In this part of Colorado, public school students get the chance to attend Outdoor Lab for a week sometime during their sixth grade year. Basically a weeklong nature and science overnight camp in the Rocky Mountains, the experience is a big deal for kids here. A BIG deal. Huge, in fact. Parents at the girls’ school still talk about their experiences from Outdoor Lab, if that gives you an idea.
Because this state is awesome and the best place in the world to live, and have I ever mentioned how much I love it here?
However.
At school registration last week, I discovered AG and the other sixth graders will be heading to Outdoor Lab in December. Last year’s students went in the middle of fall.
“December?!?” I said.
“December,” another mom told me.
DECEMBER.
Here’s what last December looked like where I live:
That’s at 5,280+ feet. Technically, because I don’t live in Denver proper, I’m more than a mile high despite the tagline of this blog. But let’s split the difference, shall we?
Outdoor Lab takes place at 8,000+ feet.
In December, did I mention that part yet?
I’m still processing this information.
DECEMBER??? Snap. DECEMBER.
God, now I’m all overwhelmed like you are. DECEMBER.
That’s insane.
It does, however, sound like a blast, and I expect to hear more of this ;D
That sounds pretty awesome.
I hope AG has a blast on it!
Have they ever done outdoor lab in December before?
Speaking of which, I love the idea of outdoor lab! Where I spent the most time in a single school system, they had mandatory wilderness survival as part of gym class for all kids in my area because I lived in a really rural area and the forest was the local kids’ back yard, basically, and every kid got lost at least once or twice. So rather than trying to keep us out of the woods (which they knew was impossible), they instead gave us the tools to find our way out and/or get found if we did get lost. It was a surprisingly sensible decision from an otherwise asinine and illogical school board. I got lost myself more than once as a kid, and in part due to the training I received in school, I was always able to find my way back home without much trouble.
while outdoor lab as a whole sounds amazing… December? for a week? forthe asthma kid? geez id be all kinds of freaked out. Honestly, im a bit freaked out for ya all the way down here in my 100 plus, 105 degree heat index texas summer lol
Kerri–Oh, don’t worry. Many more freakouts to go before December arrives. (Also, she’s taking a camera with her.)
Sarah–They run Outdoor Lab every month, actually. Each area school’s sixth graders get assigned a different week & this year – it’s December. According to one of the mom’s at registration, her daughter went in January 10 years ago, and that’s even colder. So I know the school/camp knows how to keep the kids safe – I’m just still trying to wrap my brain around it.
I’m hoping they get to do some survival-type stuff. While I’m not rural area like you grew up in, I think it’s important to know if you spend any time at all in the mountains – which most people here do.
Samantha – Yeah.
But you know – and a longer post on this is coming – I think I’d even be this nervous with the Sidekick b/c of the cold. So far, the low temps here don’t seem to be a trigger for AG, and she’s old enough and stable enough for me not to worry about her breathing, but I just keep wondering how they’ll keep all the kids warm and dry up there. Weird, huh?
I expect Notes from an Asthma Kid about it!
**hint hint AG 
**
They’ll be fine! They’ll have a blast! Pack lots of socks, pairs of mittens, long underwear etc! I’m totally pumped for AG, I also had so much fun on these adventures.
I’m both kind of in shock, surprise (the fact it’s going to be in december) and excitement (because I love snow. Did I say LOVE snow? Yes, I absolutely love snow).
It will be epically awesome and I’m sure she’ll have a blast. Just pack lots of warm clothes, a scarf and albuterol(hopefully the cold air doesn’t give her too much trouble). And remember not to lick the canister
.
Oh, I love snow, too, and so does she. We’re just all surprised by the timing. Some of the 6th graders from last year were there at registration with their little brothers or sisters, and they’re all jealous that this year’s kids get to go in the snow.
God willing my girl will get to that point. Though I see where you are coming from, the heat doesnt bother my monkey nearly as much.. cold does though which explains some of my vicarious freakout lol. But yeah Id be worried about any kids that high up, in that kind of weather. Course, snow in general freaks me out as a native gulf coast texas girl lol.
On the plus side, my girl is doing soo well right now, even the docs and i are “cautiously optimistic” pending the fall/winter cold weather/cold & flu season test, but for the moment… its yay!