At
Friends’ School all students in Kindergarten through Fifth
grade participate in our Outdoor Education program. In Kindergarten
that means a day spent in Rocky Mountain National Park, and by
Fifth grade it means spending three days and two nights at the
Keystone Center. The benefits for children are listed below:
Benefits
-
Leaving
the class and being exposed to the natural world reinforces
social and emotional virtues and values – strengths that
benefit students in the classroom.
-
Living
and working together in a different environment develops cooperation
skills.
-
Outdoor
education trips present different challenges and unique opportunities
for growth.
-
Separation
from comfort zones helps build character.
-
It
is a great opportunity to build community.
-
Students
are exposed to experts in the field of study pertinent to the
Outdoor Education trip.
-
Students
have an opportunity to interact with the natural world.
-
It
develops respect and appreciation for nature as well as respect,
appreciation and knowledge of local surroundings.
-
Learning
is extended outside the classroom.
-
It
is an extension of classroom work.
-
Students
realize learning takes place outside, not just in classrooms.
-
It
develops students’ "spiritual" side (sense of
wonder).
-
It
broadens perspectives (global and local).
-
It
connects the classroom and the real world.
-
It
provides opportunities for risk taking – children learn
to face new situations bravely.
-
Students
gain a sense of accomplishment.
-
Students
experience exhilaration from physical exertion.
-
Students
become risk takers – they can set goals and exceed them.
