An Outdoor Experiential Awakening by Emily

An Outdoor Experiential Awakening by Emily - February 2022 Scholarship Essay

Picture yourself as a middle school student who just stepped off a bus and into an endless verdant forest. You had just spent weeks learning about this ecosystem in class and now it is alive in front of you. You look down at your feet and see the pinecones and pine needles that cover the ground, and your mind immediately begins thinking about the new growth that will occur from the spreading of these seeds and the nutrients that will re-enter the ground. Your eyes then jump to the left to identify fresh tracks of a deer, and then your ears tune into the calls of the native birds flying overhead. Learning comes to life in a situation like this, and it inspires me to make this connection to self and nature available for everyone. I would design an outdoor exploration class because spending time outside builds confidence, promotes creativity and imagination, reduces stress and fatigue, and offers many more benefits that I have experienced firsthand.

The outdoor exploration class would feature both in-class learning and out of class experiences in real environments. In-class lessons would be given about a wide range of subjects including plant life, ecosystems, identifying animal tracks, native versus invasive species, microorganisms, pollution, weather patterns, and other pertinent information involving the outdoors. Other days, the class would venture into nearby lands and experience first-hand their learning from the previous day. For example, after learning about animal tracks, students would be able to explore the real world to find and identify them which improves critical thinking and analysis skills. Correspondingly, after learning about native versus invasive species, the class could physically see the presence of the invasive species and how they steal resources. The students would then be able to brainstorm solutions and grow a deeper understanding of ecosystems. Not only will kids learn academically, but they are empowered by learning confidence and common sense. Through these experiences, students will learn how to stay with a group and not get lost. They will learn to assess whether or not water is safe to drink, and that you should avoid drinking from a dirty water source. This class would be well-rounded, and would allow students to learn visually, aurally, socially, physically, and analytically. The students will be able to act responsibly as a group, but also learn how to be independent. Our earth is so beautiful, and this class would ultimately help raise up a generation of youth who care about preserving nature.

Although this class would be perfect in the area that I live in, it is not realistic in all parts of the United States due to location or funding. If this is the case, alternatively, a classroom could spend a few weeks learning about a certain ecosystem, then take a day trip to the corresponding area to experience and apply what they had just learned. For schools that don’t have the funding to be able to travel at all, students can use their learning to design their own ecosystems and terrariums, engaging in creativity and problem solving. It will be incredible for students to see their learning come to life regardless of the class structure.

I am so excited about the potential of a class like this because I am going to be a part of a similar program this upcoming spring. I will be a camp counselor for sixth grade students at OWL (Outdoor Wilderness Lab) where students will spend three days at a camp about an hour outside of town fully immersed in the outdoors. They will participate in activities like hiking, archery, creek investigation, solar system investigation, and team building which will build their self-confidence and will give them exposure to the behind-the-scenes activity of wildlife in nature. These students will be able to observe how the play of animals relates to human interaction, realize how humans directly impact the environment, see the interconnectedness of ecosystems, understand the indicators of water quality, observe the impacts of greenhouse gasses, and so much more. Through this program, and a similar elective class, kids will gain tangible life skills by being outside, experiencing the natural world, and learning hands-on. I have already completed training to prepare for the weekend, and it is clear how beneficial these three days will be for adolescents who are developing. It makes me desire that this opportunity be available for so many more.

So many essential life skills are developed by being in nature, so an outdoor exploration elective class would be an incredible way for students to experience the world around them while also learning academically and about themselves. A break in the day from traditional learning would allow student’s brains to engage better upon returning to their core subjects and would help them experience many different ways to learn. A class like this would help raise up the next generation of well-rounded, competent and confident humans who would responsibly steward our only home, Earth.