Gainesville, Haymarket students participate in pilot program for outdoor education

Mufaro Nyereyemhuka, a seventh-grader at Gainesville Middle School, attempts to corral Stromboli, an Argentinian red tegu, with the help of Brian Kristal of Nature Center on the Go, at Camp Snyder in Haymarket on Friday.

By: Amanda Stewart | Inside NoVA
Published: June 05, 2010

Haymarket, Va. - Gainesville Middle School seventh-grader Mufaro Hyereyemhuka wasn't scared during a Reptile Wonders presentation at Camp William B. Snyder in Haymarket on Friday.

But Stromboli, the 3-foot-long Argentinian red tegu he was holding, was, at first.

"When he gets scared, he'll take his tail and whip it around," Reptile Wonders presenter Brian Kristal said as the lizard's tail did just that.

But after a few seconds, Stromboli calmed down and all of the students who wanted to got a chance to pet him.

The presentation was part of ED OUT, an outdoor education program that brought students from Gainesville Middle School and Sudley Elementary School to Camp Snyder Friday.

The event was a pilot for the program, which could eventually expand to schools throughout the country.

During the day-long event, the students participated in several outdoor activities, including gardening, hiking, orienteering and learned about habitats, tree growth, water quality and nutrition.

"From my perspective, it's a chance to get children outside and talking about environmental education and, certainly, outdoor education," Jason Calhoun, supervisor of science for Prince William County Public Schools. "Environmental education is a big part of our curriculum."

Susan Pytel, a fourth-grade teacher at Sudley, said she saw the day as a way for her pupils to continued their learning after completing their Standards of Learning tests for the year.

"I like the timing of this because it's a way to get the students engaged and learning for next year," Pytel said. "A lot of the things they are learning are things they will need to know for fifth-grade science."

Fourth-graders Tristan Johns and Katherine Missar said they had fun learning how to build a buoy with Kevin Schbow, a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration employee.

"It was fun. The guy said it was like putting together Legos," Tristan said.

The ED OUT program is a partnership between Prince William County Public Schools, the USDA Forest Service, the American Recreation Coalition and the National Wildlife Federation.

Organizers hope to expand the program to include all county schools, as well as schools in the Denver, Chicago, Seattle and Portland metropolitan areas.

Staff writer Amanda Stewart can be reached at 703-530-3908.