A 6-week adaptable curriculum for middle school students designed to nourish the joys of being in nature through free play and exploration

Teens to Trails put together a curriculum that is grounded in play and curiosity, offering basic skills with a goal for participants to gain comfort in nature without a significant agenda. It can be hosted by an Outdoor Club, a Recreation Department, Teen Center, home school group or simply a group of friends, and is a great way for kids to get outside. 

Session length: 90 minutes

Series duration: 6-weeks 

Age: Middle school students with high school co-leaders

Goal: Free play outdoors. Keep the agenda loose to respond to the weather, available space, and the interests of participants.

Read firsthand what our Explorers’ Program is like on our blog.

STEPS TO STARTing AN EXPLORER’S CLUB

1. Recruit a willing, enthusiastic and somewhat skilled adult PLUS a high school aged co-leader
   Consider contacting Teens to Trails for an introduction to your high school outing club, or reach out to your school’s service learning coordinator, students are eager for community service hours, as well as meaningful ways to fill their time

2. Identify local partners who have spaces for exploration such as land trusts or park & rec departments

3. Write a brief description of the program

   Focus on play, exploration, wandering, simply feeling comfortable outdoors and in the most natural setting that is convenient to your location

   Have multiple levels of engagement from the gross to the subtle, such as a game of snowball tag, to noticing the details of animal prints. 

   You can alternate meeting locations if you can provide transportation or parents are willing to drive to different locations. 

   We suggest 90 minutes each week, and that you stay outside the whole time.

4. Prepare a photo release form for parents to sign on with their registration

5. Welcome Circle, introductions, goal setting and expectations - this is where you flip traditional roles, and the kids take the lead.

   ex: “Hello Explorers!” Reinforce the sense of adventure and curiosity you want them to have. 

6. Develop an easy way to keep take attendance

   Gather kids in a circle and have them count off, while recording name:number. Then scramble the circle and have them call out their numbers in sequence. Do this several times each session

7. Explore!!

   Design projects that can evolve or span several sessions such as building forts, exploring sections of a large property, seeing high tide and low tide at the same spot

   Set GPS tracker to record route & distance, kids love seeing their route! Let the kids lead, follow their curiosity and wandering.

8. Stay in touch with parents/guardians

   It's nice to build engagement and a larger explorer community. Send photos from prior week, links to information about things you did, or animals you saw if the kids want to dig in to more details, include directions to the meeting spot a few days in advance of each meeting