In September, 19 Saints Academy students and three staff members visited Osprey Wilds Environmental Learning Center. Students took orienteering and survival classes; and participated in archery, a high ropes course, and a low ropes team building course.
The mission of Osprey Wilds Environmental Learning Center is, “To instill a connection and commitment to the environment in people of all communities through experiential learning.”
In addition to building their skills, abilities and connections with each other, the students learned about plants and animals native to Minnesota, discovered a rainbow of fungus in the woods and gazed at the milky way both nights. View photos from the experience.
Student reactions to Osprey Wilds:
What was your favorite part of the experience?
Being with friends. - Kallie Jornlin-McColley
How friendly the guides where, the animal experiences and the activities - Erin O'Leary
My favorite part was being with friends and I was able to bunk with people I know. - Bethani Sackor
My favorite part was being outside and having time to decompress in between classes and activities. - Abby Yates
What was something you learned?
Stuff about birds. - Kallie Jornlin-McColley
Woodpeckers actually prefer dead trees rather than live and healthy ones. - Erin O'Leary
A lot of different kinds of mushrooms. - Bethani Sackor
I learned about the old type of archery [an atlatl]. - Abby Yates
How important is it for you to have these types of experiences offered to you?
To have freedom and fun. So very important. - Kallie Jornlin-McColley
Extremely important so that everything isn't just boring and repetitive. - Erin O'Leary
Helps kids get outside, and see their classmates in a different light. I talked to some people I probably wouldn’t have talked to outside of the experience. - Bethani Sackor
I think it’s important to me because it makes me excited for school and I can have fun while earning credit. - Abby Yates