3 Outdoor Education Spots to Take Your Students
Hoping to find the perfect location to take your class into the great outdoors? Look no further, here are 3 ideal locations for you and your students.
What is Outdoor Education?
Outdoor education programs are an amazing opportunity for your students to connect with the natural world. Learning outdoors is healthy for children and encourages them to be active physically, mentally, and socially. According to this study on outdoor education by the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, children’s school performance increases through outdoor education. So where are some unforgettable places to take your students and really make an impact?
Location 1: Youth Retreat to Joshua Tree
Located east of Los Angeles is the diverse environment of Joshua Tree. Spread across the entire area is the park namesake, the Joshua tree, which makes the scenery look as if you’re in the middle of a Dr. Seuss book. Joshua Tree immerses students into the California desert environment with the Mojave Desert to the west and the Colorado Desert to the east.
Throughout your visit, students will have the chance to sleep in tents or even under the night sky. While on this outdoor excursion, students learn low-impact camping skills, to cook their meals in groups, and to survive in a dynamic landscape.
Here students have plenty of opportunities to learn about the nature of Joshua Tree. Activities that youth can participate in include:
Rock climbing
Hiking
Stargazing
Living within this one of a kind environment are over 350 species of wildlife including:
Bobcat
Western Diamondbacked Rattlesnake
Southern Desert Horned Lizard
In this unique setting, your students will learn new skills through hands-on experiences that last a lifetime.
Location 2: Youth Retreat to Colorado River
If you’re looking for a location with a wide range of activities and breathtaking views, a Colorado River Excursion is the program for you. Located just below the Hoover Dam is one of the most breathtaking waterways in the nation. With its wide array of hiking trails and hot springs, the outdoor opportunities are endless.
Accommodations on this adventure include sleeping in tents in a basecamp setting. Meals are prepared in an outdoor kitchen enabling students to develop their camping skills while learning about the nature of the area and its inhabitants.
On this excursion, students have numerous activities they can participate in, such as:
Canoeing/Kayaking
Stargazing
Hiking along the trails of the lake and canyon
Viewing petroglyphs
Soaking in the hot springs
Some of the wildlife you may come across include:
Bighorn Sheep
Coyote
Grand Canyon Rattlesnake
With these breathtaking views on top of an unforgettable experience, exploring the Colorado River is an adventure not to be missed.
Location 3: Youth Retreat to Yosemite
Another location that is a must visit spot for your students is Yosemite National Park. Located in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains, there is never a dull moment while surrounded by over 800 miles of hiking trails, numerous waterfalls and activities along the Merced River.
Here, there are plenty of accommodation options to suit your students whether you choose tent camping, housekeeping camping, or canvas tent camping in Half Dome Village. Students will have the opportunity to cook meals in an outdoor kitchen and develop low-impact camping skills in this dynamic landscape.
Within the deep canyons, remarkable waterfalls, and some of the largest trees in the world, are countless outdoor education activities including:
Hiking
Swimming
Biking
Rafting
Some animals living among the hundreds of miles of terrain include:
Black Bears
Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frogs
Great Gray Owls
With all of the diverse nature and outdoor activities available, the beauty and wonder of Yosemite is unparalleled and worth visiting at least once in your life.
By taking your students on an adventure to an amazing, nature-centric location, they will develop a deeper understanding of themselves and appreciation for nature. There are tons of equally amazing spots your students can explore, contact us to learn more about our youth retreats and plan an experience of a lifetime.