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2/8/24 Nature's Classroom Informational Session Video

Added Feb 09, 2024 •

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are we waiting for the teacher in the meeting thanks for doing everyone we're just waiting for the director to come on so that way she can begin the meeting blue I'll make you a post so you can share your screen perfect thank you sorry for the delay I had a meeting that ran long but to be here and talked about your trip yes we have some families on and then I have the meeting room there is a meeting so everyone can just join when they are OK Google start sharing my screen with my name is Angel and I'm the program coordinator for now just classroom at the site that your students are coming to this spring so I'll do just a short presentation to give him an overview of the trip band and what students can expect and I'm happy to take any questions can you see my screen oh I was like to start by talking about our mission at Nature's Classroom an our goal for students then when they come and spend a couple days with us is to give him the opportunity to make meaningful connections with themselves with others and the natural world through genuine Hands-On experiences so there's a couple things in that one is that we find suits are able to form connections with their peers and with their teachers in ways that they're not necessarily able Canada typical School environment getting out of their comfort zone and into this new environment together can create room for some great connections between people and we also really emphasized messing with the natural world so the whole time that students are with us they're out exploring hiking interacting with plants and animals and really getting to get Hands-On with the world around them we talked about that connection with the people around them we part of how we do that is by disconnecting from the world outside of Nature's Classroom so we ask that students not have their devices with them while they're at Nature's Classroom so that they can really be present and focused in in the moment. There and this is an experience that students today so rarely get to be disconnected in without cell phones for a couple days or something. are are students almost never doing so it's a great opportunity for them to have that experience all of the adults on site so the staff from the school her along as well as Nature's Classroom stop we have devices we've got the and good cell coverage so if there's any sort of emergency if we really need to get in touch during the trip that happened but we want students to be able to just be present in the moment and forget about their devices little bit at the core of our program is what we call the four C's communication cooperation commitment and Care these are skills and values that we talked about all the time with events try to build them in and practice them in everything we do whether students are doing a team building challenge on Arlo ropes course they're just cleaning up the table after a meal together we're always encouraging them to think about how they can communicate through can effectively how they can work together with the people around them how they can stay committed to things even when they're challenging and work through that struggle a little bit and most importantly how they can care for themselves for the people around them and the environment they're in I talked to Spruce way about her staff we've got great team of outdoor Educators this is our team from a couple seasons ago our staff for this season will be arrive on site in just a few weeks to start training to do two full weeks of training before staff start working with students and our staff come from all over the country almost all of them are college-educated all of them are over the age of 21 all background checks and trained in CPR and first aid most importantly they're all people who are passionate about nature in the outdoors and love to share that passion with students so we have since we have staff all sorts of different experiences and skills that they are excited to share with your students we also have a license nurse on site 24/7 will students are here so she'll be able to take care of any medical issues that come up with a suit is someone who takes very medication that'll stay in the nurse's office while they're here and they'll goes to the ER nurse when they need it and then also any 10 minor injuries or you know if they're having cold symptoms if they're not feeling well are nurses able to take care of most things and anything more significant than that that might happen we are 7 minutes away from our closest hospital so we're very close to medical care if we need the located in Master getting kind of Southwestern corner of Massachusetts in great Berrington incredible sight here we're right on the side of East Mountain so we've got great hiking trails some awesome Lookout points for since I kept two as well as being withheld going out to the banks of the Housatonic River so really some interesting different ecosystems for students to explore while they're here this is a sample schedule give you an idea what a day at Nature's Classroom looks like I'll be working with the teachers to determine more specifically your student schedule but as you can see we start our day with breakfast at 8 in the morning we had off Caulfield Group B in the time when a group of about 12 students and one Nature's Classroom staff member head out together is a pretty reform student-led time so often the instructor will give the students a cup different options for what they might do during field