Outdoor Education

Since 1996, the W.E. Skelton 4-H Educational Conference Center 's Outdoor Education program has offered for local and regional elementary, middle and high school students the educational experience of a lifetime.  Through the 4-H motto “learn by doing”, teachers and school administrators can choose from four (4) innovative program options:

• Discovery Program (grades preK-2)
• Day programs designed to introduce students to the natural world through sensory rich and interactive activities
• Classes include: Wonderful Wildlife, Beautiful Birds, Fun in the Forest, Amazing Aquatics, Nature Art and more!
• Explorers Program (grades 3-8)
  • An environmental education residential program designed for 3rd-8th grade students to explore themselves and the natural world
  • Classes in the following curriculum areas: Natural Sciences, Wildlife Studies, and Adventure Based Education
• Eco Institute for Teens (grades 7-12)
• A character education residential program designed specifically to meet and address the needs of today’s adolescents
• Classes include: Character Education, Service Learning and Adventure Based Education
• Outreach Programs (for all grades--offered at your school/location)
• If you can’t come to us…we’ll come to you!  Outreach programs are designed for schools not able to visit us at the Skelton 4-H Center.  Programs are available year round. 
• Call for more details about these unique “road show” opportunities such as Challenge Course, Animal Adaptations, Nature Art & more!

Programs typically run from 3-5 days beginning in mid August and offered throughout the school year ending in mid May. Each trip is customized to meet the goals and needs of each school group.  Each year thousands of students from private and public school systems throughout Virginia and surrounding states come to Smith Mountain Lake to enjoy our programs.  Our Outdoor Education curriculum is designed to not only enhance classroom learning but to also introduce students to experiential, hands-on learning. Our curriculum correlates with the Virginia Standard’s of Learning (SOL’s) in science, english, mathematics, visual arts, physical education, health and computer technology.

Read what teachers are saying...

Program Objectives

• To increase students’ appreciation and awareness of local natural resources
• To increase students’ awareness of connections and interdependence to the natural world through interactive, discovery-based activities
• To cultivate curiosity, critical reasoning and evaluative skills
• To promote self esteem and confidence
• To promote safe risk taking, self confidence, trust, goal setting, problem solving, leadership skills, self discovery and teamwork

Outdoor Education Staff

Program staff are college graduates or interns (nearing graduation) with substantial experience and training in providing safe, healthy learning experiences for the youth we serve. All Outdoor Education program staff are required to participate in intensive pre-service training prior to working with youth at the 4-H Center. Training topics not only include the wide variety of curriculum we offer, but also topics related to risk management, developmental characteristics of children, Standards of Learning, and more.

Facility/Location

The W.E. Skelton 4-H Educational Conference Center is located near Wirtz, Virginia along the shores of Smith Mountain Lake and in the breathtaking Blue Ridge Mountains.  Our classrooms are 120 acres of streams, wooded forests, wildlife and mountain views right on Smith Mountain Lake.  Only 45 minutes from downtown Roanoke, our beautiful property is unparalleled and perfect for outdoor education programming.  The James A. Meador Center, a completely sustainable building completed in 2000, is the heart of the Outdoor Education program.  Boasting an array of environmental concepts, the Meador Center uses solar and geothermal energy and hosts a wide variety of interactive exhibits and classrooms.  Truly innovative, it is a building that “thinks” for itself. 

Planning Your Trip

The Skelton 4-H Center Outdoor Education programs are available from late August through late May.  A Program Planning Guide is available to teachers, school administrators and other educators that provides step-by-step instructions for planning your students’ educational experience.  In-school visits are also available to teachers and/or administrators to assist in the planning of the perfect outing for your students.

Typical Schedule

Day One
11:30                  Arrival
12:00                  Welcome & Orientation
12:30                  Lunch
1:15-2:00            Recreation Field
2:00-3:30            Learning Lab 1
3:45-5:15            Learning Lab 2
5:15-5:45            Recreation Field
6:00-6:45            Dinner
7:00-7:30            Recreation Field
7:45-9:00            Evening Program
10:00                   Lights Out

Day Two
8:00                    Breakfast
9:00-10:30          Learning Lab 3
10:45-12:15        Learning Lab 4
12:30-1:15          Lunch
2:00-3:30            Learning Lab 5
3:45-5:15            Learning Lab 6
5:15-5:45            Recreation Field
6:00-6:45            Dinner
7:00-7:30            Recreation Field
7:45-9:00            Evening Program
10:00                  Lights Out

Day Three
8:00                    Breakfast
9:00-10:30          Learning Lab 7
10:45                  Meet at Williard Pavilion
11:00                  Departure