Outdoor Education

Classes

Camp Crosley has many programs to offer for outdoor, environmental education. Below you will find our current curriculum listing. Unless otherwise noted, each class lasts ninety minutes, and a daily schedule includes two morning (9:15-10:45, 10:45-12:15, and two afternoon (2:00-3:30, 3:30-5:00) sessions.

The classes offered at Camp Crosley have evolved during our 80 years of bringing people closer to their environment. It is our hope that these experiences will have an impact beyond Camp Crosley. For that reason, we will strive to make our classes current and appropriate to the changing world. To guide us we have created a number of programmatic goals that we address through our curriculum and daily life at Camp Crosley:

Caring – caring about the environment, other people and the future of our world

Honesty – being honest about who we are and what we do, being truthful in one’s actions and thoughts

Respect – developing a positive self-concept and showing stewardship for the environment and others

Responsibility – to be an active member in a sustainable future

Whether we are on an all day wetland hike, challenging youth with team initiatives, or participating in leisure activities such as crafts or canoeing, Camp Crosley instructors will strive to make these principles come to life in each student through awareness building activities, appreciation of the beauty and diversity of nature as well as the development of essential environmental literacy skills. We feel that learning should be discovery based, interactive and perhaps most of all – fun. Join us in creating an experience that will last a lifetime.

Please select/click one of our classes from this list to view the details:

Wetland Discovery Hike

Goals: To provide a complete and intimate immersion into the wetland environment

Exposure to the life-styles and interrelationships of wetland communities
Investigate different wetland environments and their unique features
Develop an environmental awareness emphasizing conservation

Potential Activities:

Students will explore a variety of wetland communities through hands-on activities and investigation. After a brief introduction of the many roles wetlands play in our everyday lives, students will hike through our 300 acre wetland nature preserve. Boardwalks and trails allow students to gain access to the wetlands without disturbing the habitat, and students have the opportunity to explore and discover through guided activities and interpretation. Access to our wetland preserve is available by pontoon boat (weather permitting, seasonal) or a short trip by van. To gain full value of this valuable and beautiful resource, two activity periods are necessary.

Setting: Outdoors, physical

Pond Life

Goals: Introduction to the components of aquatic ecosystems

Exposure to the life-styles and interrelationships of freshwater communities
Investigate the unique features of water environments
Develop an aquatic awareness emphasizing conservation

Potential Activities:

After a brief introduction to fresh water ecology and environment, students will use field testing equipment (such as nets, pH monitoring tools, magnifying glasses and identification books) to search for and gather information about life in the pond. Further exploration of these aquatic ecosystems include discovery, math skills and deductive reasoning. Discussion topics could include the effects of pollutants, erosion, agriculture and other human impacts on fresh water.

Setting: Active, mostly outdoors

Truly Trees

Goals: Introduce the components of the tree and its ecosystem

Develop logical thinking and good observation skills
Learn names for several common trees in Northern Indiana
Gain some knowledge and practical understanding of trees and their ecology
Advanced students – demonstrate the Dichotomous Key method of identifying trees

Potential Activities:

The class will include activities which will introduce concepts relating to trees and their survival. Students will learn the parts of a tree, why trees survive and why they don’t, strategies for identifying trees and an introduction to the dichotomous tree. Students travel along a marked trail, using their tree keys to identify each tree.

Setting: Outdoors

Wildlife Appreciation

Goals: Introduce the components of wildlife ecosystems

Exposure to a variety of native and non-native animals and their unique environmental needs
Investigate the differences between herbivores, omnivores and carnivores
Develop an awareness which should lead towards a sense of stewardship

Potential Activities:

Class will include activities which will introduce such concepts as: food chains, predator/prey relationships, habitat, and human impact. Students will visit our nature center where they can learn about the variety of animals living there.

Setting: Indoors and Outdoor

Beaks and Feet

Goals: Introduce components of the bird and its unique anatomy

Investigate behaviors of birds
Discover different beak types and how birds use them
Explore how humans have impacted the survival of many birds

Potential Activities:

Through games and activities, students learn about the unique features of birds, including their anatomy and migration behaviors. A short hike to our meadow allows students to practice official “birding.”

Setting: Indoors and Outdoors

Environmental Topics

Goals: Develop an environmental awareness emphasizing conservation

Take a closer look at the effects of advertising and consumerism
Discover potential solutions to our choices and actions

Potential Activities:

Topics may include acid rain, mining, endangered species, energy, recycling, water pollution and others. Students participate in two or three activities to sharpen their awareness and attitude toward our environment and then participate in a town meeting to discuss the future of a 300 acre site.

