SPRINGFIELD, MO — True story. I met this kid and his mom at pickleball at Schweitzer Church recently. He goes by the name “Bear”, and he attends “WOLF” school. Whaaa? Ok, I’ll bite. Is this a children’s fairytale story? Why haven’t I heard of this?
Turns out it’s true. Bass Pro’s Wonders of Wildlife (WOW!!!) hosts a legit Springfield Public School sanctioned option for outdoor learning called WOLF…Wonders of the Ozarks Learning Facility (Ok, these are some catchy acronyms, y’all!)
His mom is a former teacher in SPS, and she’s all up on the latest, greatest learning options. Wow, just when I thought public schools were flushing themselves down the toilet!
Lest you think I jest, here is a link to the WOLF school in Springfield, MO! Click here.
Yeah, but what’s the catch, Mr. Rooster?
Well, there’s always a catch. The WOLF school is only for selected 5th graders. Mama Bear told me, though, between pickleball games, that the program has a long waiting list and lucky students are selected through a lottery drawing system based on school performance. So, no delinquents or gum chewers allowed.
She told me there are other similar programs in town, all of which are chock full and have a waiting list like a good daycare.
Are there better options to expand this wonderful idea of taking kids into nature and actually showing them life skills? Can we bust the mold of a decaying system?
Teachers are losing faith in traditional education
I’m an actor at Springfield Improv. I was finishing my level 4 class (top level, yeah baby!) and met this cute blonde from level 1 before our big performance last Saturday night.
The cute blonde said she teachers at MSU and her hubby teaches at Drury. She had a bold confession. “We aren’t happy anymore with teaching. Students don’t want to learn.”
She added, with a wan smile, “We’re getting closer to retirement; I guess we’ll ride it out, but we’ve lost interest because the students have lost interest since covid.”
Dang…that’s exactly what another teacher told me from Evangel. He left the classroom because of the same reason…students don’t care and don’t show up for class anymore. They go with their feelings instead of self-discipline.
And that’s higher education, the education you pay for!
Clilck here for the other teacher’s story.
I feel bad for these poor, wonderful people trying to live their dream of investing in young students, shaping their hearts and minds, and offering them the gift of education and learning. These wonderful folks from all grades and subjects are beyond discouraged. They’re desperate. Students today don’t care about classroom learning. Click here to learn how behavioral changes took place in the classroom after Covid, the stupid, “plandemic” of 2020-21.
You could search articles for hours relating to this subject. I feel sorry for students and teachers alike, lost in a system that no longer works.
We need more learning experiences like WOLF.
Another option for learning in Christian County, MO!
That’s why I’m proposing a new way of learning and teaching. An outdoor classroom in Oldfield, MO, east of Sparta.
Rural Adventures is my Facebook Page. Click here for more. It’s a rural setting with a natural cave, hiking trails, and room for activities for any group. And now, with all these stories I’m learning, I feel called to offer teachers a chance to regain their enthusiasm for their passion. I want students of all ages to learn and develop their minds in a productive way that means something to them.
If you are a teacher, and want to become an outdoor tutor, or if you have children that you want to experience the joy of learning outdoors, contact me at Rural Adventures on Facebook.