Outdoor School
Brethren Woods invites you to join us for a day of exciting, hands-on environmental education! In a society where people (of all ages) spend most of their time indoors with a screen in front of them, it is vitally important to take children back into nature and have them experience what it is to be out in the woods. Activities for all ages include a welcome, orientation, guided activities, space for a picnic lunch and free time.
Our Program
The students will see that what they learn in school is directly applicable to the real world. Our program is based on the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL), so what is being taught in the classroom is shown in real life at camp. We offer a unique outdoor educational experience that can be tailored to any grade level. Look below for a more detailed program description.
Field Trips for the FALL can be scheduled Mid-September through the first week of November. Field trips for the SPRING can be scheduled Mid-March to Memorial Day. Of course we can work with your group to schedule a visit outside those dates.
Rates:
$5.00 per student
$3.00 per parent/chaperone
Free for teachers!
Program Descriptions
Pre-School - Toddler Trot
Join us for a fun-filled day in the woods! Our Pre-School program features giant parachute games, an Earthwalk (hike), finding and identifying leaves, drawing with sidewalk chalk, and a scavenger hunt. Since pre-school does not have defined SOLs, we will make sure that our program relates to things you are teaching in school.
Kindergarten - Kindercritters
Designed to introduce young children to the outdoors, students explore the five senses and learn about how they can be used to observe and interact with the environment. Children enjoy observation activities that may include an Earthwork (hike), exploring and decorating a tree 'cookie', learning about how bats use their sense of hearing to catch insect, using senses to guess objects, a scavenger hunt, and a story time.
SOLs covered: K.1, K.2, K.4, K.5, K.6, K.7, K.9, K.10, K.11.
For availability and sign-up, click here.
1ST GRADE - TREE TALK
Children explore the characteristics and properties of trees as examples of plants in activities like an Earthwork (hike), learning about leaf shapes and tree names, creating a bookmark using leaf rubbings, exploring a tree friend up close, participating in a scavenger hunt, and learning about conservation. Students are encouraged to protect our trees and forests.
SOLs covered: 1.1, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8
2ND GRADE - WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE
This introduction to the water cycle explores aquatics ecosystems, including living organisms and nonliving surroundings. Students participate through observation and activities that may include a creek stomping' experience (hike), creating a waterscope to explore our pond, learning about watersheds, and pretending to be a drop of water in a game.
SOLs covered: 2.1, 2.3, 2.5, 2.7, 2.8
3RD GRADE - AWESOME ADAPTATIONS
Students explore the different adaptations used by plants and animals to survive by participating in activities such as an Earthwork (hike), creating a critter, learning about bird beak adaptations, and playing a migration game. The interdependency of plants and animals in an ecosystem is highlighted.
SOLs covered: 3.1, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 3.9, 3.10, 3.11
4TH GRADE - HAFTA HAVE A HABITAT
Habitat needs of plants and animals are explored through activities that might include an Earthwork (hike), studying wildflowers and creating a sample flower, posing as a real estate agent for animal clients, and a predator/prey game.
SOLs covered: 4.1, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.8. 4.9
5TH GRADE - THIS ROCKS!
Students discover what's underfoot during this introduction to geology and earth science by making a rock layer sandwich, observing the structure of the earth and searching for fossils on an Earthwork (hike), constructing and erupting a volcano, investigating erosion control, and attempting to control erosion in a miniature environment.
SOLs covered: 5.1, 5.4, 5.7
"CREATE YOUR OWN" CAMP DAY
Tailor a day at Brethren Woods to your needs! For older students add tree identification or testing fresh water ponds and creeks. Spend time canoeing or fishing on our lake, cooking over a fire, field games, Gaga Ball and MORE!
Middle School - 'A Beautiful Day in the Woods'
Come to camp for a day filled with outdoor activities. This day will be focused on teambuilding and can include: fire building, geocaching, orienteering, a scavenger hunt, a hike, creek exploration, tree identification, a half hour on the cooperation course, and whatever else comes to mind. This program allows for a lot of flexibility, so you get to pick what your students will be doing!