Each year at West Elementary, the 5th grade class makes a trip to an "Outdoor Education" camp. This experiential learning opportunity is one of the highlights for students at West Elementary. During this 4 day/3 night stay the children learn all about Nature's Classroom. There are many hands on activities that allow the children to learn in ways that go beyond the classroom. 

In 2010, our Assistant Principal Margo Spinale experience Outdoor Education for the first time. Below is her reflection of the experience:

This year I had the pleasure of experiencing Outdoor Ed with the fifth graders for the first time—an opportunity I never had as a student or teacher. Although I had heard so much about it in the last two years, I couldn’t quite get my head around it until spending a day on site. For those of you who can relate, I will attempt to describe my experience of the first day in greater detail.... Upon arrival, several field groups were navigating through the grounds discovering different types of trees—smelling those with a “Fruit Loops” scent (Sassafras), tasting those that were edible (White Pine) and counting the needles to see if they grew in a bundle of five (White Pine.) Other field group challenges focused on solid teamwork and problem solving skills. In one group students relied on each other to get each other across a "peanut butter" swamp, and in another, students gave their best efforts in walking across a tight rope.
During a transition time (free choice time) many students took advantage of the beautiful weather and joined in a game of street hockey, basketball or soccer on one of the many fields/courts for outdoor play. I took a tour of several cabins and rooms. (Ask your son or daughter if I gave them a “Messy Room Award”.) Then came lunch. The rules during lunch are very specific; student servers (waitrons) were in charge of preparing the tables, serving food, and cleaning up. They also held the power of granting table mates (adults included) permission to leave the table.Afternoon special interest groups included snake dissection, grossology, fishing, constructing a geodome, and creating water bottle rockets to launch. I was thoroughly impressed with those who held the live Ball Python. Reluctant to participate, I was an observer for that portion of the activity.As I moved from group to group, I was as fascinated by our 5th graders. What a treat to spend a day with them in such a different learning environment. I'm very proud of the students and staff members representing West El; they are an amazing group who are truly modeling our theme, W.E.S.T: Where Everyone Succeeds Together!