Montgomery County Nothing is real until it is experienced. Ms. - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Outdoor Education in Montgomery County

“Nothing is real until it is experienced.”

• Ms. Gretchen Winch

Outdoor Education Coordinator

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Vision

To provide opportunities for all students in Montgomery County to engage in authentic learning outside of the four walls of the classroom.

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Overview

• 1. The “What, When, Where” of Outdoor Education
• 2. How Outdoor Ed supports MCPS curricular goals
• 3. Opportunities within the OE program
• 4. Packing list for students
• 5. Outdoor Education forms and costs
• 6. Drop-Off, Pick-Up, and other logistics
• 7. Lathrop E. Smith Center amenities

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When will my child attend?

Session 1 - February 24-26, 2020 Session 2 - February 26-28, 2020 Session 3 - March 2-4, 2020

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Students in Session 1

Session 1 - February 24-26, 2020

Students in these Homeroom classes:

• Dunlap
• Richardson
• Johnson
• Sosa
• McMahon
• Williams

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Students in Session 2

Session 2 - February 26-28, 2020

Students in these Homeroom classes:

• Arias-Hoskins
• Reaves
• Hernandez
• Umetsu
• Mannix
• Winch
• Murphy

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Students in Session 3

Session 3 - March 2-4, 2020

Students in these Homeroom classes:

• Castellanos
• Morey
• Leby
• Nassar
• Linker
• Wambach

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Where does Outdoor Ed take place?

Lathrop E. Smith Center 5110 Meadowside Ln, Rockville, MD 20855

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When you hear Outdoor Education, what do you think of?

• The word “camp”
• Campfires, games, etc.
• Sharing meals,

doing crafts, etc.

• Kids having fun
• Recreational activities

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These are part of the Outdoor Ed experience, but are not the major focus of OE M

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Outdoor Education is...

Using the outdoors as a natural classroom to provide students with authentic learning

• pportunities and applications of classroom

skills.

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Major Program Goals

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Outdoor Education Goals:

To enhance students’ educational programs by:

• applying classroom skills to real-life

situations

• giving direct opportunities for

scientific processes

• develop social-emotional bonds

through shared experiences

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Instructional Activities

These are the areas of study students will participate in at Outdoor Education.

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Watershed / Stream Study

Students will . . .

• Explore humans’ place in

the local watershed

• Discuss how we can affect

stream health

• Collect & analyze data to

determine stream health

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Predator - Prey Simulation

Students will . . .

• Simulate a food web

through a competitive

• utdoor game
• Collect & analyze data

about predator/prey relationships

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Treasure Earth

Students will . . .

• Use GPS units to search

for water

• Use testing equipment

to study the water availability.

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Confidence Course

Students will . . .

• Work collaboratively to
• vercome confidence

course challenges

• Practice working together

and completing challenges safely

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Night Time Activities

• Campfire
• Night Hike
• Recreation Time
• Journal Writing
• Arts and crafts
• Planetarium

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Night Time at Outdoor Education

• We recognize that you or your student may have

concerns regarding the overnight stay at the Smith Center.

• Students stay in bunkhouses that are chaperoned

by SSIMS staff and parent volunteers

• We will work with your child to provide support

and alleviate instances of homesickness

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Outdoor Education Preparation

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What to Pack

• Sturdy footwear
• Hat
• Sweatshirts
• Sweaters
• Long pants or jeans
• Pajamas
• Shirts
• Socks (lots!)
• Underwear
• Waterproof raincoat or

poncho

• Sheets and blanket OR

sleeping bag, pillow

• Toiletry items
• Bag lunch (no glass

bottles)

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Be prepared for ALL weather!

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Packing List - LABEL EVERYTHING with first and last name!

• Boots/sturdy

shoes

• 3-4 pairs of pants
• 3-4 long sleeved

shirts

• Pajamas
• 4-6 pairs of

socks/underwear

• Jacket
• Raincoat/poncho
• Sheets/blanket OR

sleeping bag

• Pillow
• Plastic bag for

dirty/wet clothes

• Toiletries
• Reusable water

bottle

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What NOT to Pack

• Cell Phones
• Electronic devices
• Aerosol Sprays
• Curling Irons
• Firearms
• Knives
• Hair dryers
• Matches
• Money
• Glass bottles
• Gum, candy, or

food

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These forms must be completed by everyone

Permission (345-7) OE Part 2

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You may need these forms if...

Medication (525- 13)

...your student takes medication. … is at risk for anaphylaxis.

Risk of Anaphylaxis (525- 14)

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Please note:

Medication (525- 13)

• MCPS requires that parents fill out a

separate medication form for every medication

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• For example, a

student with three medications would need three forms

Other health related items

• Medications, including Epi-pens, must

be delivered to school by an adult before departure.

• Forms and medications must be

dropped off together

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Logistics for Submitting Forms

• Please turn in ONLY the forms, NOT

the whole packet!

• Submit forms to Ms. Winch, Ms. Van

Tassell, or Ms. Murphy in the main lobby before school

• Deadline for all forms: Friday,

February 14th, 2020

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Cost?

$83.00

• Payable by personal check, money
• rder, or cash
• Payment schedules offered
• Scholarships available based on need

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Drop-Off Logistics

• Please bring students to school OR arrange

for them to get a ride with a friend ○ Drop students off at school between 8:15 and 9:15 AM ○ They MAY NOT bring luggage on MCPS school buses ○ Students should bring a bagged, non- perishable lunch for the first day

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Pick-Up Logistics

• Students will arrive back at SSIMS around 1:00

PM ○ Students MAY NOT bring luggage home on MCPS school buses ○ Please pick up your student or arrange for them to get a ride with a friend ○ We need prior permission to send students home with anyone other than a legal parent or guardian

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Interested in Chaperoning?

• Consider becoming a parent chaperone! If

you are interested: ○ Please fill out this Google Form: https://forms.gle/PsDxeQWHVHxgRBxR8 ○ MCPS requires adult chaperones to receive training and be fingerprinted/ background checked ○ Email Ms. Winch with questions (Gretchen_M_Winch@mcpsmd.org)

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Inclement Weather

• MCPS plans for inclement weather:

○ If school is cancelled on first day of the program, OE will be rescheduled ○ If there is a delayed opening on the first day of OE, we will go to the Smith Center two hours later than normal

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Inclement Weather

• MCPS plans for inclement weather:

○ If inclement weather is forecast during the OE program, the OEEP supervisor and school administration will work to determine the safest course of action ○ If school is cancelled on the last day of the program, students will go back to SSIMS as soon as it is safe

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Outdoor Ed Website

bit.ly/outdoored2019

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Lathrop E. Smith Center

5110 Meadowside Ln, Rockville, MD 20855

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CABINS

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Dining Hall at Smith Center M

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Bathrooms

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Questions?

Please reach out to:

• Ms. Gretchen Winch, Outdoor Ed Coordinator --

Gretchen_M_Winch@mcpsmd.org OR Mr. Jon D’Souza, 6th Grade Administrator -- Jonathan_M_D’Souza@mcpsmd.org SSIMS Main Office: 240-740-2750