Outdoor Education

Nathan Knowles, Outdoor Education Instructor -

Outdoor Education @ C.V.A.

“The system of education instituted at the beginning of the world was to be a model for man throughout all aftertime. As an illustration of its principles a model school was established in Eden, the home of our first parents. The Garden of Eden was the schoolroom, nature was the lesson book, the Creator Himself was the instructor, and the parents of the human family were the students.” Quote by E.G. White in Education p. 20

We believe that nature is God’s second book and the Outdoor Education program here at Central Vermont Academy reflects that philosophy. The Outdoor Education program is very exciting and allows students the opportunity to learn in and about nature and the great outdoors in a variety of ways. There are several parts to this program which include weekend trips, outdoor education classes and our 9 week ski/snowboard program.

Weekend trips that we have done in the high school include our annual fall canoe trip, a rock climbing trip, winter campouts, spring campout/mountain biking trip and many day hikes/paddles/snowshoes. Some of the outdoor education classes that we are offering or have offered in the past to our high school students are Lifelong Outdoor Sports, Biking, Canoeing and Camping, Rock Climbing, Nature Studies and a Technical Search and Rescue Certification class. The upper elementary also has outdoor education as a part of their curriculum and enjoy many learning opportunities associated with the outdoors.

In addition to weekend trips and outdoor-focused classes CVA also runs a 9 week ski/snowboard program at Burke Mountain for all grades. Many are in agreement with E.G.W. when she says that “children should not be long confined within doors…” Quote by E.G. White in Education p. 208 We couldn’t agree more and believe that time in the outdoors is time well spent and hope that each one of us will take a little bit more time in the outdoors to learn and to recreate.