Forty-five fifth and sixth graders from nine conference schools and two homes schools, along with their 12 sponsors, gathered at Camp Heritage Sept. 10-12 for the Iowa-Missouri Conference Department of Education’s annual Outdoor School.
Subjects taught included weather, stars, and orienteering. Each teacher structured their class so that the students accomplished either all or a large portion of the Pathfinder honor requirements of the three areas. Mrs. Connie Sunderland, head-teacher from the Golden Valley SDA School in Clinton, Missouri, taught the weather honor class; Mr. Richard Booth, retired teacher from the Moberly School, taught the stars honor class; and I taught the orienteering honor class.
Outside of classes, students attended worships, participated in organized games and a Bible search challenge. Each cabin group kept the camp looking great with various daily work duties. Curtis Rodman and his son, Tyler, provided meals that were greatly enjoyed by the students and their sponsors. The weather this year was perfect, with clear skies in the evening that allowed the students to view Jupiter and Saturn through Mr. Booth’s telescope.
Several sixth graders echoed the request of one young student: “Can we have an Outdoor School for seventh and eighth graders. I want to come back again.” A fifth grader wrote, “Outdoor School was so much fun. See you next year.”
