School of the Wild connects youth and nature with equity

School of the Wild takes interactive learning to the extreme.

Housed in the University of Iowa College of Education, the statewide initiative partners with schools across the state to give kids an opportunity to learn about the natural world through immersion.

The program is centered on elementary and middle school children and provides a weeklong interactive experience at parks in and around the area.

Origins and expansion

School of the Wild started as a dream. Literally.

Founder and current University of Iowa Wildlife Instruction and Leadership Development Director Dave Conrads was leading wildlife camps in Iowa when he noticed a prevalent issue in enrollment.

“We saw really great growth in those campers, but one thing I noticed was that the kids who were attending at that time were primarily kids that came from families with disposable income,” Conrads said.

In 1997, Conrads dreamed about a program that could bring wildlife education and experiences to children of all economic backgrounds. He woke up at 4 a.m. to jot down notes about what he had imagined, and 25 years later, those notes remain the framework for the School of the Wild.

In the past five years, the program has started expanding outside of the Iowa City area. School of the Wild now offers programming in 36 Iowa counties. There are 83 schools participating and collaborating with School of the Wild, according to its website.

The program is supported by a multitude of organizations in both participation and financial assistance. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Iowa Wildlife Federation and the University of Iowa College of Education have all supported increasing access to nature through the School of the Wild.

School of the Wild runs during the traditional academic year in the fall or spring. For no less than four days, “school” takes place in a local park or natural spaces in the students’ community. In small groups of eight to 15 of their peers, students explore one of five unique areas of study each day with local naturalists, conservationists, and their classroom teachers. Areas of study often include ornithology, prairie natural history and ecosystems, archaeology, wetland ecosystems, and woodland wildlife and ecosystems.

Connecting with nature

Jay Gorsh, director of School of the Wild, said the goal has always been to build in opportunities for children to explore and connect with nature that are embedded in learning environments. The program gives kids facilitated time in nature where creativity and curiosity inspires learning, he said. These multiday experiences rather than a half-day or full day outdoors build a solid foundation of knowledge, he said.

It’s just about connecting the kids to the land and the wildlife that live in their local parks and helping them understand all of the different benefits that come from spending time in the outdoors,” Gorsh said.

Students are taught to use different tools, whether that be a field guides, technology or an instructor, to explore on their own accord.

Gorsh said the programming and activities School of the Wild offer are what he wishes he could have participated in as a kid.

“I've fallen in love with the approach and the fact that kids get to go out and explore and kind of build their knowledge based on things that (capture) their interest,” Gorsh said.

With rising reliance on technology, Gorsh said it’s especially important for kids to find time where they can remove themselves from technology.

While there is a time and space for virtual education, Gorsh said connecting with the environment is a necessary and often overlooked aspect of life.

“I think it's even more important now than ever that kids have a chance to unplug and connect with their natural environment or, and have experiences that are authentic and not virtual,” Gorsh said.

Community response

Gorsh said community response to the program has been overwhelmingly positive. From personal anecdotes to high numbers for returners and general participation, Gorsh said the program has proved its value.

At its root, the goals for the program are to allow all students to have educational opportunities based in nature. School of the Wild was founded for the community, and Gorsh said one of the most valuable aspects is increasing accessibility and allowing others to connect with nature.

“It’s not dependent on whether or not they can make time to do it or have family members who are willing to help them do it or whether or not they have a kayak or a fishing pole or whatever might be necessary to do it,” Gorsh said. “We can eliminate all those barriers and give them the opportunity and just see where they go with it.”

Along with the focus on the environment, School of the Wild also allows for students to learn about future career opportunities that involve wildlife, according to Gorsh.

The goal is not necessarily to persuade kids to pursue the natural sciences as a career, according to Conrads. Rather, he sees the education taking place in the School of the Wild as a tool that students can bring with them regardless of their future career path.

“We do hope that everyone that comes to the program comes away with a greater love and appreciation for the land,” Conrads said.

For more information about School of the Wild, contact Jay Gorsh at (319) 461-5700; jay-gorsh@uiowa.edu