Outdoor education is an integral part of child development at St. Anne’s. Starting in Kindergarten, students regularly begin regular visits to our 16 acre foothills campus, St. Anne’s in the Hills. SAITH is located in beautiful Indian Hills, Colorado, and offers a unique backdrop for all our students to connect with one another and the natural world around them. where they engage in team building and environmental education. Our program provides an opportunity for students to engage in activities that promote cooperation, problem-solving, and community building.
Our SAITH based outdoor education program offers students a chance to engage in activities that build upon one another throughout the students’ St. Anne’s careers. This scaffolded program focuses on a variety of topics, including: leadership, environmental science, community building, Leave No Trace, and outdoor skills.
Fourth and fifth grades each have an overnight at St. Anne’s in the Hills in the spring. In addition to SAITH experiences, the third grade hikes Chief Mountain and explores the ecology of mountain life zones while learning the skill of self-care in the outdoors. Fourth and fifth grades also spend one day at Bear Creek Lake learning to kayak, canoe, stand-up paddle board, bike, and climb.
Beginning in fourth grade students have the opportunity to participate in overnight programming at SAITH. During these trips students spend more time connecting as a community, exploring how our founding values connect to their relationships with one another and the natural world around them. These extended experiences act as a foundation and launch pad for the larger Outdoor Education adventures that students will participate in as a part of their middle school curriculum.
The middle school outdoor education program builds on the strong foundation established by the integration of our founding values and the confidence and comfort students will feel in the outdoor space. Beginning in sixth grade students attend multiple overnight trips to SAITH. They also begin participating in programming that is provided in partnership with the Colorado Outward Bound School. Our sixth grade students begin a deep dive into establishing a sense of belonging within their community, and begin to hone their leadership skills. In seventh grade our outdoor education students continue to build their leadership skills and start to tie in components of self efficacy, physical challenges, stepping out of their comfort zones and into brave spaces. Seventh grade students will also participate in the longstanding tradition of visiting The Great Sand Dunes, camping, and white water rafting. Our eight graders culminate their outdoor education experience with a trip guided by Colorado Outward Bound, that includes high ropes, rock climbing, and a focus on allowing students to take leadership skills back to school with them.
Throughout their years at St. Anne’s, all children have the opportunity to learn environmental stewardship and connect with nature.
Goals of Outdoor Education at St. Anne’s:
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Foster a kind and compassionate student community
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Cultivate environmental stewardship and appreciation for nature
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Teach skills that allow students to feel at home in the outdoors
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Enhance the school’s science curriculum
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Explore themes of interconnectedness, life cycles, adaptation, biodiversity, and change
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Provide opportunities for team building and student leadership training
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Develop a deeper appreciation for the legacy of the Founding Sisters
Why We Value Outdoor Education:
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Research has shown that student achievement is strengthened by opportunities to use the environment as an integrating context for learning.
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Children who spend more time outdoors have proven to be more resilient.
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Nature provides challenges that enable children to find new successes, develop a sense of competency, and build self-confidence.
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Relationships with teachers are further strengthened and enhanced outside of the traditional classroom.
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Developing connections to the natural world and strengthening interpersonal skills are vital for children growing up in a digital age.