TCS Outdoor Education Program Here's what our students, families, and faculty have to say: Looking back on TCS, the thing that really stands out in my mind is the Southwest trip. When I tell my friends at Andover about hiking, rafting, and camping in Utah, they think it is the most amazing trip. No one else has done something like this, and I believe it is a truly unique experience. Eliza Nguyen '05, student at Phillips Academy Andover We know from research that kids retain, on average, 7 percent of what they hear, 15-20 percent of what they see, and 80 percent of what they do. When they have to engage their hands and minds, they retain. Dr. Robert Ballard, Oceanographer Parent of Ben '08 and Emily '12 The power of Outdoor Education for me is to watch how students' perceptions of themselves and others evolve and mature. Bob McGee, TCS teacher, founder of the Outdoor Education Program Parent of Thomas '03 and Mary '05 What I learned about the environment is if you really stop and listen, there is a lot to see and hear… What I learned about others is we can all work together if we listen. Hayley Cashman, 5th Grader If the outdoor program just vanished that would be unfortunate… There's a really different dimension that you get to see in other people and see in yourself. And it's something that really will carry you through until you die. Becca Joslow, '04, student at Suffield Academy The Southwest Trip was the ultimate turning point in my passion for the outdoors. Being so far away from home, in the beautiful mountains and canyons, allowed me to step far out of my comfort zone, and therefore grow an enormous amount of confidence. I was often shy participating in the classroom and I wasn't the best soccer or basketball player, but when I went out West, I opened up tremendously. My classmates would look to me to go first when we were hiking or rappelling in a canyon. Hilary Burt, '03, student at St. Lawrence University The Outdoor Education Program at The Country School is incorporated in the curriculum not only for its physical challenges, but also as an opportunity for learning and leadership-in the outdoors. Outdoor experiences from this unique mission-based program are opportunities for children to learn about themselves in ways that simply cannot happen within the confines of the classroom. What do our students learn? Will power Confidence Value of preparation and hard work Responsibility Communication Cooperation Balance between self-reliance and teamwork Leadership Respect for nature and the environment Students are asked to face adversity and to persevere. They are challenged both physically and mentally, and they gain a newfound appreciation for the interdependence of the world around them. They return with a sense of pride and accomplishment. Where do our students go? In collaboration with Mountain Workshop, The Country School has designed a series of outdoor experiences that is sequential in terms of physical challenges and skills presented. It begins informally in the Lower School and continues through Middle School. PreK: Grass Island Field trip Campus nature walks and observation How to treat and care for animals Kindergarten: Milford Point - Long Island Sound Mystic Aquarium Monarch butterflies Campus nature hikes 1st Grade: Connecticut River Long Island Sound tidal pools Bushy Hill Nature Center 2nd Grade: Colonial Days adventures into the woods to find land and build a house Mystic Seaport 3rd Grade: Fort building Oregon Trail 4th Grade: Bushy Hill Nature Center Grass Island   5th Grade: Fall Day Trips One day exploring TCS nature trails One day at Chatfield Hollow State Park, Killingworth, Connecticut Spring Deer Lake (overnight) Killingworth, Connecticut Group building and leadership activities 6th Grade: Fall High Banks (overnight) Kent, Connecticut Rock climbing, camping in tents Spring Bantam, Connecticut (overnight) Canoeing, hiking, camping in tents 7th Grade: Fall Ward Pound Ridge (overnight) Cross River, New York Raft building, camping in tents Spring Deer Lake Course (overnight) Killingworth, Connecticut Rope course, initiative challenges 8th Grade: Fall Delaware Water Gap Canoe Trip (4 day/3 nights) Milford Beach, Pennsylvania Canoeing, hiking, camping in tents Spring La Sal Mountain Range, Colorado River, and Arches National Park (9 days/8 nights) Moab, Utah High alpine and desert hiking, river rafting, camping in tents Previous outdoor trips in the 8th grade: Grand Canyon Zion and Bryce National Parks Bicycling in Block Island, Rhode Island Hiking the Appalachian Trail in Connecticut We are very proud of our students' accomplishments during each trip and believe that our program, distinct among independent schools, gives our students a unique learning experience that instills in them the confidence to face future challenges with an eye toward success. For more information about The Country School Outdoor Education Program, contact: communications@thecountryschool.org