stripping and the group as a whole will decide but they're interested in so it's a little different for each group each day but some things they might do during field Trooper things like team building challenges are longer exploration activities and then in the afternoon after lunch we have a couple of class Choice blocks where will be several different options and students are able to choose the option they're most interested in for those for that block when we do and even act after dinner every night before heading back to the cabins around 8:30 to start winding down and getting ready for that he also knows that we've got a couple boxes of free time before lunch and before dinner and that's kind of an unstructured down time when students might go back to the cabin to rest if they need to or play basketball or soccer just have kind of assumed some downtime refraction get ready for whatever I'm going to talk a little bit about talking cuz I know there's often a lot of questions about that there is in the paperwork that will get sent home if it hasn't already a full packing list of everything that the leads mother most important things when packing as they are one if your student is fully packed and they go to pick up their suitcase in it weighs more than they do and they can't carry it themselves might have over packed just a little bit we want to make sure that they're able to carry their own belongings you from the unloading the bus and getting it to the cabin where they're staying and then the second most important thing is definitely just checking the weather for this weekend so maybe the week before you check the weather for great Berrington Massachusetts just to have an idea of what to put for in the spring especially we know the weather can be completely different day today so definitely being prepared with layers or maybe warmer weather during the day cooler weather in the evening when we're still outside and definitely some sort of brain code or Poncho or waterproof layer is always great because we never know when it's going to rain as long as it's thunderstorming we stay out even if it's raining shoes definitely want to pack shoes that are comfortable for walking around a lot in and shoes that your student won't mind getting dirty so definitely not getting brand new sneakers or hiking boots you don't need to do that but whatever shoes they've got already that are really comfortable and that they won't mind if they get muddy or wet I definitely recommend bringing either if you've got them or just two different pairs of sneakers or whatever shoes you're bringing so that if it is one day your shoes get soaked. Dry ones to change into for the next day and then we we encourage every student to bring a water bottle with them we are moving around a whole lot were very active and I'd say dehydration is the most frequent reason that students need to see the nurse while they're at Nature's Classroom they're just not drinking water to keep up with all the activity they're doing bringing water bottle is really important and then some sort backpack it could just be their school backpack so that they're able to carry around their water bottle their rain coats whatever they need done throughout the day. Also needs to bring wedding so the sleeping bag or sheets and a blanket and pillow the beds that soon sleep in our twin size bunk beds so whatever they'll need to be comfortable at night whether that's a sleeping bag or just sheets in a blanket this is a picture of the inside of one of our cabin buildings they're all fairly similar see some slight differences but you can expect students to be sharing a room or a cabin with several other students bunk beds space to store their stuff and things that we asked you is not to be especially not into the dorm are really any kind of food or candy or snacks because we are in the middle of the woods and having crumbs and and Candy around can invite unwanted roommate then but that's so we definitely always have snacks available in the dining hall we make sure they get plenty to eat but we want to try to keep Critters out of the cabins as much as possible and then like I mentioned any phones or devices to stay behind and then any kind of medicine is going to he sent with the teachers to go to our nurse's office and stay there just so she can make sure that the right medicine is going to the right students and she's aware of what medicine ever is taking while they're with us and that goes for prescription medicine is is any kind of over-the-counter things like Advil or Tums we have all those in stock and one of the forms that you'll sign is just a release for our nurse to administer any of those if if needed you don't need to send those along but then definitely wedding toiletries towels everything they need for showering and brushing teeth and all that I'll talk to you about food we eat all our meals together in the three meals a day and then we also make sure that there is snacks available throughout the day off like fruits and then chips things like that our kitchen so after the really great job of accommodating different dietary needs if your student has a food allergies that are vegetarian a special diet please make sure that that information is on the paperwork when you handed in so that our kitchen staff are able to prepared to to meet those needs for a totally not free facility so we never have anything with peanuts are tree nuts and any other allergies are kitchen staff to be able to accommodate them indefinitely if you have specific concerns feel free to reach out to your student teacher and they can pass them in all of speak with our kitchen staff about them