Although only a few months have passed since our campers headed home at the end of another wonderful summer, the laughter of children has once again filled Glen Arden’s woods. For two weeks each fall, Glen Arden has the opportunity to host an Outdoor Education program for every fourth grader across Henderson County. Science and PE teachers from each school work hard to provide a nature-based program. With the leaves changing and the temperatures cooling, students get to experience Glen Arden in a different season while exploring the outdoors, strengthening their cooperative learning skills, and participating in hands-on activities.

Glen Arden’s first Director, Mary Bell, founded the Outdoor Education program over 50 years ago as a way for children to learn beyond the walls of their classrooms and experience the great outdoors. During their day at Glen Arden, students take part in a variety of outdoor activities; they get to shoot a bow and arrow, build a fire, create primitive shelters, learn more about science and ecology, and even rock climb. Of course, no day at camp is complete without s’mores! While each activity offers something different, the day is about more than just trying something new. Students get to work together, challenge themselves, and experience learning in a whole new environment.

One of the most special parts of this program is its history and the impact it has had in the Henderson County community. Many adults remember coming to Glen Arden for their own day of Outdoor Education and still look back on it as one of their favorite school experiences. Over the past five decades, thousands of students have had the opportunity to visit Glen Arden through this program, giving fourth graders the opportunity to get outside, try something new, and learn alongside their classmates.