One of my favorite parts of my job is teaching the subjects I am passionate about. Part of that is, not surprisingly, nature!

One of the CTF options I teach to kids is Environmental Stewardship and Outdoor Pursuits. Long name, I know. But we shortened it and now we love it!

One piece of the puzzle was building shelters. I did not give them any hints! The criteria was they had to create a shelter that would hold all of their group members AND could withstand the basic elements (rain, wind, snow, and heat). They were given a bit of time to research but that was it.

Then the fun began!

They had one class to create a shelter outside with the materials they brought from home. It did not go well. Lots of frustration from the students. (It did not help that there was a lot of wind that day!) At the end, I told the students that they had to improve their shelter for next class.

The picture above was from the second class of building shelters. Again, I did not help them and this is what they came up with! Very proud moment.

Today, we started fires!

You can imagine the excitement I got from the students. We discussed the difference between tinder, kindling, and log fuel. We also discussed the 3 basic needs of a fire (oxygen, heat, and fuel).

Each group got a tin can. A big can from tomato soup. I drilled a hole in the sides of the cans to allow oxygen to get to the ashes.

Students then started fires. They had to option of using matches or flint and steel. Big difference in their abilities when it came to using those! Some were nervous to use matches but were excited to learn. Some were unsure how to put the wood in the tin but built some beautiful tee-pee structures. Some were confused as to what to use if their fire starting going out but quickly learned to determine what their fire was lacking.

Over all, the students were excited to build fires, realized it was more complicated than they originally thought, but were so proud of themselves when they got their fire going.

I love this class!

Do you teach an outdoor class? Any tips or neat lessons you use to motivate students love of the outdoors?