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By Linnae Riesen
Wisconsin 4th, 5th and 6th graders will have an excellent opportunity
to experience outdoor education at the Wisconsin Outdoor Education
Expo 2006 on May 19 and 20 at the Dodge County Fairgrounds. The Wisconsin Expo, modeled after similar “see, touch,
do” programs in Wyoming and Texas, will introduce kids to
a lifetime of outdoor pursuits, educate about outdoor skills,
heritage, vocations and conservation, and instill a lifelong passion
for outdoor activities. Students will have the opportunity to participate in seven areas
of learning: archery, heritage, camping, game trail, dog training,
firearm safety, and fishing and water skills. “Volunteer educators are working with representatives from
conservation groups around the state to establish education guidelines
for each of the Expo activities." said Rebecca Smith, WOA
Foundation chair. "Schoolchildren will be asked to apply their experiences
to academic areas such as math, science, history and physical
education," she said. “We are developing a journal
for kids to use, but we hope that they are having so much fun
that they won’t even realize it’s an educational experience.” Friday, May 19, has been set aside for students to participate
in the camps, featuring demonstrations and instruction. Saturday,
May 20, has been designated for families, particularly those with
children in grades 4-6. All activities are free and begin at 9:00 a.m. and conclude at
5:00 p.m. Food will be sold on the grounds; however, schools are
welcome to provide sack lunches for students. Registration materials and other information are available at
www.wisexpo.com. Posted October 14, 2005 |