Edith Bowen Outdoor Programs: Lifelong learning and growth
For the 33rd year, Edith Bowen Laboratory School, a unit of the Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services, took its fifth-grade students to Teton Science School.
Headquartered in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Teton Science School focuses on science-based experiences and builds on past outings to expand skills.
According to Eric Newell, the director of experiential learning and technology at Edith Bowen, this tradition is a big part of the school’s culture.
“Our school is founded on what’s called a constructivist philosophy,” Newell said in an interview over the phone. “So our goal as a school is we are trying to provide students with experiences that will enable them to learn the curriculum in ways that are meaningful to them.”
Newell said it’s Edith Bowen’s goal to put learners first and personalize their education to teach curriculum. This month’s trip has a heavy social studies emphasis as students learn about ancient civilizations.
Each outdoor experience is planned after coordinating with the teachers, and the curriculum is incorporated to create an appropriate learning opportunity for each grade.
For younger grades, programs stay smaller and more local. Each year advances to bigger and newer challenges.
Younger grades are able to canoe twice a year at Little Bear and Bear Rivers, as well as explore local dams and canyons. Sixth graders have the opportunity to do a three-day river rafting trip on the San Juan River.
Sadie West, the mother of a third and fifth grader at Edith Bowen, said her kids have gone canoeing in Cutler Marsh, seen salmon runs at Porcupine Reservoir, hiked to the top of Mount Naomi, gone ice fishing and done a bug lab at USU.
“I love the outdoor programs because they cross discipline with math, science, and literature,” West said over text. “I find that the students that come from Edith Bowen have great confidence. I think that comes from a lot of the leadership qualities they learn through outdoor programs.”
Newell said he also noticed this quality in students and credits it to getting kids outside of their comfort zones.
“I think it’s really important for them to learn from those experiences, push their boundaries, and that’s where you have tremendous amounts of growth that occurs in students,” Newell said.
Newell said that what Edith Bowen does could easily be done by any school if they were to prioritize their budgets differently.
Logan is a magical place, Newell said. He sees outdoor experiences as a point of reference for the rest of students’ lives and works to educate them on their curriculum as well as on the outdoor world.
“It brings joy into their lives,” Newell said. “I think if there isn’t joy in the learning process, then we have to ask ourselves, ‘What are we doing to the whole generation of children?’ They need to have joy in their day.”
Edith Bowen can be found on Instagram @Edithbowenlaboratoryschool or on Facebook @Edith Bowen Laboratory School.