Teaching together

Great Article about the Camp to School connection:
http://www.acacamps.org/campmag/1301/teaching-together
When asked what camp professionals could do to reach out to schools, Krahn’s answer is simple: “They just need to go visit.” He explains that the education community needs to know camps are interested in what they’re doing and want to be a part of the child’s complete development. Krahn is aware that this might be new territory for many camps but that camp professionals and school leaders alike must “get out of our comfort zones.” He insists that outdoor education opportunities contribute to “the blend of excellence that students need for true enrichment.”
But beyond just visiting with school leadership, it’s important to be prepared. “Any science teacher would love a camp professional to say: ‘Here’s what we hope kids get out of being at camp.’ Explain what students will learn: the beauty of nature, the complexity of the natural world, elements of the animal kingdom, outdoor living skills, and so on.” It’s also helpful to point out how these things align with state curriculum standards.
In many cases, persistence will also be a critical factor in building camp-school partnerships. Krahn remembers his experience with Camp El Tesoro, a Camp Fire First Texas camp located in Granbury, Texas. Trinity Valley now partners with El Tosoro for outdoor programming, but it took a couple years of continued interaction with one of Camp Fire First Texas’ executive leaders, Ann Sheets (also the ex officio member of ACA’s national board), to get Trinity Valley on board. “Don’t give up after the first two years!” says Krahn.
Ultimately, camp and school profession¬als are teachers who share the common goal of educating children and youth. “Teachers not only pass down wisdom, but show kids that we can all make the world a better place. Part of that is showing kids different viewpoints of the world and helping them find their passion — and develop the attitude of ‘I’m here to learn.’ As my father used to say: ‘Our job is not to lead the horse to water or to make it drink. It’s to make the horse thirsty.’”
“Some kids find greater successes outdoors than in the classroom. Accomplishments in the classroom are just a small part of intelligence,” says Krahn. “We see students rise to the occasion in outdoor opportunities that the classroom does not provide. There’s something remarkable in every child. Our job is to create opportunities for students to thrive. And for many, outdoor experiences are not only developmental, but fun — which is truly the best way to learn.”