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Camp Friedenswald
15406 Watercress Dr
Cassopolis, MI 49031

(269)476-9744
Fax:(269)476-9745

 

Outdoor Education

Curriculum and Class Choices

Class Descriptions

Demonstrations

Evening Activities

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.

Group of children covered in swamp hike mud

Class Descriptions

Web of Life Who Goes There Wild Health Food Store


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.

Girls shooting arrowsSeason: 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.

Student's Walking stick Journal Entry

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.

Wild Edible Food

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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