Providing opportunities for
students to engage in
authentic learning in the
outdoor classroom for 53
years!
OEEP Coordinators:
 Mark Granger
 Stephanie Lee
 Courtney Hebert
 Bill Kraegel
 Brian Shilling
Residential Coordinator
Residential Coordinator
Residential Coordinator
Day Program Coordinator
Day Program Coordinator
Administration:
 Laurie C. Jenkins
 Christine Rogewitz
Supervisor
Administrative Secretary
 Mission
What is this program’s purpose?
 The Instructional Program
What will they learn? Why is this
part of the Grade 6 curriculum?
 The Sites
What do the outdoor education
sites look like?
 Questions and Answers
What did we leave out?
For those of you who did not tour the facility beforehand,
there will be a tour of the Smith Center at the end of this
presentation.
Mission of OEEP:
To provide outdoor
learning experiences that
increase students’ content
and process knowledge of
MCPS curriculum, while
nurturing awareness,
appreciation, and concern
for the natural
environment.
Total Attendance: 2014 -2015 at OEEP
Day Programs: 12,000 students (k-12)
Residential Program: 9,721 Grade 6 students
Provide students with hands-on investigations as
a vehicle for teaching the MCPS curriculum.
Increase the depth of student learning by
providing application and extension of
knowledge and skills to real-life situations
Engage students with performance-based,
authentic learning opportunities and
experiences
Continue to help students grow in knowledge,
awareness, appreciation, and concern for their
natural environment and encourage commitment
to stewardship of the land
 Outdoor experiences that
engage students
meaningfully in using the
Core Literacy Practices.
 Opportunities for scientific
inquiry and critical thinking.
 Applications of mathematics
as a tool in problem solving
and data analysis.
 Opportunities to address
literacy: listening, speaking,
reading varied texts, and writing
 Unique experiences for the
development of social emotional
learning, especially collaboration
and relationship building skills
 Investigations in which students
integrate technology as a tool to
collect and analyze data
Areas of Study
Possible at All
Outdoor Environmental
Education Centers:
Students…
 answer the questions: Is
the water quality in our
stream healthy? And,
why do scientists
monitor the health of
this stream?
 apply the techniques and
content knowledge
learned in the classroom
to study their local
stream
Students…
 participate in a simulation
lesson and collect data
based on their experience
 explore predator/prey
relationships
 analyze collected data to
better understand the
impact of limiting factors
on populations of organisms
in a local ecosystem
Working in teams, students…
 Navigate to poles/markers
placed within the boundaries
of the site using topographic
maps, compasses, and GPS
units
 Observe and analyze the
various ecosystems in our
local watershed
 Each site presents students
with evidence of the past
history of the area
 Observation and small group
discussion give students a
glimpse of past customs and
ways of life
 Each center has a
confidence course
comprised of
opportunities for
collaborative problem
solving.
 All challenges are
designed to increase
social awareness,
including collaboration,
empathy, and
relationship –building
skills.
• SSL is a MD high
school graduation
requirement: 75 hours
• The first 10 hours are
conducted in Grade 6
through science
Examples of environmental SSL Projects: Removal
of non-native invasive plants, seed collection,
habitat construction and improvement
• SSL is composed
of 3 steps:
1. Preparation:
what are you
doing and why
is it necessary?
2. Action: the
service
3. Reflection:
think and write
about your
action and what
you learned
 Astronomy
 Patterns of Settlement
 Habitat Diversity
 Treasure Earth(STEM)
Lathrop E. Smith
Environmental
Education Center
Summit Lake
Camp
Skycroft Conference
Center
Preparation for
Departure
 Sturdy footwear
 Socks (lots!)
 Gloves or mittens
 Waterproof raincoat or


 Hat





(cold weather)
Jacket
Sweatshirts
Sweaters
Long pants or jeans
Pajamas
Shirts
 Underwear



poncho
Sheets and blanket or
sleeping bag, pillow
Toiletry items
Bag lunch (no glass
bottles)
Reusable water bottle
 Binoculars
 Disposable





(recycling) camera
Compass
Flashlight
Lip balm, sunscreen
Insect repellant
(non-aerosol)
Watch
 Slippers
 Shower cap
 Flip-flops or
sandals for shower
use
 Stationery and
stamps
 Pen or pencil
 Electronic devices – no




cell phones
Aerosol Sprays
Curling Irons
Firearms
Knives
 Hair dryers
 Matches
 Money
 Glass bottles
 Gum, candy, or food
 Medicine*
Dorms at Smith
Center
Dorm Interior at
Smith Center
Cabins at
Summit Lake
Cabin Interior at
Summit Lake
Bathrooms
At Summit Lake
Summit Lake
Summit
Lake
Dorms at
Skycroft
Dorm Interiors at Skycroft
Skycroft
“
Humankind has not woven the
web of life. We are but one
thread within it. Whatever we
do to the web, we do to
ourselves. All things are bound
together. All things connect.”
Chief Seattle
1786 - 1866
Please ask any
OEEP staff
member!
http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/outdoored/