Fieldwork Experiences
Transform your learning outdoors! During SOLE’s Fieldwork ExperienceSM, program educators and participants alike are able to explore and learn about their wildland landscapes. As SOLE’s interdisciplinary, place-based experiential education program, participants are able to experience day-based and multi-day experiential education learning expeditions which take place in urban and backcountry outdoor classroom settings providing the ideal setting for parents and educators to blend and extend learning during the academic school year and well into the summer allowing individuals and groups to truly explore > achieve > lead!
SOLE Fieldwork Experiences SM are intentionally designed and facilitated for individuals, educators, traditional schools, and homeschool groups during the winter, spring, summer, and fall. Each program offering is engaging, rigorous, vigorous and custom-tailored and addresses the following:
- Specific individualized and group educational needs
- Place-based academic student objectives and learning targets
- Common Core, State, and Next Generation Science Standards
- Non-traditional goals and objectives (i.e., character and leadership development)
- Establishing a sense of belonging and relevance for our communities and their environments
- Establishing a sense of community and environmental stewardship
With an intentional design and purposeful execution participants and educators alike are able to take full advantage of the novel educational opportunities that exist beyond classroom walls in wild and urban landscapes, to earn actual credit!
Fieldwork Experience SM Program Design & Learning Targets:
We use the following methodologies when designing Fieldwork Experiences
- Experiential education
- Outdoor education
- Outdoor leadership
- E-STEM
- STEAM
- Place-based education
- Environmental science
- Project-based learning
- Service-learning
The following topics are related to learning targets during Fieldwork Experiences
- Sound academic connections
- Developing a sense of belonging
- Environmental awareness & stewardship
- Conservation & wildland management issues
- Personal and social development
- Executive functioning development
- Critical-thinking & problem-solving
- Communication & conflict resolution
- Setting & accomplishing goals
- Awareness & ownership
Fieldwork Experience SM Participant Profile:
- Exhibit interest in experiential or outdoor education
- Exhibit interest in learning about outdoor living and travel skills
- Exhibit interest in learning more about our natural world
- Exhibit interest in making a difference for their community
- Exhibit interest in learning about systems which exist in the natural world
- Exhibit interest in learning about inhabitants and cultures of our area
- Exhibit interest in learning about local conservation issues
- Exhibit interest in supporting our local conservation needs
Our typical profile students also generally have the ability and desire to process and connect through an experiential learning framework, exhibit individual creativity and intellect, explore their role and responsibilities as an individual and as a member of a community and its environment while exploring concepts and skills related to leadership.
Fieldwork Experience Partners:
Because we want to ensure a sustainable and deeply-rooted sense of place, SOLE Fieldwork Experiences SM immerse individuals in relevant experiential learning opportunities which are underpinned by our partners, including but not limited to:
- Coeur d’Alene School District
- IdahH2O
- Idaho Fish & Game
- Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center (IPAC)
- Idaho Out of School Network
- Idaho STEM Action Center
- Kootenai Environmental Alliance
- Lake Pend Oreille School District
- Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics
- Lookout Pass
- The Confluence Project
- The University of Idaho
- United States Forest Service
- Schweitzer Mountain Resort
- Winter Wildlands Alliance
Through these partnerships, participants are able to learn about the natural systems in a pertinent and meaningful manner. Additionally, as a member of a learning expedition, there are additional opportunities to learn related to personal and group development, leadership development, and outdoor living and travel skills.
Immerse youth in their winter wildlands!
During these winter place-based experiential education outings 5th – 12th grade participants explore our winter landscape on snowshoes to make sound academic connections related to snow-science and winter ecology! Can be tailored to younger grade levels.
Immerse youth in conservation projects to develop stewardship!
During these spring and fall place-based experiential education outings 5th – 12th-grade participants develop a sense of belonging and affinity for nature through participating in place-based experiential education programs with SOLE’s conservation partners. Can be tailored to younger grade levels.
Immerse youth in their local wildlands to explore, learn, and play!
During these summer place-based experiential education programs Pre-K – 3rd grade participants are able to explore and learn in their local wildlands in a fun and engaging manner! Can be tailored to other seasons for schools and youth groups, and other grade levels.
Immerse youth in our wildlands as a member of actual backcountry expedition!
During these interdisciplinary SOLE Experiences SM 9th – 12th-grade participants travel and learn as a member of an actual backcountry expedition! Can be tailored to younger grade levels.
Throughout the year SOLE offers programs for individuals, schools, groups, and businesses. Click on the link to see what’s coming up soon!
