Day 299

 For a number of summers, I’ve done work, both professionally and through volunteer work. As a volunteer for the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, I created and continue to coordinate a family hiking program named Tyke Hikes aimed at getting kids on the trail. I enjoy doing this so much so I brought an already created hiking class for students to my district’s summer opportunities program. Titled Saunters, this program is similar to the Tyke Hikes in that it focuses on getting kids out on the trail. It had some flexibility in what curricular areas it covered so it was fun to throw in some history, geology, and art into the physical fitness expectations required for daily hikes on different parts of the 1,200 mile trail. I thoroughly enjoyed taking kids on the trail, but I wanted to do more. Knowing access to the trail had limitations, I decided to continue my outdoor education adventure by creating opportunities any school could try on their own campus. No trail needed, though it would be great to have one.

After creating the outdoor classroom at my school, I felt an urge to try and see how I can help create more outdoor opportunities for not only my own students and school, but for the entire district and beyond.

I visited all the schools in my district and presented the district administration ideas about how they could utilize their schools and the land around them for outdoor learning opportunities. I also presented to a number of educators and families in our district to share my philosophy and hopefully inspire others to trailblaze their own outdoor educational path.

But that still wasn't enough.

Feeling the success of my nature kindergarten program and the desire by others to experience more learning opportunities in the outdoors, I decided to create my own class. This course aimed to replicate a full year of nature learning and squeeze some of the highlights into a short term course that could easily be adapted to summer school, both in our district and in others. I called my class Operation Explore and taught it in summer.

Now, I hope to bring it to the farm.