Setting: Indoors and Outdoors

Native American Lore

Goals: Introduce students to Native American games, crafts, stories and lifestyles

Gain an understanding of Native American history and culture and how it relates to American culture today

Potential Activities:

Students explore Native American lore and lifestyles by participating in activities based on native cultures. Games involve senses, chance and skills. Crafts use natural materials and stories to explain the mythology of these cultures. A visit to our 18’ Teepee highlights this experience with some educational insight about the construction and orientation of the teepee itself.

Setting: Outside, at the teepee site

Compass Skills/Basic Orienteering

Goals: Discover the parts and functions of a compass

Learn and practice the use of basic compass skills
Enrich basic math skills

Potential Activities:

Students learn basic compass and pacing skills by following bearings to locate points hidden throughout our camp area. This is a great opportunity to develop math skills and use problem-solving skills in the field.

Setting: Outdoors

Survival Camping Skills

Goals: Expose students to basic outdoor survival skills that will enhance their enjoyment of outdoor experiences

Learn safe practices for fire building and camping
Learn acceptable low-impact camping techniques that keep our environment as natural and unharmed as possible

Potential Activities:

Survival camping skills is not a survival course, but a chance for students to learn practical skills that make outdoor recreation and camping enjoyable. Students may be involved in natural shelter construction, fire building, knots and lashing, fire safety and outdoor cooking. Discussions on first aid, sanitation and low-impact camping attitudes will be stressed. The student will come to realize that the outdoors can be as safe and fun as any recreation in their own home.

Setting: Outdoors, hands-on, active, some discussion and group work

Teambuilding

Goals: Sharpen interpersonal skills such as communication, trust, and sensitivity

Develop group dynamics, including the role of the individual, positive group interaction, and decision making
Strengthen motivation and skills to persist in stressful situations
Understand the importance and implementation of these goals in everyday life

Potential Activities:

Teambuilding involves a series of wood, cable and rope elements that challenge the group’s teamwork, communication, and to a lesser degree coordination skills. It is an opportunity to safely overcome unique challenges with the group’s support, ideas and perseverance. Discussion and processing are an essential part of each element as well as the entire activity. Elements are selected or avoided during the activity by the Camp Crosley instructor based on how the group is working together and developing as a team.

Setting: Physically active, mostly outdoors

Low Ropes

Goals: Encourage positive feelings by trusting and supporting each other physically and mentally

Improve self-confidence by overcoming challenging rope and cable obstacles
Foster a willingness to try new activities in a safe and supportive environment

Potential Activities:

Trust building activities to develop essential skills, such as spotting, and encouragement are the first part of this program. Low ropes elements require agility, coordination, and persistence to accomplish. In this activity we discover a supportive team environment can help students succeed who might otherwise doubt their abilities. Discussion and processing involves concepts of communication, confidence, support and challenge.

Setting: Outdoors, physically demanding

Climbing Tower

Goals: Learn basic climbing and safety techniques involved in technical rock climbing

Develop self-confidence through an activity involving perceived risk

Potential Activities:

The students will be introduced to climbing equipment, techniques, and terminology. While climbing the tower students are encouraged to challenge themselves through their own efforts with the encouragement and support of classmates. Emphasis is on personal challenges met rather than distance achieved.

Setting: Outdoors, physical and mental challenge

High Ropes

Goals: Provide a high level of perceived risk through individual initiatives

Encourage individuals to explore their abilities and offer opportunities to develop self-confidence and positive self-image
Encourage group support systems among peers

Potential Activities:

Participants will utilize the 40 foot high ropes course elements made of rope and cable. Camp Crosley staff and belaying techniques will provide a safe environment where students can explore personal challenge and growth. Discussion and processing is an essential part of the experience. The High Ropes experience should be the conclusion to a series of adventure based programs such as Teambuilding, Low Ropes or Climbing Tower. High Ropes may be restricted during certain seasons because of weather or staff availability. Plan on 10-12 students per 2 hour period. Course requires an additional fee.

Setting: Outdoors, physically demanding

Camp Crafts

Goals: Have fun

Learn lifetime leisure pursuits in new environments

Potential Activities:

Candle-making, Tie-Dying (must bring own T-shirts), Paper-making, Friendship Bracelets, ask our program director for other suggestions (these are excellent activities to do for teacher time or teacher-led activities)

Setting: Indoors or Outdoors