Foul-Weather Gear

Bowdoinham Community School Camden Rockport Elementary School

Bowdoinham Community School used their funds for rain gear, outdoor wagons, birdfeeders, magnifying glasses, and museum boxes for students to share nature items that they have collected. One of the important routines of the kindergarten forest day is Sit Spots. By the spring, the kindergarten students are able to sit quietly and observe nature for 10 minutes on their own. Teacher Lucy Atkins shares, “We build up to this throughout the year with various games and activities. This kind of quiet is a gift to students and teachers amidst our busy day. Quiet in the forest is different than quiet in the classroom. There is always something to notice, allowing students to focus, observe closely, and most importantly, to relax. It is a grounding breath that is at the heart of helping students connect more closely with nature and settle within themselves, to be ready for all that they are expected to do at school and in their lives.”

Camden Rockport Elementary School used MEEA grant funding for rain and snow gear. Pre-K students spend nearly every day outside and as a result they have learned a lot about the plants and animals around the school. They know the call of the Black-capped chickadee, the trill of the red-winged blackbird, the incessant tapping of the Pileated woodpecker, and they identified a pair of bluebirds on the edge of the woods this year! They have identified the tracks of deer, squirrels and rabbits and can tell the different eating and food storage habits of the red and gray squirrels. These four year olds are incredibly motivated to overturn rocks, skip down a woodland path, and discover every little tiny creepy crawly thing along the way.

Teacher Heather Bowen shares, “Our rain bibs say it all! These bright yellow rain bibs that were purchased with our grant became our class uniform of sorts and we wore them rain or shine so that all kinds of play would be possible. With these rain bibs, we sat on wet stumps or the soggy ground without a pause. We played in the mud and waded in our stream, made mud soup, exploding paint, and joyfully dug in our wet sandbox and dirt filled garden beds without a single worry about getting messy or ruining our clothes.”

Canaan Elementary School China Primary School

Canaan School purchased rainsuits, boots, and water play/study materials with grant funds. These materials were a real game changer for their outdoor learning curriculum. Children were actually wishing for a rainy day! Students were able to study worms, measure rainfall, test out different ways to make the biggest splash, and observe nature in the rain. Teacher Jessica Bernier shares the impact of this new gear on students and the school, “The school community loved seeing our kiddos experience the joy of splashing in muddy puddles! Other classrooms are considering purchasing these materials for their students as well.”

Kristen Bullard at China Primary School used her funds to purchase “explorer bags”, binoculars, magnifying glasses and field books to create meaningful outdoor learning experiences for her kindergarten students.. Rain boots were another important tool funded through the grant. She says “Words cannot even begin to describe my gratitude for being a MEEA grant recipient. This grant had a huge impact on my classroom full of young learners. The learning tools that I received have allowed me to get my students outside regardless of the season and weather conditions. This year we have taken countless adventures into the woods around our school. Having rain boots available for my students has allowed my kindergartners to enjoy the colder and mudder months. I am looking forward to continuing to use these outdoor learning tools throughout the school year and many years to come.”

She reported, “One of my favorite memories from this year has been exploring the snowy, winter woods with my kindergarten students. This winter the children got to use binoculars and magnifying glasses to increase their observation skills thanks to the Maine Environmental Education Association. The children beamed with excitement each time they found a track in the snow. We used our pocket field book to help us identify the tracks that we found on our hike.”

East Grand School

Eddington Elementary School

The East Grand School used MEEA grant funds to purchase backpacks, guide shirts, sleeping pads and Nalgene bottles and patches. High school students who participate in the Outdoor Education Class earn patches that can be traded in for this equipment. Students are fortunate to have opportunities for outdoor learning, starting as young as three years old at East Grand School. The focus in pre-k to 3rd grade is to just allow kids to enjoy the fun of biking, skiing, rock climbing, hiking, fire building, cooking and, of course, just playing in the outdoors! As they reach the 4th-8th grade, students have the opportunity to work on skills in knot tying, shelter building, canoeing, kayaking, outdoor cooking, and basic map and compass.

