6/3/10

Sixty-five grade 6 students from Windsor Mill Middle School spent five days and four nights at NorthBay this May. NorthBay, a facility located in Elk Neck State Park on the Chesapeake Bay, provides an environmental education program where Windsor Mill students hiked, kayaked, fished, climbed, and clammed their way through science lessons. 

Students observed and collected data on fish, vultures, snakes, birds, insects, and fungus all through hands-on activities in the bay and forest. In addition to their environmental studies, students worked as teams to build confidence and face fears by bravely conquering a zip line, ropes course, and giant swing.

According to student Morgan Roberts, one of the lessons learned was "Make wise decisions, because the decisions that you make now can affect your life when you get older."

To fund this trip, the school received a $5,000 grant from the Chesapeake Bay Trust. In addition, students raised $1,000 by holding a dance and another $700 by selling coupon books.

NorthBay's program is written as a supplement to the Baltimore County Public Schools grade 6 science curriculum so it relates to what students have learned before and is integrated into what students learn after the experience. The NorthBay Character Building piece is also integrated throughout the school year with Windsor Mill’s Character Revolution13 program (as an American Students’ Fund flagship school).