Lakeside School Outdoor Program

Philosophy

Through outdoor education, students learn to step out of their comfort zone and, as a result, gain more self confidence. The participants in outdoor programs build relationships much more meaningfully than they can in a traditional classroom setting, and the adventure of the outdoors helps to form powerful bonds. In outdoor education, we help students make connections between the classroom and the “real world,” that is, the world beyond the school walls.

The students get introduced to and often have a chance to master new skills which can be applied toward a lifelong pursuit. They develop better awareness of their surroundings, of each other, and of themselves, and learn to live more consciously. They develop the skills to recreate their experience with other groups, since they have a new understanding of what goes into creating the successful experience they had in the wilderness. They learn to stop and reflect on the learning process, and become competent at translating experiential learning into generic terms and applying that process to other situations.

During their outdoor trips, the students become an expedition team, and learn to give back, especially to the environment. Having experienced the wilderness with its power to transform lives, they become good stewards of the environment and help to protect it for future generations. Students also experience the benefit of living simply and, hopefully, adopt the attitude of conservation into their lives.

What is the goal for educators in the outdoor program? In Middle School Outdoor Program Coordinator Jara Popelkova’s words, it is to “...help [students] realize their potential for learning and growth... If we want students to have enthusiasm for the outdoor experience we, the educators, need to exhibit that same enthusiasm and believe in the value of the learning experience. It is rewarding to see the transformation in the students and to help make them more aware, more compassionate, and more well-rounded human beings.”

At the end of a program, students are asked what significance the outdoor program experience has had for them. Chip Mehring observes that, “For many, a notable part of [the program] is finding out that relative strangers can come together to function well as a group and enjoy each others’ company. For others, it is the pride and confidence that comes from doing something that is longer, harder, and more challenging than anything they had done before.