East Grand has an Outdoor Education high school level class that offers not only high school credit, but also college credit and includes multiple outdoor adventures. All of these opportunities allow students to earn patches, but more importantly, to develop a love and a confidence in the outdoors.

Teacher Tammi Matula says, “Because all students at East Grand School, Pk-12, are under one roof and have experience in the outdoors, many find multiple opportunities to pass along their outdoor skills to community members, teachers, peers, and younger students throughout the year and summer. This, I believe, is what makes students feel a valued part of our community.”

Eddington Elementary used the grant funds to improve their garden, as well as natural play equipment and supplies for their outdoor classroom.

Students have also enjoyed learning about tapping trees and making maple syrup, walking on the nature trails and looking for evidence of deer and birds. For many students and teachers these experiences havae been new and exciting.

Teacher Kelly Davis shares, “Once in awhile we will put up a story walk as well for the community to go enjoy as a family. The community has really come together this year with outdoor learning and it has been amazing to see the fun they have learning with what we have received so far with the grant money. They will be even more surprised when they come back to see the climber and wing measuring board we are making this summer. Thank you so much for this grant and making our outdoor experience wonderful!”

Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences Garret Schenck School

Fiddlehead School embraces the outdoors with a trip to one of our three off site locations in the community Through the grant from MEEA they were able to purchase rain suits, rain pants, and rain jackets. They also purchased 7 pairs of rain boots.

Teachers from the school shared the following reflections: “Students’ relationship to their work is as individual as the kids themselves. An outdoor space makes room for that individuality in ways a classroom cannot. Not because teachers can’t teach well in classrooms, but because teachers in an outdoor space are aided by all the massive and utterly absorbing aspects of our world.” And, “Kids learn enormous things about themselves and about the world with no intervention at all when they’re outside. With even a little bit of training and focus that learning is not only guided down relevant channels, it is multiplied and intensified. With truly excellent professional development and preparation, outdoor spaces lift class to a level unattainable anywhere else.”

The funds were used to purchase rain/all weather suits, boots and mittens for students in the Anson and Solon preschools. This gear allows the preschoolers to explore and learn in all types of weather. Teacher Jean Butler explained, “When children are able to explore in the outdoors despite the weather they increase gross motor skills, science knowledge and are happier and healthier.

The rain suits make it possible for children to participate in outdoor play, scavenger hunts and nature walks. The suits also help the program align with Maine Chapter 124 Preschool program requirements.”

George Stevens Academy

Gerald E. Talbot Elementary School

At George Stevens Academy, funds were used to purchase field gear for outdoor education that could serve several high school classes including heavy weight canvas jackets that could be used in the cooler months and several sets of rain jackets and rain pants. Oftentimes students only show up to school in a heavy sweatshirt and no jacket so they cannot comfortably access outdoor education during the winter. The “work jackets” are warm enough for someone to use as an outer winter layer, and since they are canvas they can also be used if it is a bit wet outside. Teacher Megan Flennikan shares, “I was really surprised by how much the students gravitated towards using the gear more often. I think it is because the gear is new and since we have many different options, students can find something that they feel comfortable in. Before our gear was a mismatch, and now it’s like students are doing a sport, where they all look similar in matching gear. This past year, students thanked me for taking them out into the field. One student remarked that it was “fun to participate in learning that was not stressful.”

The Talbot Elementary School used the grant to buy enough rain boots, rain pants and rain coats to ensure that every child in the two PreK classes could learn and play comfortably in the rain. They also bought a pair of mittens for every child to use, and some snow pants and winter boots. Being able to provide the appropriate gear to keep the youngest learners comfortable in all weather has such a big impact.

At first many students were shocked at the idea of choosing to play or learn in the rain, but over time teachers saw students shrieking with joy as they were “allowed” to splash in puddles and marveling at the way the rain created mini rivers on the hillside and caused the worms to suddenly appear everywhere they looked.

