Outdoor Education Class Explores the Wilderness at Osprey Wilds
February 10, 2025
Mr. Chad Anderson’s Outdoor Education class headed to Osprey Wilds Environmental Learning Center near Sandstone, MN for a winter adventure on February 1-3, 2025. Mr. Anderson, along with CDH science teachers Chris Kaus and Frances Sorenson, accompanied the students as they enjoyed a variety of outdoor and team-building activities that pushed their limits and deepened their appreciation for nature.
Throughout the trip, students took part in activities such as rock climbing, archery, nature classes, and hikes. They also learned valuable survival skills, including fire-building with flint and steel. According to Abby Peterson ‘25, who offered some thoughts about the trip, the cold was tough, especially when trying to build a fire using only materials found in the woods along with flint and stone. “It took forever to get the fire going, and my hands were frozen by the end of the activity,” she said. Her favorite activity overall was archery.
Despite the challenges, the trip provided an opportunity for students to bond in a new way. “Everyone got along really well. It was definitely interesting seeing everyone in a different setting besides school,” Abby said. “It was really nice to hang out with people I usually don’t see outside of school.”
One of the most memorable moments for Abby and her classmates was gathering around the campfire. “The last night of the trip, we got to roast marshmallows, which was a lot of fun,” she recalled. “It was pretty cold, so everyone was bundled up by the fire.”
Abby said the trip changed her perspective on outdoor education. Initially uncertain about the appeal of “living in the outdoors,” she found that keeping a positive attitude made the experience enjoyable. “It made me realize that camping is a more simple way of living, and it was very calm and peaceful,” she said.
Outdoor Education is a class offered at CDH that bridges multiple intelligences by combining practical science knowledge with a diversity of experiences to help students understand themselves and their environment better.