all our meals we have to have a man had options do is go down Buffet line and get what they want and then we also have a salad bar at lunch and dinner and a sandwich station so if they're not liking whatever the main option is there's Alternatives and Fazbear's Alternatives like cereal yogurt fruit the types of things and then the last thing of course I had talked about is some of the activities of some of the things that's in Stilwell that Nature's Classroom I mentioned already filled group is a big part of their their experience and their time at Nature's Classroom students will be divided into field groups of about 12 students by their classroom teachers and Eastfield group spends part of everyday together the time when they might go to Arlo ropes course and do team building challenges they might do a longer Hike The View and the bottom right there is from one of our favorite spots up on the mountain to hike out to you got this great view across the sea finding area or you know depending on the group's interest they might decide that they want to spend their whole field Group down by the stream exploring and seeing what creatures they can find their it's a time when students are really able to bond with their it's in the new hands explore their interest and then in the afternoon we have those class Choice box where they'll be several different choices and soon will sign up for different classes so they're mixed up with a different group of peers than they are in fields group just a couple of the types of classes we might offer a things where students are showing using their creativity creativity of a little bit like a nature art class where they're making art out of natural materials are still the civilization or classes for their learning kind of wilderness skills like cooking over a fire or learning knots that they can use to make furniture or wood carving more with some classes are more focused on learning about that now the world's like a bioblitz for students try to identify as many different living things as they can in a small area and do kind of ecological survey there or a dissection to learn about Anatomy students are using their engineering skills and building something like this bridge that are then able to climb out for once they've successfully constructed it and then we end our night with different email is every night our most popular definitely something that people remember very clearly about their Nature's Classroom experience even decades later is what we call night experience that's the time when students head out with their field trip with no artificial light to really just explore your ants the natural world in a whole different way than they normally get to so I'll close here with just a picture of my favorite spots on our site main Gathering spots and when I'm when I'm there and looking at I think about the community that students for him while they're at Nature's Classroom and that were able to join them in it during the time that they're with us so excited for your students to get to experience at community and and to be in communion with them as they explore nature and explore themselves with us for a couple days stop sharing my screen I don't know if any of this mismatch or anyone else wants to add anything from the schools end that you can also take any question I'm so my daughter takes medicine I'm in the morning so she would need a doctor's authorization release yes and that's in the the family and paperwork package I got sent home there's explanations of exactly what we need to make sure that our nurse is able to administer any Medicaid okay they have to have different pop bottles compared to what we just bring the status that we have yeah the original bottle that you got it in from the pharmacy is fine sorry I do want the rest on that no I do remember from last year should be the prescription bottle I know that was a issue with a few students from last year just to clear that up it should be at the prescription in the prescription bottle correct or we can stop by cuz I know it's different with schools you have to have a well that's cool then you have to have a bottle of home so I just got to make sure I don't need an additional prescription bottle so I can just give you the original one that I have here correct and you guys do well with you guys do well with no what do I have to pack Afrin for that cuz my daughter sometimes tends to get Noah's nose bleeds on the hot cold and certain things you guys deal with that as well or do I need to pack Afrin we can deal with that definitely across the street he was across the street why were you across the street is it either or either they bring a backpack or they bring a set of sheets could it be either or or both or or what so for bedding whatever but things are going to be most comfortable and so if that's all. a sleeping bag and get whatever works best for you I have a few questions so one thing you mentioned so even if we talk lightly there quite a few things on here that's going to be I mean my mind tells on the smaller side and even for a bigger child still be a bulky backpacks so you're saying that there is no one left help them with their luggage if it's too big are they can't manage will definitely help them with their life and work all together everything there but we find that sometimes students over packed and then set the expectation that they're responsible for their luggage and that their teachers especially are not going to be the ones carrying everything for them Road or track so they can't do like a suitcase or some anything with wheel would that be easier okay and also you mentioned stop being so will