“Growing together… in respect for ourselves and others and in our care for creation”. Part of our mission at DuBois Center is to grow respect for oneself, for one another, and for nature. We believe outdoor and experiential education provides the best opportunity for students to expand comfort zones, engage in community building, and be inspired to care for creation.
Program Objectives
School Camp is a 2-4 day residential camp program that focuses on hands-on experiential learning. Learning in and from the natural environment allows students to engage in meaningful learning that goes beyond lessons gained in a typical classroom. Activities cover a variety of topics in social and environmental science, art, and physical education.
If you are interested in bringing your class to School Camp at DuBois Center, please fill out this form and send to director@duboiscenter.org. Shorter adaptations of this program may be available, please contact DuBois Center for more information.
Benefits
Outdoor experiential education opportunities are crucial to the development of our children. With each generation, fewer children are participating in authentic nature-based experiences. Children are plugged into some kind of electronic device an average of 6 hours a day. There are increasing fears about what so much screen time is doing for the development of children and youth. It has been shown that nature-based experiences help to reduce stress, increase sleep, improve mood, and allow for face-to-face interaction. Children who engage in learning experiences in nature simultaneously stimulate all their senses- facilitating learning.
At DuBois Center we provide a safe environment where children and adults alike can learn in and from their natural surroundings. We practice a “challenge by choice” philosophy which helps facilitate team building by encouraging students to choose their level of participation, work towards achieving their goals, and push beyond their comfort zone. DuBois Center is a place where young people can practice positive risk taking in a safe environment.
Activities
The DuBois Center Staff teach a variety of team building and outdoor education classes and will work with you to choose the best classes for your group. Some favorite classes our school groups enjoy are:
- Shelter Building
- Nature Hikes
- Campfire Building and Outdoor Cooking
- Archery
- Horseback Riding
- Creek Exploration
- Team Building and Team’s Course
- Pottery, Tie-Dye, and Candle Making
Join Our Team
Check out our employment page if you are interested in joining the Nature’s Classroom team, or contact DuBois Center for more information.