Exploring Nature Together: 500+ Students Build Confidence and Outdoor Skills
During fall and spring seasons Project Success coordinates with our middle school principals and teachers to host outdoor adventure field trips to local state parks and green spaces. This fall, we partnered once again with Friends of the Boundary Waters, Minneapolis Parks, and Wilderness Inquiry to bring more than 500 students (plus teachers and school staff) on a day of outdoor education.
Students and staff from Ella Baker, Northeast, Andersen United, and Anwatin Middle Schools participated in activities including canoeing, portaging, survival skills, water quality testing, orienteering, animal exploration and more!
Students testing the water quality
Students experiencing canoeing
Learning the basics of portaging
Here’s what teachers had to say about this experience:
“Students displayed initiative, asking questions and involved problem solving as they did new things” – Andersen United Middle School Teacher
“Many students don’t get opportunities to engage with nature in this way”
“Students told me that they learned more today than they do in class because the activities were interesting and relevant to the environment.” – Andersen United Middle School Teacher
“Students don’t usually have access…and this really takes them out of their comfort zone to experience something new. There is something very calming about the water. It surprised me how much they enjoyed the portage station!” – Northeast Middle School Teacher
“Best field trip ever!” – Ella Baker Teacher