Yes, a few people out there have probable heard the cry "Save Outdoor School!" a few time more than they'd like to and possibly a little more forcefully than they'd like as well. That's not, however, what this is. This is simply my view of Outdoor School with a title that implies that it's a program I feel is worth having around. Now, with my disclaimer out of the way let's begin.
Outdoor School is one of those things where there is more than meets the eye. Most people think it's just like sending your kids to camp for a week, and in a way it is easy to get that impression. When sixth graders come home all excited from Outdoor School odds are you don't hear "mommy listen to all the things I learned," or "mommy guess how much I've grown as a person because of Outdoor School." A lot of kids themselves don't even realize the impact Outdoor School has on them, so how can they be expected to convey that when they get home? Outdoor School is a different kind of classroom, but it is still educational. More than that, it's educational in a way that kids are excited to learn.
When sixth graders show up one the first day they mostly move in tight knit groups of friends from the same school hardly talking to those they do not know. A lot of them don't really know what to expect of the week. Some of the first time student leaders are in the same boat, not knowing exactly what to expect of the week either. Of course there are also the student leaders who have been around 3-6 times who are a bit more in the know and jump right back into the fray.
It's these student leaders and the hard working senior staff who make a world of difference in the Outdoor School program and impact lives. Now I don't mean to sound dramatic, not even a little. Outdoor School is not something to be overly glorified and preached about, that's not what it's about. There isn't a proper way to articulate exactly what it is that take place in the course of a week, I've tried and long given up trying to explain something that has to be understood before it can be explained.
To quote something a student leader once said, "when we go to Outdoor School we find our true self. We don't fit a mold we make the mold. And every time we go back to the 'real' world we take a piece of our real self with us." This is one of those part of the week that has to be experienced rather than described.
A week of Outdoor School is like watching a time lapse video in a way. From the confused, tight knit and easily homesick sixth graders to laughing, knowledge seeking kids who have made friends and are generally more outgoing. Even that kid who shows up at the start of the week thinking Outdoor School is dumb and asking why they are there is crying at the end of the week not wanting to go home. Outdoor school creates the family and close community feel that seems to be slowly fading away these days. It takes something special to take a group of strangers, who in any other case would have no reason to associate with each other, and in less than a week turn them into a community of people that weeps when the time to part ways draws near.
I find it sad that most, if not almost all, the Outdoor School programs have been reduced to only three day weeks due to lack of funding. The number of operating camps reduced has been reduced as well. The value is still there, but it's not quite as rich and deep or as full. Being part of one of the rare full weeks I was reminded just what Outdoor School is and why high schoolers willingly under go the stress of missing a week of school, taking time off of work and head off to the woods. There's something about Outdoor School that goes beyond words. For those who have never been or haven't been since they were sixth graders and have forgotten, you can tell them story after story, describe Outdoor School with every detail and emotion you can think of and still not be enough to get them to fully understand.
Outdoor School is something everyone should have the chance to be a part of. Unfortunately at this rate Outdoor School may be gone someday soon, closing the door on generations to come.
Outdoor School is one of those things where there is more than meets the eye. Most people think it's just like sending your kids to camp for a week, and in a way it is easy to get that impression. When sixth graders come home all excited from Outdoor School odds are you don't hear "mommy listen to all the things I learned," or "mommy guess how much I've grown as a person because of Outdoor School." A lot of kids themselves don't even realize the impact Outdoor School has on them, so how can they be expected to convey that when they get home? Outdoor School is a different kind of classroom, but it is still educational. More than that, it's educational in a way that kids are excited to learn.
When sixth graders show up one the first day they mostly move in tight knit groups of friends from the same school hardly talking to those they do not know. A lot of them don't really know what to expect of the week. Some of the first time student leaders are in the same boat, not knowing exactly what to expect of the week either. Of course there are also the student leaders who have been around 3-6 times who are a bit more in the know and jump right back into the fray.
It's these student leaders and the hard working senior staff who make a world of difference in the Outdoor School program and impact lives. Now I don't mean to sound dramatic, not even a little. Outdoor School is not something to be overly glorified and preached about, that's not what it's about. There isn't a proper way to articulate exactly what it is that take place in the course of a week, I've tried and long given up trying to explain something that has to be understood before it can be explained.
To quote something a student leader once said, "when we go to Outdoor School we find our true self. We don't fit a mold we make the mold. And every time we go back to the 'real' world we take a piece of our real self with us." This is one of those part of the week that has to be experienced rather than described.
A week of Outdoor School is like watching a time lapse video in a way. From the confused, tight knit and easily homesick sixth graders to laughing, knowledge seeking kids who have made friends and are generally more outgoing. Even that kid who shows up at the start of the week thinking Outdoor School is dumb and asking why they are there is crying at the end of the week not wanting to go home. Outdoor school creates the family and close community feel that seems to be slowly fading away these days. It takes something special to take a group of strangers, who in any other case would have no reason to associate with each other, and in less than a week turn them into a community of people that weeps when the time to part ways draws near.
I find it sad that most, if not almost all, the Outdoor School programs have been reduced to only three day weeks due to lack of funding. The number of operating camps reduced has been reduced as well. The value is still there, but it's not quite as rich and deep or as full. Being part of one of the rare full weeks I was reminded just what Outdoor School is and why high schoolers willingly under go the stress of missing a week of school, taking time off of work and head off to the woods. There's something about Outdoor School that goes beyond words. For those who have never been or haven't been since they were sixth graders and have forgotten, you can tell them story after story, describe Outdoor School with every detail and emotion you can think of and still not be enough to get them to fully understand.
Outdoor School is something everyone should have the chance to be a part of. Unfortunately at this rate Outdoor School may be gone someday soon, closing the door on generations to come.
