My Personal Experiences I always enjoy being the 7th Grade Outdoor Classroom Coordinator. It is the "fun part" of teaching. Some people have asked how I got involved in the Outdoor Classroom Experience. I grew up in Portland, Oregon. An area that is rich in natural beauty no matter where you go. The idea of an "Outdoor Classroom" or Outdoor School as a week long immersion began in the mid-1960s. It was for students to live in and experience what they were learning in the classroom.
My first exposure to the program was when my sister served as a counselor in the late 1960s and I heard many wonderful stories. I got my chance to attend as a student in 1973 when I was in sixth grade. As a teen I was able to serve for 3 seasons from 1977-1979 as a counselor for one week each school year. In the fall of 1984 I returned as a senior leader for an entire 6 week session. To better express the purpose of the program, a 1970 Oregon Journal article quoted at length the comments of Warren G. Gilfillan, director of outdoor education for Multnomah County Intermediate Education District. He stated, “The overwhelming share of Oregon economy comes from forest products, farming, touring and fishing, and the state relies heavily on its natural resources.” For Gilfillan, the goal of the program was to give students an appreciation for natural science and conservation. Multnomah County’s Outdoor School opened in 1966 as a regional program that also included Clackamas, Columbia, and Washington counties. Outdoor School participants were sixth graders who traveled with their teachers to one of several participating church owned youth camps throughout the area, where they stayed a full week. Each day a specialist talked to the students about soil, water, animals, and plants at field study stations. Students conducted experiments and other hands-on science activities. Lessons also integrated disciplines such as social studies, mathematics, writing, art, and health. Much of Westminster's Outdoor Classroom concepts and ideas are taken from Multnomah County Oregon's program and they in turn have influenced the Blue Ridge Outdoor Center experience for all schools. SOURCE: History of Outdoor Schools |