Education and adventure collide when students visit Muskoka Woods! Situated on more than 1,000 acres of wilderness on the shores of Lake Rosseau, Muskoka Woods’ roster of activities takes learning to the next level by helping students develop important skills that will benefit them for the rest of their lives.
The magic of outdoor education
Education doesn’t have to just be about hitting the books. Outdoor education provides students with learning experiences beyond the traditional classroom setting, which is an integral part of holistic learning. With the goal of cultivating a child’s physical, emotional, moral, psychological, and spiritual attributes, a more holistic approach to learning benefits young people in so many ways — and opportunities are served up in spades at Muskoka Woods! Here, learning is about ascending the heights of the ropes course, hitting the target in archery, or strapping on a pair of snowshoes for the first time. Research agrees, outdoor learning is good for the brain, body, and soul!
Adventure meets learning: unleash the skills for life
A trip to Muskoka Woods will help your students develop valuable life skills—all while having the time of their lives. They’ll learn:
Communication skills: All of Muskoka Woods’ exciting outdoor activities encourage students to collaborate and communicate effectively. From navigating the ropes course to collaborating on fun team-building challenges, they’ll be communicating like pros! Activities like crate stacking on the ropes course requires that students work together while they race the opposing team to build the tallest tower of crates. Likewise, team sports like archery tag and ultimate Frisbee encourage students to communicate so they can bring home the win!
Problem-solving and critical thinking: The camp environment — and being away from their parents — means that students will have to use critical thinking to make their own decisions, under the guidance of school staff and their Host Instructor, of course. Muskoka Woods is full of chances for students to think critically and work together in real time. In the Orb Transporter activity, guests each hold a small section of pipe and must move an “orb” from one end of the group to the other without letting it stop or roll backward. Success depends on communication, planning, and quick problem-solving as the challenge increases. Guests soon realize that getting the orb across means constantly rethinking their approach and adjusting their movements to keep the momentum going.
Leadership skills: With Muskoka Woods’ leadership-focused activities, students will be steering the ship in no time — and they may even discover a part of themselves they didn’t know existed. From leading their team to victory on the beach volleyball court or encouraging classmates to try something new, students have many opportunities to develop and strengthen their leadership skills.
Confidence: Trying different activities and learning new skills necessarily boosts students’ self-confidence. Learning the steps to aiming and shooting an arrow at the bullseye in archery or mastering the art of getting around on snowshoes, teaches them that they’re capable and competent. Being away from home where they have to make decisions for themselves also helps build independence and self-esteem.
Physical health and well-being: Kids are not getting enough exercise these days, so transporting them to the lush natural scenery provided by Muskoka Woods along with the huge assortment of physical activities to participate in, gets their brains AND their bodies moving! Not only is the movement they will experience at Muskoka Woods beneficial to them physically, but it’s also beneficial to your classroom because it has been proven that children who are more physically active do better academically, owing to the positive influence of exercise on memory, concentration, and behaviour.
Resilience and adaptability: Muskoka Woods is your students’ training ground for conquering challenges. Stepping beyond their comfort zone and embarking on a camp adventure alongside their peers cultivates self-reliance, nurtures leadership aptitude, and introduces them to fresh passions and pastimes. By empowering young people to make their own decisions, camp helps build the confidence it takes to handle change effectively and adapt to different situations. Resilience is a lifelong skill that your students will benefit from, this school year and beyond.
Education extends beyond textbooks and classroom lessons. Taking your class on a trip where students can experience learning in the great outdoors is beneficial because it provides a more holistic approach to learning, the merits of which include physical, emotional, moral, psychological, and spiritual development. Muskoka Woods stands as a testament to this comprehensive approach, offering a plethora of opportunities for outdoor education. No matter which of the diverse activities your students participate in, they provide a compliment to traditional classroom learning by imparting important life skills.
Visit schools.muskokawoods.com for more information about School Trips at Muskoka Woods.
