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Tuesday, July 1, 2008
The Great Outdoors
Western Arkansas, AR
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Rogers High program allows students to enjoy nature
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"The most exciting part for me is showing the students all of the fun recreational activities in Northwest Arkansas," Belk said. "We do some wild things and the reactions (of students) are very funny. The caving trips are the best. The students are pushed outside of their comfort zone and everyone becomes good friends in the cave."
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There are many extra-curricular activities that students have a chance to enjoy at schools all throughout Western Arkansas, including football, basketball, baseball, softball, soccer, track, golf and tennis, among others.
But, what about those who aren't as interested in athletics? Rogers High School may have discovered an ideal concept with its Outdoor Education Course/Project/Club that is designed to promote environmental education, recreation and character building.
Jeff Belk, who spearheads this program at RHS, is passionate about it. "I believe that this course is filling an empty niche in public schools," Belk said. "This course offers various activities for all students. Most of the activities will be life-long activities. Not all students in high school, especially the big high schools of Northwest Arkansas, can play sports. That is why Outdoor Education is so powerful."
And, there are a wide variety of educational opportunities in The Great Outdoors.
"We give students the opportunity, either through the Outdoor Education class or the Outdoor Club (weekends), to participate in an individual or group sport," Belk said. "Our activities at RHS include, but are not limited to, fly fishing, bass fishing, hiking, spelunking (caving), canoeing, kayaking, minimal impact camping, rock climbing, rappelling, ultimate frisbee, disc golf, paintball (Intramural and competition teams), wakeboarding, mountain biking, fishing tournaments, adventure races, and after-school clinics."
Belk became involved in the program immediataely.
"I started teaching in Rogers in 1999 and Outdoor Education was my master's thesis at the U of A. There was a coach, J R Winton, at RHS that had started a class that had archery and fly fishing,” Belk said. “I was hired to teach physics and try to build Outdoor Education. My principal, Bill Stringer, gave me freedom to do what I wanted and I started building it.
"In 2002, I received the State Board of Education course approval. My course meets state standards for both environmental science and PE. I think a version of this course started in 1998. In 2004, the course won the AEEA (AR Env. Ed. Association) Educator of the Year, the AWF (AR Wildlife Federation) Educator of the Year, and the NWF (National Wildlife Federation) National Conservation Achievement Award. In 2007, I won the Rogers High School Teacher of the Year award."
Of course this isn't a one-man show.
"I teach the environmental science side, and Coach Chad Harbison and Coach Lafe Caton teach the PE side," Belk said. "Coach Harbison is moving to Heritage High School next year when the new high school opens, and we hope to have him be the lead teacher to start four sections, at least, of Outdoor Education there.
"We have the highest enrollment of any science at school. We have 300 students per year. It is a semester course, so we have 150 per semester. Our enrollment is actually near 400 for the year, so they have to turn some away. The seniors get selected first and we end up with a few juniors. All grades are allowed to sign up for the course, but due to popularity I have mostly seniors."
The curriculum is a labor of love for Belk.
"The most exciting part for me is showing the students all of the fun recreational activities in Northwest Arkansas," Belk said. "We do some wild things and the reactions (of students) are very funny. The caving trips are the best. The students are pushed outside of their comfort zone and everyone becomes good friends in the cave."
But, there's a much greater satisfaction for Belk from the standpoint of "seeing the students become environmentally aware and having a good time.
"Former students return and are in college studying something environmental or recreational,” Belk said. “I have special education students that have never had experiences like the ones in class and it changes their lives."
Ultimately, the goal for Belk is that these young people recognize the impact they can make all around them as well as personally. "The students who take the course and belong to the club learn to be a better person," Belk reasoned. "They learn to take care of themselves and their surroundings. If they are healthier and happier, they will live better lives."
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