School may be over for some, but Parkside Middle School is running it’s Summer Experience for those students who need a little more work on math and literacy skills. Dahlem is partnering with them for the next five weeks, providing these students with outdoor experiences that can help them not only connect with nature, but also develop academic skills with real world experiences.
For our first session, we did aquatic studies. One group sampled at the stream, and the other group went to the pond.
For many of these kids, this was their first time experiencing nature up close and in person.
Although some took to it right away, others needed a little more encouragement. When we told them they could keep any orange fish they caught, that was enough incentive to get them to brave the water.
No orange fish were caught this day, although several frogs were probably very grateful when the bus finally came to collect the kids.
After a soggy hour or so, the students retired to the Nature Playscape to record their experiences in their journals.
This next week we are headed to the grasslands to sweep for insects. Over the remaining weeks we will try orienteering, learning how to build debris shelters, and seeing if the kids can master the arts of camouflage and sneaking.
Do you know some students who would benefit from lessons like these? Scouts, schools, homeschoolers, clubs…we are here to help everyone reconnect with nature. Give us a call to see what we can do for you.
