- Nov 21, 2011
On Wednesday, Oct. 26, the Academy’s fifth grade students hopped on a bus to Mentone, Alabama, to spend three days at Nature’s Classroom. Students exchanged school uniforms and textbooks for hiking gear and mountain trails to work on team- and community-building skills. The value of individual contributions to group problem-solving were fleshed out in activities such as Alpha-Beta, Burma Bridge, Invention Convention and Tower of Power. Even mealtime was a valuable learning time as field groups gathered to lower their ORT-organic recyclable trash. Days ended with a time around the campfire, cards of prayers and encouragement on pillows, and finally lights out. Through participation in these field-group activities and games, the students learned about goal setting, self-confidence and environmental awareness.