WHO: Team 6B Tilden Middle School Students

Team 6B Goes To Outdoor Ed.

WHAT: Outdoor Education

WHEN: February 17-19, 2010

WHERE: Summit Lake

The MCPS sixth grade outdoor education program is an exciting three day, two night learning experience beyond the classroom walls. The objectives for this program are:

1. to cultivate students’ awareness, knowledge, appreciation, and concern for the natural environment.

2. to motivate students to develop positive attitudes toward learning through varied experiences in the natural environment

3. to provide students with many direct experiences in using scientific processes, such as observing, measuring, classifying, hypothesizing, and predicting.

4. to make the students’ school program more meaningful by applying the knowledge and skills acquired in the classroom to real-life situations beyond the classroom.

5. to instill a sense of responsibility to the environment and promote positive actions toward it.

An interdisciplinary approach is used to achieve these objectives. Prior to the Summit Lake trip, students will acquire skills and concepts in the classroom that will be refined and expanded during outdoor education through experiential activities. These concepts will be applied throughout the sixth grade curriculum reinforcing the importance of life long skills. Outdoor education is a memorable experience for all students.

We hope this information will be helpful. Parents and students should carefully read this packet together. This is a wonderful opportunity for students to take responsibility for themselves with the support of their parents and teachers. OUTDOOR EDUCATION INFORMATION

FINANCES Each child is charged $82.00 for the three-day outdoor education program. The major portion of this fee ($76) includes transportation, meals, lodging, snacks, on-site nurse and medical insurance. The remaining $6 is for Tilden’s cost to buy supplies for instructional and evening activities. Payment is due no later than Monday, February 1, 2010. Make checks or money orders payable to Tilden Middle School writing your child’s name and team on the memo section. Students should give the fee and completed forms to Ms. Broderick in room A-146 during their class time or MAP. If this fee imposes a financial hardship, confidential arrangements can be made by contacting Mrs. McMullin, sixth grade counselor, at 301-230-5940.

MEDICATIONS All medications, including aspirin, vitamins, and cough medicine to be administered at outdoor education, must be accompanied by the MCPS Form 525-13 “Authorization to Administer Prescribed Medication to an MCPS Pupil While in School”. The medicine container should be labeled with the child’s name. Prescription medicine should be in the original container with the pharmacy label. Over the counter medication should be in an unopened container. Parents must bring their children’s medication and form 525-13 to the Tilden Middle School nurse by the Friday before the team is scheduled to go to outdoor ed. The medications will be stored and administered in the health room at Summit Lake. Medication must be picked up by the parent in the Tilden health room at the conclusion of the outdoor education program. Please make a notation on the permission slip if your child has health problems, including allergies, a need for medication, or any condition of which the nurse and the staff should be aware. Please feel free to contact the school nurse if you have any questions or concerns regarding medication.

DIETARY RESTRICTIONS If your child requires a special diet of any kind, please send this information in writing to Ms. Broderick, the team leader, attached to the permission form. The Summit Lake meals are served family style. This should accommodate most dietary restrictions. In extreme cases, parents will be asked to send prepared meals for their child’s individual needs.

WEATHER The weather can be tricky. Our outdoor activities will be carried on, rain or shine. Students must be prepared with appropriate clothing. Please do not buy new clothing for outdoor education. Comfortable shoes appropriate for daily walking are necessary. Broken-in sneakers are a perfect choice. WRITING TO YOUR CHILD Children love getting mail at outdoor education. Planning ahead is important. A letter mailed a week before your child departs should arrive on time. On the lower left corner of the envelope, please write your child’s team and Tilden Middle School.

The address is: Summit Lake Outdoor Education Center 7610 Hampton Valley Road Emmitsburg, MD 21727

The phone at Summit Lake (301-271-9810) may only be used in an emergency. If it is necessary for you to call, ask for Ms. Broderick. Students are not permitted to use the phone, except in an emergency.

SAFETY/DISCIPLINE A primary consideration in executing a successful program in outdoor education is the safety of each child. The entire staff is committed to this objective. It is the responsibility of each student to know the rules and to follow them. Breaking a rule that jeopardizes the safety of any student will not be tolerated. There will be no warnings or second chances when safety is involved. In the case of a serious infraction, parents will be called and required to come for their child immediately.

DAY OF DEPARTURE – February 17, 2010 Please make arrangements for your child and his/her luggage to get to school at 8:45 AM. MCPS will not allow students to bring their luggage on the school bus. As they arrive, students should drop off their labeled luggage at the flagpole near the parking lot and proceed to the cafeteria through the rear door. Staff will be available to assist with the luggage. Your child’s belongings should be contained in only two pieces of luggage. One may be a suitcase or a duffel bag and the second should be a sleeping bag wrapped in a waterproof cover such as a large plastic bag and tied securely. All luggage will be transported directly to the Summit Lake on separate MCPS buses. Each student will need a bag lunch for the first day of Outdoor Ed. All lunch items must be packed in disposable bags or containers. Be sure to clearly write the student’s first and last name and instructional group on the lunch bag. For this meal, only water will be provided at Summit Lake. Lunches should not be packed in the luggage.

DAY OF RETURN – February 19, 2010 Students will return to Tilden at approximately 1:30 PM. Sixth grade staff and students will be dismissed to go home immediately after the buses have been unloaded. It is essential to make transportation arrangements for your child to be picked up at this time. Again, students are not allowed to take luggage on their regular school bus for safety reasons. If you are not able to meet your child, please make sure a note authorizing alternative transportation is received by your child’s team leader prior to the first day of outdoor ed. Students will not be allowed to wait for the afternoon buses. THINGS TO BRING TO OUTDOOR EDUCATION

BEDDING  Sheets and a blanket or a sheet and a sleeping bag  Pillow

TOILET ARTICLES (Please do not bring blow dryers - staff will have dryers available for student use)  Toothpaste and toothbrush  Soap and container (A plastic sandwich bag works great)  Bath towel  Brush  Shampoo  Pillowcase or large plastic bag for dirty clothes  Deodorant

CLOTHING (Label all clothing. Bring only comfortable clothing appropriate for outdoor physical activity. Try to avoid buying new items.)  Sleepwear  Underwear  Socks (many pairs)  Three pairs of jeans, slacks, or sweatpants (four if possible)  Long sleeved shirts  Sweatshirts/sweaters  Two pairs of sturdy shoes (sneakers are fine)

OUTERWEAR  Warm jacket  Hat  Rain coat or poncho  Scarf  Gloves

OTHER  Novel for independent reading

THINGS NOT TO BRING

Pocket knife Matches or lighters Money Flashlights Comic books/magazines Sandals Drinks Gum, snacks or food

Electronic equipment such as walkmen, gameboys, iPods or cell phones

If an item is inappropriate for school, it is inappropriate for Outdoor Ed. What if it snows?

In the event of a delayed opening on the day we are scheduled to go, students should report to Tilden at 10:45 AM for a regular school day.

If schools are delayed/closed on the day we are scheduled to depart, the outdoor education program will be rescheduled as the calendar permits.

If schools are closed in the middle of our outdoor education experience, the supervisor of outdoor education, Mrs. Baker and the supervisor of bus operations will decide on the safest course of action. In most cases, the safest course of action is for us to stay at the Summit Lake.

If schools are closed on the last day of the program, the supervisor of outdoor education will consult with the supervisor of bus operations and Mrs. Baker. Students will be transported as soon as arrangements can be made to move them safely. If there is any change in the time we will be returning to school, parents will be notified by phone.