Older students in nature interpretation – what does it take?

Working with the oldest students at Raadvad Nature School, it is not the first time they visit nature or work here during school hours, neither in natural sciences or other subjects. Our experience is that the progress that comes in working with an understanding of nature is a prerequisite to fulfilling demands set by the Danish law on education. The important end goal of natural sciences is that students can plan and complete their own natural studies using natural scientific methods, i.e. preparation of hypotheses, data collection and presentation. Furthermore they have to be familiar with a large number of terms within natural science and be able to use them in many connections, and be able to use their new knowledge on new, concrete problems.
 
Teenagers usually feel safe in nature, they know the ”traffic rules” out there, they understand simple connections and they know some the animals and plants, they see in local nature. It is still not easy to plan a program that brings them significantly closer to the goal the state school has put to them and their teachers.
 
Young people of today have to be motivated – they have to be able to see the point – they have to enjoy learning, they have to have appropriate challenges – close to reality, but fascinating.
 
We have summed up the most important means we try to use to do this:
 
A. Equipment has to be cool – e.g. IT and other technology such as GPS and data loggers, and also e.g. chemistry kits, measuring probes etc. Examples: Ice age rally, cleaning wastewater
 
B. The students need movement, e.g. canoeing, snorkelling, running (focus on the body) All except Cleaning waste water
 
C. They have to be able to work independently - (peace) – also not to have to be cool. Example e.g. Across the Mølleå valley
 
D. They should be treated as adults – inspired to have an opinion and imagine plots, e.g. Across the Mølleå valley, or other realistic role-playing games.
 
E. A competition (not hard) is good, e.g. Raadvad Ironman or web quiz in Across the Mølleå valley
 
F. Getting close to Sarah from 8.b would be great - e.g. all activities!
 
G. It should be close to teenage reality and present, e.g. Weather-wise
 
In the left you´ll find a few suggestions for concrete activities that combine facts, physicality and competition for the older students.