Curriculum and Class Choices
Outdoor Education Brochure
An important feature of the Friedenswald program is the option to select your own classes. We encourage schools to utilize Friedenswald staff as much as possible. Class sizes should be limited to a maximum of 15 students.
Class descriptions include a listing of the appropriate seasons during which the class may be taught, the main concepts covered, and state standards being met. All classes last 1 hour. Please note that some classes have a minimum age requirement.

Class Descriptions
Archery
Students practice the basics of a skill used for thousands of years for survival and sport, with a bried look at it's history.
Season: Spring, Summer or Fall
Recommended grades: 4-12
Science Standards: Indiana 5.2.6, 5.3.11, 5.3.13
Science Standards Michigan IV.3.3
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Barriers & Bridges Initiatives Course
On their journey through alligator infested swamps, over boiling peanut butter pits and across acid rivers, students develop better cooperation, leadership and problem solving skills. Depending on the students’ ages, activities become progressively more difficult and complex.
Season: Spring, Summer, Fall or Winter
Recommended grades: 5-12
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Canoeing
Learn to canoe on our 90 acre lake looking for turtles and fish. Also review important boating safety rules, with a brief look at the history of canoeing.
Season: Spring, Summer or Fall
Recommended grades: 5-12
Science Standards: Indiana 5.3.11, 5.3.13, 6.4.13
Science Standards: Michigan II.1.6, IV.3.2
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Cross-Country Skiing
Students enjoy the winter woods while practicing a type of winter transportation which has been used for hundreds of years.
Season: Winter
Recommended grades: 4-12
Science Standards: Indiana 5.2.6, 5.3.11, 5.3.13
Michigan IV.3.3
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Fishing
Learn basic skills for cane pole fishing. Identify local fish, understand laws and have some fun. We will provide living and nonliving bait for the squeamish. Catch and release is practiced.
Season: Spring, Summer, Fall or Winter
Recommended grades: 2-12
Frisbee Golf
A great activity "fore" your class. Groups play together from "hole" to "hole," trying to hit the numbered trees with the Frisbee. Even the rookie can play and have fun.
Season: Spring, Summer, Fall or Winter
Recommended grades: 2-12
Nature Neighborhoods
Animals live, work and play in "neighborhoods" just like we do. Students learn about the different natural "neighborhoods" at camp and families of animals that live there. Students will learn how to "neighborhoods," along with who lives there, change over time.
Season: Spring or Fall
Recommended grades: 2-12
Science Standards: Indiana 5.4.4, 5.4.5, 5.4.7, 6.4.1, 6.4.8, 6.4.9
Science Standards: Michigan III.2.3, III.5.1, III.5.2, III.5.3
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Nature Journaling
Students learn basic techniques of making scientific observation of their surroundings through use of a journal. With guidance, the students go outside and explore the world around them by drawing, writing and formulating questions.

Season: Spring, Summer, Fall or Winter
Recommended grades: 4-8
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Michigan History: The Pioneers
During an overview of the local area history, students are introduced to various elements of pioneer life. They also experience a taste of pioneer life by making their own rope and hand dipped candles with methods that early settlers used.
Season: Spring, Summer, Fall or Winter
Recommended grades: 2-12
Science Standards: Indiana 5.1.5, 5.1.7, 5.3.8, 5.3.9, 6.1.9, 6.4.13
Science Standards: Michigan II.1.4, II.1.5, III.5.5
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Treasure Hunt
Students learn the basics of how to use a compass and then apply this knowledge in a quest for buried treasure (candy, unless otherwise requested). Fourth grade and under need extra parent involvement.
Season: Spring, Summer or Fall
Recommended grades: 2-12
Science Standards: Indiana 5.1.5, 5.2.6, 5.6.2
Science Standards: Michigan I.1.3, I.1.6, II.1.3
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Recreation
Do your students need a stretch of the legs or have a little energy to burn off? This time of wild and crazy games is perfect. Activities range from basketball to carnival-type games. We can make it an hour that everyone will enjoy.
Season: Spring, Summer, Fall or Winter
Recommended grades: 2-12
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Roadblock
Can you work as a team and follow the clues? This "Amazing Race" activity will require brains, brawn and probably a little silliness to finish. Learn about the natural world as you complete your journey.
Season: Spring, Summer or Fall
Recommended grades: 4-12
Senses
Students use their sense of sight, hearing, smell, touch, and taste to explore their surroundings. Through games and interactive activities they consider the importance of senses in making discoveries about the natural world.
Season: Any
Concepts: Observation, adaptations
Science Standards:
Indiana 6.3.21
Michigan IV.4.1, IV.4.2, IV.4.3
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It's a Small World
Students capture, observe and explore the miniature habitats of the soil and pond, getting a bug's eye view of life. Using magnifying glasses, students discover a world seldom seen or noticed that contains great variety.
Season: Spring, Summer, Fall or Winter
Recommended grades: 2-12
Science Standards: Indiana 5.1.4, 5.6.1, 6.3.19, 6.4.1, 6.4.2, 6.4.5, 6.4.10
Science Standards: Michigan III.5.1, III.5.2, III.5.3
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The Three R’s (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle)
Students find out how fun recycling can be as they create paper with their own personal flair by adding flowers, leaves and other items. Students gain an understanding of the importance of conserving our resources.
Season: Spring, Summer, Fall or Winter
Recommended grades: 4-8
Science Standards: Indiana 5.1.5, 5.1.6, 5.1.7, 6.1.9, 6.3.4, 6.3.8, 6.3.13, 6.3.14, 6.3.16
Science Standards: Michigan III.5.5, III.5.6, V.2.4
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Web of Life
Students are introduced to local wildlife. They have the opportunity to observe birds up close at our bird feeders and learn about how different animals fit into the food web through a wide variety of games and activities.
Season: Spring, Summer, Fall or Winter
Recommended grades: 2-8
Who Goes There?
Students create their own guide to animal tracks and practice observation skills through playing games and hiking the Unnatural Trail. They become detectives as they search outdoors for clues about the identity and habits of animals through the signs they leave behind.
Season: Spring, Summer, Fall or Winter
Recommended grades: 2-8
Science Standards: Indiana 5.1.7, 5.2.4, 6.4.1, 6.4.10
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Wild Health Food Store
Students examine a variety of wild flowers and other plants useful as food and medicines and share in the preparation and enjoyment of food made from wild plants. Students also learn about plants that are better left alone.

