School of Discovery

The Woodland Altars "School of Discovery" has been providing quality outdoor education for students in the third through the eighth grade since 1974. Our programs are designed according to the Ohio Model Curriculum and can be adapted to fit the special needs of your students. The Woodland Altars "School of Discovery" is located on a four-hundred fifty-acre campus which includes a variety of natural habitats. Ecological investigations of a forest, meadow, thicket, prairie, stream and pond are the backbone of our program. Students learn about the natural world and its processes through observation, discovery and hands-on investigation.

The program has three basic objectives.

(1) To develop within the students, an appreciation and understanding of the natural world though the use of "hands-on" activities. These activities are designed to help fulfill the Ohio state objectives for science.

(2) To develop an appreciation for our pioneer heritage.

(3) To provide an opportunity for self-growth and team concepts to encourage students to relate to each other in positive ways. We attempt to provide in-depth learning experiences that are meaningful and interesting.

The essence of a successful experience at the "School of Discovery" is the cooperation and communication between your school and the Woodland Altars School of Discovery staff. We work closely with each school to provide an experience which will reinforce concepts being taught in the classroom. The Program Director consults with each school prior to their visit to plan the student's curriculum. Our staff of teachers/naturalists demonstrates a wealth of education and experience in outdoor education skills, enhanced by our own training program.

Prior to arriving at Woodland Altars the students are organized into trail groups of 10-12 students. Each trail group is supervised by one teacher/naturalist. A typical day for a student at Woodland Altars School of Discovery begins with breakfast at 8:30 a.m. and concludes with the evening program at 9:00 p.m. The daily schedule consists of two hours of trail time each morning and two hours of trail time each afternoon. Late in the afternoon, students are given a chance to sign up for optional classes that they would like to participate. Each evening there will be a fun and educational program for the students.

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