someone we wish them in the cabins like 24/7. Me and of course you guys need to sleep too but just in case they wake up or have an emergency or like something comes around yes there's always an adult sit like since I never not with adults during their time at Nature's Classroom so either I need your thoughts and staff member or one of the school staff who's along on the trip also told my son also glass nose bleed YouTube the temperatures too hot to dry or I think mostly when it's too dry not well the cold sometime the cold can be all so dry and not just see it so he doesn't take medication for it I usually just like stop it you know the doctor hasn't prescribe anything for. So just so I don't know if you want me to know that in there so nobody gets out alarm if he does talk knows because he is frozen to death and that would be a great thing to know in the paper there's a section to list any 10 things to know about your student and that would be a great thing to note they have frequent nosebleeds the nosebleeds do you know if you use Afrin spray on a I'm a cotton ball and put it in their nose is stopped up nose bleeds has suggested that so if you take Afrin or even the generic brand of aspirin you put it on a cotton ball and put it in their nose and it subsides and I guess it must like close or mucous membranes in there and it stops the bleeding thank you for that you're welcome I did want to say Diane the host of the meeting I didn't realize that our school downgraded our subscription so it ends at 4:40 just wanted to okay so quick another night also we don't need premium there doesn't usually eat school lunch so when he gets home from school I usually give him something to eat or he has snacks that he gets there but so I'm a little concerned about that part I my able to stand something there like I do encourage them to eat stuff but I mean if he does Wanda is not going to eat and then he will go hungry and then he'll just end up getting gas and getting paid so can I send something with him just in case he doesn't like anything there is still some microwavable is an empanada like it's a Jamaican Patty but it's like an empanada so if he doesn't want anything like you can just I don't know if there's going to be a while I mean I don't know I believe it's more of an aura question you definitely if I'm kind of case-by-case definitely if you are concerned about your soon not being able to choosing not to eat it after you can stand I would say send it with the teachers and David will be able to keep it in the kitchen refrigerate for him and then if you needs it he can get it we do find that like many students who are picky eaters at home actually expand their taste boundary is a lot while there Nature's Classroom and just being in a new setting I'd rather than cuz he is miles away and I don't want to eat anything unless he's going to get sick do you serve the lady sorry to try to make the menu is kind of kid-friendly possible breakfast is often. like scrambled eggs French toast sticks are pancakes as well as cereal yogurt fruits and then lunch and have things like grilled cheese and tomato soup for pizza or I'm trying to think of a different meals we have dinner with us and be something like chicken and mashed potatoes or a pasta dish things like that so I'm diabetic I will be bring blue so Mom could you eat that meal supplement if that's necessary but the food is pretty good and I'm vegetarian so I've had thank you I mean it's kind of cold so I think it's a rhetorical but I'm just asking anyways if they're going to be OK Google do I need to bring do we need to bring bug spray and sunblock what time would they be it's just water only electric Laura can you repeat that the beverage has provided on the outside of breakfast I was just bored and my correct actually we typical play the cherubim having juice or like something like orange juice or apple juice at me also as well what time are they expected to pull out of the day of the trip and what time should we gather up to pick them up when they are returning that we are waiting to hear from the bus company so that I will update you all when I figure it out thank you play it is between H2 go because this year we're going to Massachusetts it might be a little bit after depending on when we can get the busted out thank you mister Oso this is a year New Year's Day first time this is the second time we've gone since covid but before that I bought for 10 years okay and well that when I was a student and what are my grades are going it's just expect oh hey I think it's actually a lot of the town's go all around the same time so I know Fairfield that's the same things I drive for Fairfield they go to Nature's Classroom isn't it they it's a very wide State thing okay thank you at the same time precious or is it just a city prep that's going out there other towns going as well right now I think it's all about 1 how old is my wife there will be one other at the same time just about 20 students and they when we have we don't interact much third like sleeping in different places doing totally separate activities kind of see each other in passing and in the dining hall Palace pets toys are separate from the girls mommy won't last call for any questions sorry I just correct me has cuz I seen somebody do that way by mistake hit the Quan yo I can get by tomorrow thank you so much you can reach out to your child homeroom teacher thank you thank you have a great day too good evening thank you

Uploaded by Sejal Mehta.

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2/8/24 Nature's Classroom Informational Session Video

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