What is the Outdoor School?
The Outdoor School (TOS) is an outdoor education program. We focus on hands-on academic and adventure courses for students primarily in the 4th through 9th grades. We teach children about the outdoors and focus on their personal development. We market to schools all across the state of Texas. Teachers pick the classes they are most interested in their students taking, and together we work to design a program that is specific to the needs and goals of that particular school.
Our goal is to change The lives of children for the better.
How do we accomplish our mission?
- We will accomplish this by providing children an educational and recreational outdoor experience that will:
- Increase their self-worth (primarily through ropes course activities)
- Increase their ability to work together with others (primarily through teambuilding activities), and
- Increase their knowledge and appreciation of the environment that surrounds them (through both the academic and adventure activities)
What are TOS philosophies?
There are two basic philosophies that we adhere to here at The Outdoor School. The first one is Universal Respect, and this one can be applied to virtually every aspect of our program. Everything is deserving of respect our peers, or property, nature and ourselves. Each person is fully valued as a vital part of a team and as an individual; their ideas, thoughts and emotions will be respected. You will become the 'enforcer' in this area as students are not always very encouraging or respectful of each other!
The second philosophy is Challenge by Choice, and it applies mainly to the Ropes Course. Under this philosophy, the participant chooses his/her level of challenge, which reduces the possibility of physical or emotional injury. We DO NOT force participants to climb to our satisfaction, but to theirs.
What kind of classes do we teach?
TOS has a selection of over 20 classes and activities that schools may choose from. These include both academic and adventure activities.
Okay, here is a sneak peek at some of the classes... Click Here for a complete list of class descriptions.
3-2-1 Contact Earth:
This class focuses on the process of weatherization. You'll begin the class at our large granite outcropping and briefly review/teach students the rock cycle and the three major types of rock (igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary). Then you'll hike out to our creek bed where you will teach students how to use sand sieves, a rock hammer and field guides in order to determine the stages of weatherization.
Water Quality Studies:
You'll introduce students to a brief history of Lake LBJ and the concepts of cleanliness and conservation. Youll then teach students how to perform biological and chemical tests on the water of Lake LBJ in order to determine the health of this lake. Tests include: pH, Turbidity, Nitrates, Temperature, Macroinvertebrates and Seining. Students will also be asked to think of ways that they personally can help conserve this very precious natural resource.
Living Off the Land:
You'll introduce students to several different native plants and animals that were used by the Tonkawas and other local Native American tribes. You can teach unique and interesting ways that they used these plants and animals for food, medicine, shelter, tools, and clothing! This class is full of opportunities to taste some of the foods that the Native Americans enjoyed.
Teambuilding:
You will give students a series of problems or tasks that they must solve as a group. Each team is unique as to what strengths they possess and what areas they need to work on; therefore, you, as the facilitator set the goals and situations for the group in order to ensure a challenge with success. After each element or activity you will 'process' the group. Processing is the act of reflecting and talking about the last accomplishment in order to discover the strengths and weaknesses of the group and to keep improving skills as a team. Emphasis for this activity is placed on trust, communication, listening, cooperation, and sharing of ideas.
