As stated in a previous post, for my LfL placement I have decided to work at an outdoor school in Horsham, Philadelphia, called College Settlement. In this post, I will explore the history of the camp, and also explain the aims and activities of College Settlement.
College Settlement is a non-profit organisation with a rich history. As described on the website;
“The College Settlement of Philadelphia was founded in 1892 to provide social, cultural and educational programs for the immigrants of South Philadelphia. The Agency operated a Settlement House in Philadelphia at Fourth and Christian Streets. The College Settlement Camp was founded in 1922 by Anna Freeman Davies to augment the cultural, educational and recreational programs conducted in the city by The College Settlement of Philadelphia. Since that time, The College Settlement Camp has been providing camping services for people from the greater Philadelphia area (College Settlement, undated).”
Furthermore, College Settlement runs summer camps; overnight and day camps, as well as an outdoor school in Autumn and Spring – which I will be attending. The camp also works in alliance with Pennypack Farm, which is located on the southwest corner of the property. At the farm, children learn about how to grow organic produce and enjoy a variety of lessons in conjunction with the farm (SPR 2.1).
At outdoor school, children in grades 4-6 (usually) from local schools in Philadelphia come for singular day trips, or for overnight trips of 2/3 days. A range of children will visit the camp, from the most affluent schools in Philadelphia, to some of the most deprived. Moreover, within Philadelphia there are a range of schools; private schools, public schools and charter schools, which all visit the outdoor school.
Moreover, the outdoor school offers children a range of activities including; team building challenges, a low ropes course, a climbing wall, environmental education, survival challenges, hikes and walks and also classic camp games, songs and skits. As a staff member, I will be assisting the children in these activities, as well as (hopefully) teaching environmental education lessons and helping the children when it comes to meal times (SPR 1.4).
For example, typical schedules include;
Basic Day Trip Schedule
9.30 – 10.30 Arrival – Introductions, Icebreakers, Big Group Games
10.30 – 12.15 Group Challenges
12.30 LUNCH (bag lunches from school)
1.00 Either GROUP CHALLENGES, ECOLOGY LESSONS or LOW ROPES
2.30 WRAP UP
3.00 DEPART
(EXTENDED DAY TRIP)
3.30 Option Time
4.30 Wrap up – depart
2 Day Programme (Sample Schedule)
Day 1
9.30 Arrival and unpacking; Move into cabins
10.30 Big Groups Games
11.30 Emergency Procedures and Health and Safety Guidelines
11.45 LUNCH
1.15 Group Challenges
3.30 Option Time
4.30 Cabin Time (set up crew to DH)
5PM DINNER
6PM Journal Time (clean up crew to DH)
6.30 Evening Activity 1 (OS staff)
7.30 Evening Activity 2 (School Staff)
8.45 SNACK
9PM Back to cabins/showers
9.45 Lights Out
Day 2
7.30 (set up crew to DH)
8AM Breakfast/pack up
9.15 Lesson 1
10.30 Lesson 2
11.45 Cabin Time (set up crew to DH)
12PM LUNCH
1PM Departure or Lesson 3 (Extended Tri[)
2.15 Big Group Activity (Extended Trip)
2.45 Wrap Up (Extended Trip)
4PM Departure (Extended Trip)
3 Day Trip (Sample Schedule)
Day 1
10AM Arrival and unpacking; Move into cabins
10.30 Big Groups Games
11.30 Emergency Procedure and Health and Safety Guidelines
11.45 LUNCH
1.15 Group Challenges
3.30 Option Time
4.30 Cabin Time (set up crew to DH)
5PM DINNER
6PM Journal Time (clean up crew to DH)
6.30 Evening Activity 1 (OS staff)
7.30 Evening Activity 2 (school staff)
8.45 SNACK
9PM Back to cabins/showers
9.45 Lights out
Day 2
7.30 (set up crew to DH)
8AM Breakfast
9.15 Lesson 1
10.30 Lesson 2
11.45 Cabin Time (set up crew to DH)
12PM LUNCH
1.15 Lesson 3
2.30 Lesson 4 (or group activity)
3.45 Option Time
4.30 Cabin Time (set up crew to DH)
5PM DINNER
6PM Journal Time (clean up crew to DH)
6.30 Evening Activity 1 (school staff)
7.30 Campfire (OS staff)
8.45 SNACK
9PM Back to cabins/showers
9.45 Lights Out
Day 3
7.30 (set up crew to DH)
8AM BREAKFAST
9AM Pack up and clean
10AM Lorax Presentation or Town Council
11AM Tree Planting Ceremony
11.45 LUNCH/Teacher Meeting
12.30 Departure (Approximate Time)
As stated by the Camp Director, for a lot of the children from the most deprived areas, this is their favourite time of year. They build new skills, interact with their peers and can express themselves in a relaxed atmosphere out with the classroom. Teachers and children both love coming to the outdoor school, and are eager to get involved and be hands-on.
I have attached the link to the website; http://www.collegesettlement.org/
References
College Settlement. (undated). About the College Settlement. [online] Available at: http://www.collegesettlement.org/about-the-college-settlement-of-philadelphia/ [Accessed 14 Mar. 2018].
