Small Steps

Inspired by the Trail To Every Classroom workshops, I decided to start incorporating the outdoors into my lessons.  Students are always asking to have class outside, so why not grant their wish. The lesson seemed simple:  Take some time to walk around and find something inspiring.  The outdoors is filled with amazing sights, sounds, smells, and sensations.  Take a few pictures of what you have found.  Use different angles to really capture what has caught your attention.  Then, write a descriptive paragraph (or two) that describes what you have found.

It was a beautiful day in late September.  I opened the door next to my classroom, and sent my students out into the world of place-based learning.  Unfortunately, like a house cat that steps on grass for the first time, my students stepped outside and froze.  The majority of them took three quick pictures of the first tree they saw.  The tree right next to the school.  Then, they sat down leaning against the school to write their paragraphs.

Apparently, I needed to explain the the outdoor classroom is a bit bigger than just the shadow of the school building.

Being determined to make this work and be a meaningful experience for my students, I made a simple modification to the assignment.  The next class, we went outside again.  This time I led them out past the school lawn toward the woods.  On the way, I had them take a picture of the tall grass in the field.  Then, we entered the woods.  They were told to look around.  Just look around.  We found a birdhouse on the side of a tree.  We took a picture of it.  Now we had two different pictures to write about for this assignment.  Finally, instead of going back to the school, we sat a picnic table at the edge of the woods.  They just needed a little guidance and to be pointed in the right direction.

There were a few complaints about how hot it was out, but overall the second time was more what I was hoping.  Also, the paragraphs were better and more inspired.  Will I take kids outside again? Yes.  Will I take kids on a hike? Yes.  Will it be tomorrow?  No.  Introducing students to outdoor education will take some time.  However, with determination, this can and will work.  All with small steps...


Zack Reinstein
Buckfield High School

Growing Connections

Post by Kristy Duris, Profile School in Bethlehem, NH

 During the past few years, my interest in the A.T. has grown and been slowly developing. I began hiking with a colleague (and now extremely close friend) within the White Mountains a couple times a week. Then I hiked all of the 48 four thousand foot mountains in NH. And then I kept hiking, getting out the the trails as much as I could, whether it be in the spring, summer, fall, or winter. Throughout this progression, my friend always pointed out when we were on the A.T. when out hiking. I knew of the A.T., but up until my passion for hiking was revealed, I never really thought about it other than when I was serving thru-hikers when working in Lincoln restaurants!

Now, my mind only has more questions as I am exposed to the history, creation, culture, etc. of the Trail. I want to learn more for my own personal knowledge as well as to use in the classroom. From the first session and meeting other people in the program, it seems that other teachers are in a similar place. This wanting of knowledge about the A.T. has definitely connected all of us and through our sharing, we have already had fun learning about soil, Mount Washington weather trends, and previous participants’ successes. The first weekend was inspiring and motivating, and only increased my curiosity about how I can use this program for teaching.

I am in a transition in my teaching, using more experiential education in my classroom. This past year I co-taught a class called Project Venture for eighth grade. During this pilot year, the students were exposed to service learning (building bridges and trail maintenance for town trails, creating a “pump” track for the community) and the natural world (hiking, having class outside when possible) on a regular basis. I still can’t believe how successful it was and how students were excited, motivated and willing to work. My hopes are to build on this program, utilizing the A.T. regularly as both a service learning opportunity as well as a natural world experience. I am also looking forward to including a few “dirty” lessons on soil and incorporating the Leave No Trace principles out on the trail!

MARO Spring TTEC Workshop

Fifteen teachers from five states participated in the 2013 MARO Spring TTEC Workshop held at Kirkridge Retreat Center in Bangor, PA during the first week of April.  The teachers delved into the history of the A.T., placed based service learning, curriculum building and cooperative partnerships before heading into the outdoor classroom of the Trail for a session on Leave No Trace.  Presenters included Karen Lutz and Marian Orlousky of ATC, Dr. Robert Siudzinski of Washington College, Estelle Ruppert of PA DCNR, Dan and Ben Schwartz of AMC-DV and TTEC Alumni Pat Woods, Paul Marth, Bonnie Roth and Shannon Jenkins.  The teachers will head to NCTC in July for the TTEC Summer Institute before returning for the culminating Mid-Atlantic region workshop at the Ironmasters Mansion in Pine Grove Furnace State Park in the fall.