not, the consequences were someone else’s problem. As we know now, that assumption was wrong, none of us is a stranger to environmental problems.”

-Jimmy Carter, 39th president

Outdoor Education in Montgomery County “ Nothing is real until it is experienced”

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