Do you remember your first camping trip? Most of my inner-city students have never been out in nature. They don't own hiking boots, and they don't hike up mountains, other than the metaphorical ones that present themselves as obstacles to their learning and growth.
My Outdoor Adventures Club students are enthusiastic about getting closer to nature.
We have taken them hiking, and the pride they showed at the top of the mountain was indescribable. Rarely do they have the opportunity to get outside of the city and into the woods that are just miles from their homes. Yet, they so desperately want these experiences. Our club members are incredibly diverse - they include immigrants, refugees, and non-English speakers. Almost all of them come from poverty-stricken families who are working hard to provide their kids the basics. They can't afford to give them the extras - which is why I am trying to help bridge the gap for them.
My Project
Because so many of our members live below the poverty line, equipment is often a barrier to their participation in outdoor pursuits. I volunteer my time to take our students camping and hiking, and have partnered with the Appalachian Mountain Club to get most of the gear we need, but this project will help us with the rest. We need tent stakes and tarps, as well as items to complete our camp kitchen - propane gas cylinders for the camp stoves, a cooler, and wash basin. By supporting this project, you will help my students explore nature's classroom, and participate in overnight camping trips.
This project is incredibly important because our inner-city kids need the opportunity to get into nature.
Consider these findings: Nature buffers the impact of life stress on children and helps them deal with adversity. The greater the amount of nature exposure, the greater the benefits. Nature helps children develop powers of observation and creativity and instills a sense of peace and being at one with the world. You have the opportunity to support students as they engage in the outdoors.
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mrs. Bauer and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.