East Grand Outdoor Education Program
The East Grand outdoor education program started with a large grant during the middle 90s from a settlement with big tabacco for the purpose of getting students involved with healthy outdoor activities. Canoes, tent and camping gear were purchased and a building was erected to store equipment in. It was decided the program will be an elective high school students can sign up for and receive credit for vs an after-school club. The program is run by the PE,OE teacher Tammi Matula and contracts with Canoe the Wild to assist with classes, outings, training and the upkeeping and purchasing of equipment.
This course is a very unique opportunity that promotes physical exercise, encourages teamwork, promotes student leadership roles, outdoor living & survival skills and builds self-confidence.
Classes Students grades 9-12 can sign up for this class which meets every other day for 1 block (1 hour, 25 minutes).
Day long Outings are offered time to time for activities that can’t be covered sufficiently during one class period and may include intro to whitewater canoeing, riflery, shotgun, canoe poling, processing wild game (deer and or moose), fly fishing, etc.
Overnight Outings may include an overnight canoe trip & winter camp outing where students put into practice skills learned in class.
Canoe Races and the East Grand Adventure Race: The Houlton canoe race happens every April & East Grand Adventure Race is the 2nd Saturday of May annually. These races provide students the opportunity to put their acquired skills into practice, exercise in the outdoors (compass run, bike and paddle), and work as a team with a fellow student.
Career Opportunities: Students from time-to-time plan, pack and help lead a multi-day canoe trip on the Allagash with Canoe the Wild. They learn first hand the ‘nuts and bolts’ of what goes into running a guiding and outfitting business, something you just can’t learn in the class room.
Canoe practices & biking Practices get students outside and condition for races.
Acceptable Risk and Personal Growth: As a society over the years for reasons such as the fear of law suits, we have inadvertently sheltered our youth to the point where they often are not ready for ‘real life’ because we didn’t allow them to do things that were perceived as too risky resulting in them not being challenged and being allow to get out of their comfort zone while growing up. Within the program, acceptable risks may involve paddling a canoe in whitewater, running through the woods with a fellow student off trail for a mile navigating only with a map and compass, standing in front of your peers and leading and the list goes on. We constantly evaluate and look at the acceptable risk factor when choosing activities. Example, canoeing without a life jacket and operating a chain saw are risks we are not willing to take.
Activities: Over the course of the year, some activities require students to get out of your comfort zone and what better opportunity to do this then in a well thought out, safe learning environment. The benefits can be lifelong. Types of Activities (but not limited) may be biking, cross country skiing, brush clearing for recreation trails, hikes, canoeing, kayaking, stand up paddle boards, compass walks, polarbear plunge (optional), fire building, outdoor cooking, etc.
Student Leadership returning students have the opportunity gain a sense of ownership within the program when taking part on a leadership team. This may involve meeting weekly with student leaders to plan upcoming classes and outings. Participation may be in the form of mentoring students, teaching classes and assisting teachers with classes that are outdoor related in nature. Returning students are often required to put in extra time planning and over seeing an overnight outing as well as plan for help set up for the Adventure Race.
Tech Free Zone: In an age where many students (and adults) are connected to their devices and the internet what seems like 24/7, the outdoor education program is a ‘tech free zone’ meaning no electronics of any kind are permitted in class or on outings. When engaged in outdoor activities, most students forget all about their devices and become fully engrossed in the activity. Multi day canoe trips are a great way to detox from social media and the internet. We even have had students thank us for not allowing their devices and they really enjoy the face time with fellow students vs screen time.
Outdoor Education Student Contract 2024-25