From the Sept 15, 2006 Issue of The Cape Codder

Cape Cod Lighthouse Charter School News

Nature's Classroom

School for the new sixth-graders at Cape Cod Lighthouse Charter School started off in the forests of Greenfield, N. H., this year. During the third week of school, the entire sixth grade packed up for a week of exploration and learning at Nature's Classroom. Nature's Classroom is an outdoor environmental education program whose mission is to bring the classroom outside and to build a sense of community among the students.

There are many Nature's Classroom sites throughout New England and New York, including one right here in Yarmouth Port. The school, however, decided to leave the Cape and head north to Greenfield to expose students to an environment different from their own. The site at Greenfield is located on the shores of Otter Lake and consists of 326 acres of wetland and deciduous forest. The facility has been recently renovated and updated. The modern cabins have private bathrooms, and even air conditioning and heat, if needed. Even though the site and the facilities were quite impressive, the program that was offered by Nature's Classroom is definitely what everyone will remember.

A typical day started off with breakfast in the dining hall. The meals were served "family style" and students gathered together at long tables. The table members were in charge of setting their table, serving the food, and clearing and cleaning the table at the end of the meal. The goal of every meal, besides just enjoying the delicious food, was to become aware of one's food consumption and waste. For each meal, the "ort" was weighed, ort being table scraps. Ort consisted of anything left on one's plate or in one's glass at the end of the meal. The students were extremely energetic about working together to get zero ort, and by the end of the week, they succeeded.

During the day, students engaged in a variety of outdoor, educational activities. In the morning, they were in their field groups. While in field groups, students hiked, learned the ecology of the area, and participated in cooperative group activities such as tackling a low ropes course. After lunch, students took two classes of their choice. There was a wide range of classes offered by the instructors, among which were shark dissection, grossology, building a geodome, salamander meander, and recycled art.

By the end of the week, it was hard to say good-bye to such an amazing program. The enthusiastic staff, the engaging curriculum, and the gorgeous surroundings all contributed to an unbelievably successful week for all. The motto at Nature's Classroom is to "learn aggressively" and that is certainly what this bunch of sixth-graders did.

This particular Nature's Classroom experience was possible because of a generous donation from Helen Murdock, a relative of one of the current sixth-grade students. However, since this past week was so memorable and valuable, the sixth grade at CCLCS plans to continue this tradition next year.