Lawrence Fourth Graders Learn & Explore at Outdoor Education
From May 18 through June 5, hundreds of fourth-grade students from five Lawrence Public Schools spent time outdoors at Camp Otter as part of the YMCA’s annual Outdoor Education program.
A tradition that students look forward to all year long, Outdoor Education gives children the opportunity to step away from technology and immerse themselves in nature while building confidence, teamwork and new skills alongside their classmates.
Throughout the experience, students participated in a variety of hands-on activities including canoeing, ropes course challenges, arts and crafts, and science experiments. Physical activity is also a key component of the program. Each student wears a pedometer to track their daily steps, and the student at each participating school with the highest step count earns a free week at Camp Otter.
“Our fourth graders look forward to this all year long. They know about it starting in September, and they hear about it from prior students—it’s like the highlight of their year,” said Ms. Maureen from Frost Elementary. “It’s great seeing them here getting to try things like boating and high ropes, activities they’ve never done before. They are often fearful at first, but it’s wonderful watching them conquer their fears and try something new. Overall, it’s just a fabulous experience for all of them.”
For many students, Outdoor Education provides opportunities to try activities for the very first time.
“My kiddos just went out on the boats, and for many of them it was their first time on a boat, so that was really cool to see. They said it was the best day ever,” said fourth grade teacher Ashley Frassa.
By creating meaningful outdoor experiences that encourage exploration, learning and personal growth, Outdoor Education continues to be a memorable end-of-year tradition for Lawrence students.
