On any given day at St. Thomas’s, it is not unusual to see students wandering the surrounding area peering through binoculars, guiding their way with a compass, or taking notes in a journal. These activities are part of the Outdoor Education program created by Mr. Venter, STTS Science teacher and a life-long resident of New Haven with an M.S. in Ecological Teaching & Learning. Mr. Venter noticed that STTS students did not know there was a river three blocks from the school grounds. This, coupled with his own love of the outdoors and desire to inspire future generations to appreciate and steward their local environments, lead Mr. Venter to propose an outdoor education program.
The Outdoor Education program, introduced in Fall 2023, offers a multilayered approach to interdisciplinary, place-based learning beyond the classroom walls and in our immediate community, helps students feel empowered to solve real world problems through citizen science, and deepens a connection to place – one of the key factors in fostering environmental stewardship. Second grade student Dylan especially loved going to the Mill River. “The bridge over the water is one of my favorite places and I feel peaceful journaling there.”
The program brings students to East Rock Park, Edgerton Park, The Whitney Water Purification Facility & Park, and the surrounding neighborhood. Students practice orienteering with compasses and map reading, nature journaling through sit-spots, observing migratory birds in the fall and spring, discovering the world of invasive species, keeping track of seasonal changes in flora and fauna, identifying urban influences on the environment, and noting how being with nature makes them feel. “Mr Venter is energetic. I love everything about outdoor ed, but my highlights were the great blue heron and the peregrine falcon he showed us in East Rock Park,” said second grade student Rory. They also use their imaginations for creative play, and conquer challenges like ascending the majestic Giant Steps toward the summit of East Rock Park.
Mr. Venter comments, “The benefits of outdoor education start with the idea that connecting to a place inspires one to take care of that place. By spending consistent time in these outdoor spaces St. Thomas’s students slowly build a relationship to these spaces, which in turn fosters an appreciation for and a desire to steward them as well.” On the whole, outdoor education builds relationships with the community, brings classroom content to life, allows for interdisciplinary lessons, and promotes lifelong learning.