Season: Spring, Summer or Fall
Recommended grades: 4-12
History Standards: Indiana 5.1.1, 5.1.3
Science Standards: Michigan III.2.3, III.5.2, III.5.5
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Demonstrations
Science standards are available upon request. All classes are led by Camp Friedenswald staff.
1 Hour Demonstrations (up to 45 students)
Adaptations
Students investigate the diversity of adaptations that enable plants and animals to survive and reproduce in certain habitats. They look closely at the range of adaptations found in birds and insects through direct observation and a large simulation game.
Season: Spring, Summer, Fall or Winter
Recommended grades: 2-12
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What's Bugging You
Students explore the fascinating world of "bugs," how they survive and what they do in the winter. This class engages students with live and perserved insects from our region as they rotate through to interview the different types of "bugs."
Season: Spring, Summer, Fall or Winter
Recommended grades: 2-8
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Fish Banks
Let your landlubbers take charge of a fishing fleet off the East Coast. Making money is the game, but as they will find out, conservation often leads to bigger profits in the end. This computer simulation, with students working as groups to make desisions about their fleet.
Season: Spring, Summer, Fall or Winter
Recommended grades: 5-12
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Owl Pellets
While working in pairs, students dig into a sterilized owl pellet (not poop, more like a hair ball). We use this as a springboard to look at predators, prey and the food web. We also discover birds as the perfect predator.
Season: Spring, Summer, Fall or Winter
Recommended grades: 5-12
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Real Cool Animals
Where do snakes, frogs and others go in the winter? Get up close and personal with reptiles and amphibians, find out their strange ways of living life to it's fullest.
Season: Spring, Summer, Fall or Winter
Recommended grades: 2-8
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The Rock
An Alcatraz escapee is at camp and all the Icee Pops are missing. This is a caper where the students must learn to id rocks in hopes of catching the thief and receive their reward.
Season: Spring, Summer, Fall or Winter
Recommended grades: 4-8
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Survival Game (up to 120 students)
Students take on the roles of animals in their struggle for survival and come to a new understanding of the impact of human activities on the natural world during this exciting simulation game. Please note that this is a whole group activity (30-120 people) and will be led only by Friedenswald staff. This activity lasts 1.5-2 hours.
Season: Spring, Summer, Fall or Winter
Recommended grades: 2-12
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Evening Activity Options
Camp Friedenswald is able to provide a wide range of evening activities that are led by Friedenswald staff. Each evening activity lasts for one hour. Teachers and chaperones are asked to be present at all evening activities.
Astronomy: Students learn about stars, constellations and other features of the night sky.
Recommended grades: 4-12
Dutch Auction: Cabin groups compete in a crazy and exciting indoor personal scavenger hunt that encourages creativity and cooperation.
Recommended grades: 2-8
Group Games: Students participate in a variety of new and unusual cooperative and competitive games. (e.g. Capture the flag, Native American Games, Moth & Bat…..)
Recommended grades: 2-12
Night Hike: Small groups hike to different areas of Camp to experience the outdoors at night to discover what animals are active and how they cope with darkness.
Recommended grades: 2-12
Popcorn Campfire: Students enjoy popcorn made in a huge kettle over a roaring fire, sing songs and listen to stories in the shelter of the Hollow.
Recommended grades: 2-12
Scavenger Hunt: Students test their knowledge and explore the natural world by finding items on a list and answering questions.
Recommended grades: 2-8
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