Upperclassmen bring textbooks to life at outdoor school
During the approximately 181 school days in a year, NPHS juniors and seniors are found sitting in classrooms listening to lectures and completing their school work. However, during their second semester, they are provided with the opportunity to volunteer as student counselors for sixth-grade students on a four-day expedition into nature called outdoor school.
Held at Camp Ramah, the program allows students to physically experience the wilderness they learn about in the classroom, while living and spending time with each other outdoors. High school volunteers are in charge of guiding and assisting the groups of middle schoolers they are assigned to, all while distancing themselves from the digital world.
Drew Kerns, senior, was inspired to volunteer at outdoor school, having attended the program when he was in middle school. Not only did Kerns bond with the students, but he also made memories with the volunteers. “A bunch of the other counselors and I went up a hike to this like overlook area, and we just sat under this canopy and looked down the horizon and talked and played games, and it was just a lot of fun,” Kerns said.
Dylan Foster, senior, enjoyed his stress-relieving experience as a counselor last year and decided to volunteer again. He appreciates how the program allows middle school students to spend time away from their screens. “I think it’s really fun seeing them away from technology and more outdoors, learning about nature, learning about the world, rather than at school and on a Chromebook,” Foster said.
With the four days away from school, the volunteers had schoolwork to catch up on during their return. “I am still very behind in all my classes, but I think it was kind of a trade-off. I mean, I had a really fun time,” Foster said.
Similar to Foster, Hari Geeson, senior, feels that outdoor school ultimately brings students closer to nature and each other. “You get to experience nature without having a barrier. You’re actually like camping in nature and with your friends, and then sleeping in the same cabin. It brings you closer because it’s kind of just like a big sleepover,” Geeson said.
Kerns provides some advice to other high schoolers who plan on volunteering as counselors at outdoor school in the future. “Don’t worry too much about the work that you’re going to have to make up and just enjoy the time while you’re there,” Kerns said.
