Every spring, 34 6th graders spend 2 nights learning about nature in Charlton, Mass.  Nature’s Classroom provides students with an opportunity to learn in an outdoor setting while building stronger relationships and a sense of community.  

Each day at Nature's Classroom is carefully scheduled to maximize learning. Even meals are a chance to increase consciousness; students collect, weigh, and chart the amount of waste after each meal.  Students trek through the woods during a daily, two-hour field experience to highlight topics such as native trees and animals, fire-building and safety, and team-building. Students participate in afternoon classes that cover a variety of topics tailored to reinforce and teach objectives studied back at school.  For example, students learn about biology in dissection classes; physics in roller coaster, hot air balloon, and parachute classes; and geology as they crack open geodes.  The staff’s passion for science is contagious.

Evening activities extend the learning further.  A science fair exposes kids to six more scientific concepts as they rotate through the centers led by Nature's Classroom staff.  The night hike gives students the chance to observe through telescopes.  

Then students use the planets, moon, and stars to navigate through the woods and learn about vision.  Each day ends with a quiet sing to help students relax before bed.  Back in the dorms, students learn about cooperation as they share space with classmates.  Students have three transition times each day to give them a little down time to relax or play with friends.  

As educators, we need to give urban students the chance to connect with nature, learn, and have fun. Nature's Classroom gives us the platform to do just that.  

The cost is $177 per child.