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Lessons Learned from Outdoor Education

In January we surveyed 476 students from Grades 2 – 7 the following questions: 

  • - Do you feel welcome at school? 

  • - Can you name 2 adults in the school who believe that you will be successful? 

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From the student responses 99% of students indicated that they feel welcome at school and can name two or more adults at school.  Ms Scharf and Ms Pantaleo followed up with the students who indicated no on their survey 

Some answers from feeling welcome at school: 

  • - I don’t have many friends here.  

  • - Hearing bad words, makes her sad when others are having problems. 

  • - Sometimes kids are saying mean things, calling names, kids in class. 

 

Some answers from naming two adults: 

  • - I don’t think many staff know much about me.  I like athletics.  Maybe they can play basketball with us when outside.   

  • - The teachers who I could name moved schools.  I would like for staff to listen to us and be more mindful of how others are doing.   

  • - Talk to me – say Hi   

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In June, students in Grades 6 and 7 went to Outdoor Education Camp for three days.  During their time at camp, staff noticed that many students did not know the names of other students and struggled with team-building activities.  On the last day, staff asked students for their thoughts on how we can build more leadership opportunities for the following school year. 

Some responses from students were: 

  • - Opportunities to learn the names of staff and students 

  • - Practice leading games and activities with younger students 

  • - More leadership roles and opportunities 

  • - More games with students in other classes 

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The lessons learned from camp created many memories for our students that staff hope to continue with leadership opportunities for the 25/26 school year.   

 

Lessons such as: 

 

  1. Trying New Activities 
    Students stepped out of their comfort zones and explored unfamiliar experiences like canoeing, rock climbing, or team-building games—building courage and curiosity. 

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  1. Building Perseverance 
    Facing challenges in nature—like long hikes or group tasks—helped students develop resilience, determination, and a “can-do” attitude. 

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  2. Making New Friends 
    Living and learning together created strong bonds. Students connected with peers they might not usually interact with, fostering inclusivity and teamwork. 

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  2. Connecting with Staff 
    Informal settings allowed students to see teachers and staff in a new light, building trust, respect, and stronger relationships that carry back into the classroom. 

Updated: Monday, June 30, 2025