Welcome to class at Tupper Outdoor School. The curriculum today? Building shelters. Dissecting steelhead. Eating meals outside amidst tall Ponderosa Pines, followed by songs around the campfire.
With support from the Gray Family Foundation through the Gilliam County Soil and Water Conservation District, 57 eager sixth graders from the Sherman, Condon, Echo and Arlington School Districts attended an unforgettable five days at Tupper Outdoor School, near Heppner, in May 2017.
Living without cell phones and tablets for five days is a challenge at first, but the students stay busy—going on ecology hikes, building personal shelters, tracking animals and learning about soil.
“Our students learn from not only their own teachers, but professionals in their field, to make this an occupational study of careers associated with the outdoors,” said Joe Colby, Camp Director and a teacher from Condon.
Each student keeps a journal to record information from each class. When they complete a class, they receive beads to add to their name tags. Over five days, they are able to fit in 17 classes, opening student’s eyes to the many wonders of their Eastern Oregon homes.
“I like the fact that we give kids an opportunity to experience the outdoors with their peers and people who are genuinely excited about sharing the outdoors with young people. We’ve created an experience where kids that don’t necessarily have a lot of success in the classroom have that opportunity to succeed here,” Colby said.