Teacher Julie Soule reports, “The appropriate gear allowed their memories of our outdoor lessons to be the fun of it and the content we were trying to convey, rather than the misery of how cold their hands were or how wet their feet were that day. For instance, when we taught about camouflage out in the snow with some white and some colorful toy animals, students were able to grasp the value of camouflage first hand and enjoy the activity because they were warm and comfortable.”

James Otis Kaler Elementary School

The MEEA Grant funds were used to provide students with insulated, waterproof mittens at James Otis Kaler Elementary. The school also used the grant to purchase 16 pairs of snowshoes to adventure and explore in the snow and hopefully take adventures in local parks in years to come! The remainder of the funds were used to make a storybook walk for students to read and learn while outdoors!

Teacher Kendra Vyr shares, “Once we had everyone all bundled up, it was time to explore! These snowshoes were such a fun way to get out and explore our grounds and try out a new way to move, so good for our motor skills too! The friends practiced putting snowshoes on in our class then we were on our way. They helped one another learn to use the snowshoes and practiced walking and then running in them!

We not only spent time moving in our snowshoes, but were able to walk along our story path reading and learning along the way! These experiences have helped to build a deeper connection and love of the outdoors for our friends that we hope will continue to grow as they do!”

Limestone Community School

Limestone Community School bought jackets that have been used weekly since they were purchased. The students were surveyed to determine the gear they needed to help them stay comfortable and warm during outdoor learning in winter, and principal Hogan Marquis reports, “The jackets have been wonderful. High visibility is a bonus too.Please watch the video here. Pay attention to the bright orange used throughout the video. If we could do the same project next year, I’d love to get more jackets for grades 3-4. Listen to the kids talk about the year. I’m so proud of what we’ve all done. Best wishes!”

Madison Elementary School Medomak Valley High School

At Madison Elementary School the grant award funded the purchase of materials to allow for extended use of the outdoor classroom area and woods trail. Winter boots and warm socks were purchased for winter use and mud boots and tall white socks for spring/fall use.

Woods Wednesday is a program for kindergarteners at Madison Elementary school. Each Wednesday is focused on bringing learning outdoors: listening walks, reading books under the shade of a tree or doing journal writing at picnic tables. This has been a very positive and successful experience, something that children and staff look forward to. Teacher Jennifer Swain shares,”I have even heard from parents that children have asked to have appointments changed from a Wednesday because they did not want to miss Woods time. I feel the children who have participated in our Woods Wednesday program have learned to love and appreciate nature for all that it has to offer them.”

Medomak Valley High School’s Alternative Program (MAP) purchased rain coats, rain pants, waterproof boots, and gloves so that students could be well-equipped to gather data at the school arboretum research station; row on Rockland Harbor; run a riverbank and roadside cleanup; and complete many other outdoor experiences for credit. Many students don’t have their own waterproof gear or warm winter clothing and the gear library has been a rousing success. Teacher Kaylie Borden O’Brien shares, “The highlight of our winter was collecting data from our GLOBE (a NASA-sponsored program, Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment) research station, at which we took measurements to study the length of the vernal window in New England. We are working with a team of researchers from the University of New Hampshire on this project. Our data will help them assess the impact of climate change on New England’s seasons.We trekked through rain, sleet, cold, and multiple feet of snow in order to take measurements often enough to maintain the legitimacy of our dataset. We will continue building our data in years to come, thanks to our ability to stay warm and dry!”

Whether collecting scientific data in the deep snow, rowing for miles under a peer’s command, or cleaning the river that gives our school its name, MAP students have proven how much youth can accomplish given the right gear.

