Register today for the 2021 Wilderness First Aid class on August 21-22 at Spruce Knob Mountain Center in Circleville, WV!
7/2/2021: Gravel Hollow Extravaganza
We hope you will join us for a Gravel Extravaganza exploring the hollows on and around Spruce Knob. We will take you on guided and supported tours of the highest peaks in the Alleghenies. You’ll find friendship, personal challenge, and amazing views of the remote farming and wilderness filled valleys of these ancient mountains.
Work with amazing people, doing fulfilling work, in a beautiful setting. Positions vary from coordinating beyond the classroom learning in WV pubic schools to being out in the woods with kids. We currently have multiple job openings available for late summer/fall positions. All jobs include potential for advancement/year-round employment if desired.
4/26/2021: Canoes on the Anacostia
Washington DC is offering free canoe rentals to anyone who will agree to use the boat to pick up trash on the Anacostia River. We love this creative combination of outdoor recreation, citizen science, and conservation work.
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And thank you so much for your generous support!
4/15/2021: Gear UP Raffle Ticket Sales are NOW OPEN!
Visit the Gear UP homepage to peep the full list of prizes HERE >>
OR
Go directly to the ticket sales page HERE >>
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And thank you so much for your generous support!
4/14/2021: Wild Living – Adult Backpacking Course
Thanks for joining our IG Live session about Wild Living! There’s tons of information and registration links on the program page here >>
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And follow THIS LINK to purchase raffle tickets for all the amazing adventure, program gift certificates, and hiker gear prizes >>
4/9/2021: Get Out and Stay Out: 5 Tips to More Fun and Wild Adventures with Your Kids
If you have young kids, a wilderness adventure might seem like more trouble than it’s worth. But if you keep an open mind, have reasonable expectations, and follow a few simple guidelines, it is absolutely worth it, every single time.
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When you let your kids run ahead to peek around the bend, clamber around on boulders, hide in the bushes, and surprise each other along the way, your adventure might continue much longer than you imagined. Even if it doesn’t, you’ll have tons of fun along the way. Keeping the energy high is important for adventurers of all ages. Don’t kill the momentum. Stroke the stoke. When the enthusiasm bubbles over, more motivation and exploration ensue. If you kill the energy early in an attempt to ‘save it for later,’ that ethereal mist of excitement will quickly blow away in the morning breeze.
3/30/2021: Wilderness Running Camp
Find more info and registration links for our Wilderness Running Camp HERE.
We are currently looking for candidates to fill openings for the spring and summer. Check out our job listings!
3/3/2021: Rivers and Rocks – High School Summer Camp
In 2021 we are offering a 1-week Rivers and Rocks for HS age kids that will be a combination of backpacking in Dolly Sods and rock climbing at Seneca Rocks. We are also super excited to offer a 3-week Leadership Adventure program where participants will learn to play a directing role in picking their adventures, packing for them, and executing them. We will leave no adventure stone unturned with this one! And finally we have a Wilderness Running Camp — where we introduce you to the wild and wonderful world of trail running through a week of backcountry camping and trail running adventures. Follow the links below for more info or to check out our camps for other age groups…
Rivers and Rocks – HS Camp >>
Adventure Leadership – HS Camp >>
Wilderness Running Camp >>
2021 Mountain Stewards Summer Camp Homepage >>
2/23/2021: Summer Camp Programs for All!
Our families and communities require mature, thoughtful, and contributing members of all ages to thrive. At the same time we hold dear the spontaneity, open minded curiosity, and urgent desire to learn that is often associated with childhood and adolescence. There need not be a dividing line. May we all be able and wanting to tap into both our childlike curiosity and our sense of responsibility to the (eco)systems and communities around us at the same time.
It is with this mindset that we are expanding our adult programming. We hope that you are inspired to push your comfort zone, test your limits, and expand your horizons on one of these programs with us.
Article: Fence Ecosystems and their effects on land and wildlife around the world >>
9/1/2020: SKMC: My Place — Jeff Ball Astrophotography Video
(http://kvas.org/events.html) this September 18th.
8/3/2020: 99pi, Freedom House, and WFA
This podcast episode walks through the little known and surprisingly recent history of the world’s first Emergency Ambulance Service. The Freedom House Ambulance Service was a groundbreaking project that developed in Pittsburgh’s shamefully underserved Hill District.
Listen and be inspired to join the ranks of first responders. Sign up for our August Wilderness First Aid class to start the process.
6/2/2020: Announcing Virtual Explorers Summer Camp!
This camp will combine interactive virtual instruction sessions with outdoor explorations that are challenging and fun. We know that time spent outdoors can provide many benefits and we want to help your camper connect to the outside world and learn new skills along the way. Campers will spend time learning new skills that will integrate problem solving, spatial awareness, logic, and creativity. More info >>
5/6/2020: New Distance Learning Lessons!
Drawing Conclusions and If/Else: An introduction to Conditional Logic and Dichotomous Keys
Teaching for Community Without a Classroom Conference
Experience Learning will be presenting at this online conference on Saturday, May 2nd. Join us in bringing community, connection and deeper meaning to the virtual classroom (and beyond).
Click here to check out our newest outdoor learning lessons.
What Folks are Saying
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Hands down Experience Learning’s Water Sampling trip (AWSM) for my 5th graders this past year has been the highlight of my career thus far! – Megan Bacorn, teacher
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Experience Learning has for a long time been dedicated to understanding our students, and on each trip builds a program to meet our goals. The experience we have each year creates a channel for learning that helps students further understand and internalize skills for planning, organization, problem solving and risk taking, and shows how these skills lead to success and happiness. We also have a wonderful time, and the experience is a staple of school culture and our collective memories. – Greg Koehlert, headmaster, Winston Prep
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The leaders at Experience Learning do an extraordinary job of utilizing “outdoor education” to create opportunities for our boys to learn, grow, and develop an appreciation for our world beyond traditional classroom environments, which is valuable on too many levels to fully celebrate. – Mike Wallace, Gilman School
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Experience Learning and their staff make our school trips possible. From scouting things out before hand, to keeping everyone fed, safe, entertained and informed during the trip, none of it would be possible without their professionalism. They create a safe environment that allows students to push themselves out of their comfort zones and take risks while being fully supported. All of this translates to huge growth at home both in and out of the classroom. – Evan Schlissel, Winston Prep NY
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Mountain Stewards at Experience Learning is a fantastic week-long summer camp for kids who like the outdoors (or who WILL like the outdoors after this wonderful experience!) Stewardship of our natural resources, self-reliance, leadership, and fellowship, are all integral to this program. My daughter LOVES this camp, and that makes me a happy dad. Experience Learning also has great programs for learners of all ages. I recently completed an excellent Wilderness First Aid course at their wonderful Spruce Knob Mountain Center. Check it out! – Mark Wenzler
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We are currently in the process of exploring a Trout in The Classroom project because of the interest that was piqued during the AWSM activities. – Julie Colaw, 5th grade science teacher, Petersburg Elementary School
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Our trip to SKMC has now turned into an annual event that is not only highly anticipated, but essential to bringing together the social dynamics of our class as we prepare for a year of working together. Additionally, my students feel empowered and connected to each other from our adventures that carries on through our schoolwork. – Jen Osha Buysse, teacher, Morgantown Learning Academy