Session 1 Group 1: April 15th through April 17th, 2024
Session 2 Group 2: April 17th through April 19th, 2024
E. Lathrop Smith Center
5110 Meadowside Lane
Rockville, MD 20855
Outdoor Education Introduction Video
Meet Your Neelsville Middle School Outdoor Ed Coordinator
About MCPS Outdoor Education
The Grade 6 MCPS Outdoor Environmental Education Program, known as “Outdoor Ed,” provides students with a three-day residential experience focused on the driving question, “How do our actions and choices impact the health of the watershed?” Using relevant, engaging, and interdisciplinary lessons, students explore the local ecosystem and their role in it. The natural world is both classroom and laboratory for teaching and learning at Outdoor Ed, and literacy and mathematics are authentically integrated. The core lessons of this Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience include the following:
field experiences where scientific practices are used to investigate the environment, and where components of the MCPS Grade 6 curriculum are learned in a real-world setting. Environmental science lessons focus on the local watershed including water-quality analysis of a local stream, use of a simulation to study population dynamics, and investigation of the impact of humans on the environment.
engaging lessons created to foster inquiry, collaboration, critical thinking, and problem solving.
structured and unstructured opportunities for building positive interpersonal relationships as students learn and practice relationship-building skills with their peers and teachers. Making a new friend is reported by more than 90 percent of students at the conclusion of Outdoor Ed!
motivation and opportunity for students to be active stewards of the environment as they investigate how their choices impact the environment and choose a daily action to improve it. The environmental learning and actions form the environmental Student Service Learning experience, which is an integral part of the Grade 6 science curriculum.
At Outdoor Ed, students live in dormitory-style housing at one of three sites, work collaboratively to take care of the dorms, and serve each other at meals. Teachers from each middle school accompany their students and teach several of the lessons at Outdoor Ed along with the Outdoor Ed coordinators. A fee is charged for the residential setting of the program, set by the Board of Education; alternative payment options and waivers are available. Speaking volumes about Outdoor Ed, MCPS high schools seniors commonly cite this unique experience among their three most remembered and cherished learning events in their 12 years of education.
Outdoor Education Parent Packet
Due Date Monday, February 26, 2024
Important Dates
Monday, October 2, 2023 Virtual Parent Information Session at 6:00pm
Wednesday, January 10, 2024
Grade 6 science teachers distribute Outdoor Ed information packet/permission slips, and discuss the program in detail with all sixth grade students.
Thursday, January 11, 2024
In-person parent information session in Spanish at 6:00pm Neelsville Media Center
Thursday, February 22, 2024 Virtual Parent Information Session at 6:00pm
Zachary Schmid is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Outdoor Education Parent Meeting (Final Meeting), Neelsville Middle School
Time: Feb 22, 2024 06:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://mcpsmd.zoom.us/j/87961134412?pwd=WXo1TnVKYjl6bWdhSHFGTzZHbkp0QT09
Meeting ID: 879 6113 4412
Passcode: nms
Monday, February 26, 2024
Due date for permission slips and payment. Submit to the science teacher OR Mr. Schmid during grade 6 lunch.
Wednesday, March 6, 2024 Virtual chaperone’s meeting to discuss OEE expectations at 6:00pm
Zachary Schmid is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Outdoor Education Parent Meeting (Final Meeting), Neelsville Middle School
Time: Feb 22, 2024 06:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://mcpsmd.zoom.us/j/87961134412?pwd=WXo1TnVKYjl6bWdhSHFGTzZHbkp0QT09
Meeting ID: 879 6113 4412
Passcode: nms
Friday, March 15, 2024
Due date for medications and completed medication forms to Neelsville MS Health Room
Monday, April 15, 2024 to Wednesday, April 17, 2024
Session 1:
Parents transport students to Neelsville MS on Monday with luggage - school arrival 8:30am to 8:55am
Parents pick up students at Neelsville MS on Wednesday for return home at 1:00pm
Wednesday, April 17, 2024 to Friday, April 19, 2024
Session 2:
Parents transport students to Neelsville MS on Wednesday with luggage - school arrival 8:30am to 8:55am
Parents pick up students at Neelsville MS on Friday for return home at 1:00pm
Would you like to be a Parent Chaperone for Outdoor Education?
Please complete this survey to share your interest in attending: Link to Parent Chaperone Interest Survey