Exploring the Value of Experiential Learning

By: Laurie Anne Kozar

“The only source of knowledge is experience”

The quote, “the only source of knowledge is experience” is attributed to Albert Einstein.

We think he may have had a good point, as do many of the staff, parents and students who are involved with the Kingdom East School District Experiential Learning program.

KESD Experiential Learning program serves seven schools, and at the summer camp serves as many as 400 students per week.  Backpacking trips, swim lesson, bike club, ski club, overnight trips – at both AMC huts and GMC huts – these activities allow students an opportunity to build skills, and relationships. Morgan Moore is the Summer Camp Program Director for KESD and facilitates the summer camp and after school program. When she spoke with us towards the end of the summer, she shared that she was both proud and excited about the program in the school district. 

For the programing to be successful across the district it takes a fair amount of collaboration: Morgan focuses on writing and tracking grants, the staff as well as partner organizations and volunteers lean in to provide logistic support. By creating a funding network, along with a support system Morgan has been able to develop and expand opportunities. “The program began during Covid, principals partnered, we iterated and reiterated and have only been expanding since then,” reflects Morgan. All seven of the schools now offer field trip experiences –– Morgan points out that this is an equity issue as some schools have different capacities, some have PTOs, and some do not, so it is part of Morgan’s job (and passion) to pull together partners to help level the playing field for all. 

In addition to providing staff, and teaching skills or techniques, KESD Experiential Learning Program also supplies equipment and gear - mountain bikes, snowshoes, and both warm weather / cold weather gear. This makes the programs accessible and equitable regardless of what town a student comes from, what their economic background is, or which school a student is enrolled in. 

I corresponded with one student about their experience participating in EL programs. EL often exposes kids to new experiences: “I had never been in a canoe and now I know how to do it.” EL also provides opportunities to build skills and confidence: “I had snowboarding lessons and got good enough so that I can go to the top of the mountain.” In addition to skills EL helps students learn strategies and safety “we learned to make fire with primitive methods.” Often, once a student tries EL they will want to go back and sign up for other EL offerings. Students may participate in snowboarding, cross country skiing and snow shoeing, ice skating, hiking, camping and mountain biking and more.

Social connection, and wellness is a large part of the benefits of EL – the activities are an opportunity that allow students to blossom.  “It sounds dramatic but before my daughter was involved in EL, I never would have envisioned the life changing effects that these programs could have on her overall wellbeing.” – one parent reflected.  Kids who have a difficult time in the classroom setting may find that they excel on the ski slope, which builds a child’s sense of accomplishment, their self-knowledge, and their social skills. Students learn about themselves and others, as well as about the world and their place in it; they can grow, and in some cases heal trauma. “I will forever be grateful for these Experiential Learning opportunities because of the incredible growth and healing that has resulted.”  Additional summer programs stretch students through camping trips and wilderness programs: backpacking in the white mountains and canoeing on the Connecticut River.  “They have a sense of wisdom, responsibility and have developed quiet leadership skills, along with a greater respect for the earth and wilderness.” These programs are offered through KESD with the support of VREC. These experiences allow students to become stronger and more resilient - both physically and mentally. “[My student] has grown into a much stronger and more resilient child both physically and mentally”  

In the summer of 2021 – just 4 years ago – there was no summer camp program, and the afterschool program Kingdom East Afterschool Program (KEAP) did not have the events, or off campus activities that are now such a cornerstone of the KESD. Summer camp, held at the Lyndon Town School as a base of operations, serves a broad age range: K through 8th grade. “We now have over 500 registrants and average about 300 kids a day most days.” Morgan offhandedly states. That is a small army to feed, cloth, gear-up, transport, teach and keep safe. But EL doesn’t just run summer camp and after school programing and sports activities, much like a classroom setting they utilize a personalized learning approach. 

Personalized learning in the classroom and extended from the classroom: 

I asked Morgan to explain what personalized learning outside the classroom setting looks like. The basic framework is that students pick an activity within the community, they may elect to try new things, or delve more deeply into exploring their interests and passions. The students are then sorted into groups based on what activities they select.

The program provides classroom facilitation as well. As an example, Morgan shared that a teacher might seek to partner on a science unit. Morgan and her team twill collaboratively develop lesson plans those may provide ecosystems study in the classroom and additionally extend to involve students in the exploration of a river or tributary. Students learn about the ecosystem and habitat by being immersed in it – literally and figuratively. EL activities might include paddling, swimming, wading to take samples, and of course, fishing. By integrating experiential learning into the school day students and teachers have unusual opportunities that allow them to learn alongside each other. Further, teachers gain an understanding of what a student is passionate about, and this helps teachers connect with students where they are as the students become who they are.

Favorites of the Experiential Learning program attendees (and staff!) include alpine skiing at Burke, XC skiing at the Dashney Nordic Ski Ctr., located in East Burke; mountain biking at Kingdom Trails (Darling Hill and the Beltway are two favorites). Morgan credits collaboration with community partners as the secret sauce, and she has built a strong network that includes coordination with the North Woods Stewardship Center, and even community bike shops that assist with bike maintenance and repair.