Meroby Elementary School

Meroby Elementary School purchased 3 folding wagons, 3 jet sleds, 4 handheld microscopes and rain ponchos. These supplies will all be used during the Nature Exploration program! Outdoor learning has become one of the most important programs at the school. It started with Kindergarten and spread to every grade and every class the next year. It is also one of the elements of focus that the new school building is being designed around! Meroby Elementary is located in Mexico, ME, a rural community in the mountains.

Many students are new to outdoor learning, and are excited for the opportunity to try something new like walking in the woods and squishing through the mud.

Teacher Maggie Corlett shares, “Nature-based education has become a centralized focus for our school as we see just how engaged our students are with it. We are working to learn how to incorporate it more and more in all subjects taught. The community is very supportive of our students and it was truly exciting to see even parents engaged with our Nature Exploration!”

The materials funded by the MEEA were used for a variety of outdoor learning activities. These tools included binoculars, compasses, backpacks, outdoor seating mats, microscopes, magnifying glasses, wagons and sleds.

Teacher Kelcie Virgin shares, “Our program started as a short session 30 minutes a week where the kids went out into a small wooded area near our school and played. They were occupied with climbing trees, building with sticks, and playing in a brook. Months later, we noticed that students were very inquisitive about the nature around them. Questions like, “Why do those plants grow near the water?” “There’s missing bark on this tree?” ‘What’s that noise?”. Simple questions, yet they could lead to such powerful learning.

Since then, our 30 minutes has turned into 3 hour sessions where we learn, play and grow. We have incorporated writing, reading, math, social emotional learning, along with science. Our students have shown growth in communication skills, background knowledge, stamina and overall happiness.”

Meroby Elementary School Oxford Elementary School

Meroby Elementary uses their outdoor classroom frequently and teachers noticed that students needed more outdoor clothing to feel comfortable and stay engaged. They purchased winter insulated boots, insulated winter gloves, socks, a wagon, and jet sled for each 1st grade classroom to carry supplies to the outdoor space.

Teacher Karri Hall has seen how student comfort in nature has led to greater engagement with other students and the world around them. She reports, “For several years we have been teaching about science and math in the woods and the experiences for the students have been so rewarding. Math in the woods? How can that happen? Nature can help us do math? These questions were just a few out of the mouths of 1st graders at the beginning of the year. These questions have evolved into look at these leaves, they make a pattern! Wow! Look at that log, I bet it would take at least 50 pinecones to get from one end to the other. You found 5 worms and I found 2. I need 3 more to catch up to you! My students went from wondering how we could find and do math in nature to doing it naturally and recognizing that they are using their math skills outside of the classroom. Real world, connections have opened a new door of learning for them.”

At Roberts Farm in RSU 17, the funds helped expand the outdoor gear available to loan to students when they come to visit. Purchasing a class set of rain gear has made outdoor experiences in rainy weather more of a possibility. In addition, funds were put toward a class set of Crazy Creek chairs to ensure students can sit comfortably outdoors. Roberts Farm has supported powerful outdoor and experiential learning opportunities for Oxford Hills students for a decade. This school year marked another step in the growth of programs by hiring an Experiential STEM educator to organize and facilitate lessons for classes visiting Roberts Farm.

Experiential STEM teacher Sarah Kearsley reports, “Throughout this past year, we had 12 classes regularly visiting Roberts Farm from Oxford Elementary School, Paris Elementary School, and Guy E Rowe Elementary School. We continued hiking and cross country skiing with these classes while developing lessons aligned with the NGSS topics that teachers were covering in class. In reflecting on the school year experiences at Roberts Farm, teachers commented, ‘I love that they are given a chance to learn in a non-traditional setting… Kids don’t realize they’re even learning, or how much they’re learning, because we get to be out of the four walls of a classroom!’”

Ridge View Community School

The funds from this grant were used to purchase outdoor winter gear that enable students to be comfortable in cold weather and try snowshoeing, cross country skiing and winter hiking. For many students at Ridge View Elementary this was a new experience that otherwise would not have been financially possible.

Students were able to take part in many different activities simply because they had the gear the needed to be safe and warm while they were outdoors.

