Students learning from an Ecology School instructor
Photo: Sanford School Department
By: Sam Bonsey, Sanford Schools Communication Coordinator
Sanford Middle School seventh graders embarked on an educational adventure at The Ecology School in Saco last week, participating in an overnight, two-and-a-half day program that combined outdoor learning with community building in ways that will impact students throughout their middle school years.
The trip was the result of planning and collaboration spearheaded by SMS science teacher Diana Allen.
The planning involved careful investigation and getting approval from school administration and the school committee. The trip became possible through Maine’s new Outdoor School for All Maine Students Program, recently signed into law by Governor Mills. While the program doesn’t have state funding, the Maine Outdoor School for All Network has raised over $500,000 to launch the initiative. As part of this effort, each participating outdoor education center selects a Maine school – and The Ecology School chose to partner with Sanford Middle School.
“This is phenomenal experiential learning,” said Sara Nason, a Sanford Middle School teacher who helped chaperone the trip. All classes took place outdoors in natural settings, with students moving between different ecological sites and building knowledge as they explored. The school’s location right on the banks of the Saco River, complete with a granite amphitheater and open-air facilities, created a learning environment where natural sunlight and fresh air enhanced each lesson.
While students certainly learned about ecology – as 7th grader Kaydence Adjutant shared, “I learned that mushrooms decompose acorns” – some of the most meaningful learning happened through relationships and life skills developed during their time together.
Allen found the community-building aspect particularly meaningful. “The opportunity to spend these days with my students in nature, creating a sense of community, sharing laughter is something I will cherish throughout the school year,” Allen said.
When asked about the overnight experience, Adjutant captured the spirit perfectly: “It’s really fun. Yeah, it’s like one big sleepover with my class.” “The comments that we’re hearing are, ‘Well, this is kind of cool,'” Nason explained. “‘All sitting down together for a meal.'” Students also learned important life skills like cleaning up after themselves and taking care of shared spaces.
Allen was moved by watching her students adapt to the environment: “Watching them play, set tables, help each other – it was just incredible to see and be a part of.”
Students returned with practical awareness about waste management, understanding how much food they actually need and how their choices affect the community. The program was such a success that Allen hopes it will become an annual tradition for Sanford seventh graders. “We are incredibly grateful to Drew Demsch and The Ecology School staff for this generous opportunity for our students,” Allen added.
The shared experience also gives teachers valuable insights into their students and creates positive reference points for future success and learning. “We now have something very much in common, something tangible and meaningful that we can build from,” Nason said.
The post Seventh Graders Participate in Experiential Ecology Opportunity appeared first on Sanford Springvale News.