Teacher Jennifer Batron was enthusiastic about the impact this had on her students “The grade I work with (fifth) is an interesting mix of child and preteen. Getting them out of doors gave me the chance to watch them learning to understand so much more of their environment than would have happened otherwise. I was also able to take my students outside during our science classes to look at how our environment and the species within it change during the winter season. We were able to walk the nature trails on our school’s campus, where we studied the changes in the trees and ponds that we had studied earlier in the fall, as well as learning a bit about how to identify animal tracks and seasonal birds. These led back to class discussions about how animals survive winter in such a harsh environment. Being able to see it in action deepened their knowledge and created new questions to be answered. This new knowledge has carried over into our springtime studies, and has helped grow new curiosity about our world.”

South Bristol School

At South Bristol School, grant funds purchased a new outdoor kitchen, water table and sand box to improve the outdoor classroom and school garden. Bee hives were also purchased to add to the garden, and some funds were used for professional development for staff. This has resulted in a much more functional space and increased use.

Teacher Deb Tibodeau sees the benefits of outdoor learning, “Our kids beg to go outside more of the time. And I would consider us a school that has a lot of outdoor time. The kids who need it the most are able to learn in that environment, not just from a book, but by the building of raised beds, cleaning up the outdoor area, watering the gardens or tending to the bees.

When I asked my young bee keeper why the bees are important to our school, she said “the bees are fun to be around. They make our garden better. They make honey.” What else do the bees do for our school? They have taught us a lot about being a part of a community. We have read books about bees, drawn pictures of bees and had visitors that have taught us about bees. Bees have brought our community together in so many ways.”`

Solon Elementary School Spruce Mountain Primary School

The funds were used to purchase 14 rain/all weather suits, boots and mittens for 14 students in the Solon preschool at Solon Elementary School. In addition to assure the materials last for a while we purchased storage racks for the suits and boots.

These children from the Solon preschool are pictured being able to explore and learn in the rain, because of the new rain suits and boots acquired from the mini grants for outdoor learning.

Spruce Mountain Primary School used their funds to invest in rain suits for kindergarteners, as rainy days often upset plans to take students outside.

There are many trails surrounding the school and teachers take advantage of these to do math lessons outside. Teacher Tracey Butterfield reported how much students love to learn in nature, “Kindergarten students went outside, wearing our rain suits, to explore shapes in nature to go with our math unit on shapes. The students were encouraged to collect objects that matched the shapes we were learning (square, circle, triangle, rectangle, hexagon) and solid shapes (cube, cylinder, cone, sphere). They also could collect objects that we could make into shapes back in the classroom. My student Colby Walz said, “I like it because the things are real but they are just a shape.” They loved it! Outdoor learning is exciting and hands on which is what my Kinder’s need. After we shared and made shapes with the items we took the items back out into the woods. We always try to return to nature what we have used.”

Upper Kennebec Valley Memorial Jr. Sr. High School

The Upper Kennebec Valley Memorial Jr. Sr. High School used their grant to purchase raingear, winter boots, and winter gloves in an assortment of sizes along with a dozen winter hats, and a dozen small knit gloves.

Teacher Isaac Davis shares “It is with no doubt that in recent generations maintaining a connection with the outdoor world has become less and less. With the realization of such, the Upper Kennebec Valley Junior/ Senior High School decided to take the initiative to start its outdoor education/wilderness studies and agricultural studies programs.”

These new programs opened up a world of possibilities for students and also gained the support of landowners adjacent to the school, who allowed access to their land for students and teachers.

Davis says “Whether it has been map and compass, forestry, maple syrup, wilderness studies, or any of the number of other units offered through this course, the growth in interest in our new programs has flourished. With each parent I speak to, the feedback is always the same; parents of our community are not only supportive of these programs but proud that their children are a part of them.”

Gardening is another important skill students are learning through the program, and the school hopes to start a farm stand next year.