Is Outdoor Education Mandatory?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Outdoor Ed is optional. Activities are provided at school for the many students that do not attend. Ignore the bullies on this list. You are not alone in your concerns especially since it is documented that mcps will not protect your child and damages are capped by the legislature.

It wasn't many students at my kid's school.

But yes, Outdoor Ed is optional, just like any other field trip.

[Anonymous]

It's not mandatory but the school expects all the kids to go.

[Anonymous]

Every year this comes up. I am pretty sure that in most cases its the parents who talk the kid out of going when in fact the kid really wants to go.

Stay the hell out of it mom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Every year this comes up. I am pretty sure that in most cases its the parents who talk the kid out of going when in fact the kid really wants to go.

Stay the hell out of it mom.

Ignore the jerks. Be the parent and do what is best for your child.
We know MCPS won't.

[Anonymous]

My daughter didn't go to outdoor ed. She had a medical procedure scheduled that week that couldn't be changed. It was just one day and I asked if she should go to school the other days. We were told to keep her home on the days her half of the grade was at outdoor ed. I figured we would just send her to school all week but they said she would repeat the same classwork and lessons the 2nd half of the week. There was absolutely no fall out from not going. Teachers didn't ask her to make anything up. Friends just told her they'd miss her and but didn't make a big deal of it. The absences were excused.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What happens if you and your child decide that attending Outdoor Education is not beneficial? Can you keep your child at home and do an alternative activity (museum visit, hiking at Great Falls, etc.)? Or will the school provide an alternative activity for children who don't attend Outdoor Education? I'm from another culture. So, I don't understand the significance of having my child spend a few nights in crappy living corridors with strangers. Nor do I trust leaving unsupervised middle school children together. If you declined your child from attending this, then what was the alternative? If your child attended Outdoor Education, then was it really some life changing positive experience? I envisioned lots of bad things happening in these type of situations. So, I'm not sold on the fact that this will be a positive experience for my child. Also, do you have to sign waivers that will exempt the school from any wrongdoings in case something happens to your child?

Outdoor Ed is optional. Activities are provided at school for the many students that do not attend. Ignore the bullies on this list. You are not alone in your concerns especially since it is documented that mcps will not protect your child and damages are capped by the legislature.

This is true! With all the sexual assaults, physical attacks, and other crap that is going on at these schools I'm extremely cautious about placing my trust in a system which covers up violence and doesn't protect students. Time and time again the system protects the schools and administrators from any wrongdoings when things occur.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Every year this comes up. I am pretty sure that in most cases its the parents who talk the kid out of going when in fact the kid really wants to go.

Stay the hell out of it mom.

Not every child is dying to go! Not every child is thrill about this and not every child has a good experience either. If a child doesn't want to go, then parents should take their feelings into consideration. Parents have every right to be involve with matters that concern their children. Any normal parent will have concerns about their child spending the night with people they don't know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What happens if you and your child decide that attending Outdoor Education is not beneficial? Can you keep your child at home and do an alternative activity (museum visit, hiking at Great Falls, etc.)? Or will the school provide an alternative activity for children who don't attend Outdoor Education? I'm from another culture. So, I don't understand the significance of having my child spend a few nights in crappy living corridors with strangers. Nor do I trust leaving unsupervised middle school children together. If you declined your child from attending this, then what was the alternative? If your child attended Outdoor Education, then was it really some life changing positive experience? I envisioned lots of bad things happening in these type of situations. So, I'm not sold on the fact that this will be a positive experience for my child. Also, do you have to sign waivers that will exempt the school from any wrongdoings in case something happens to your child?

Then keep your kid home. The school will accommodate your ridiculous fear-based request.

When was the last time some child was harmed during OE?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I forgot to add, don't do anything of the other weird things parents do that make their kid feel singled out about OE. We had a parent who insisted on attempting to stay in a nearby motel with her daughter and just driving in every day.

One of the parents was in my kid's cabin! She was a wackadoo. The other kids were mortified for the child of the helicopter parent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One parent of my child's friend came to me and asked how she could be sure her kid would take a shower every night. My answer is that it doesn't matter if he skips a shower for a few nights. He can shower when he gets home. She tried to get him to pack all these hair products as well. Let it go! It's camp and the kids enjoy a little independence for a few days. They are not left alone but the chaperones are not going to police their hygiene routines.

I told my kid to shower that morning and to shower when she returned. no big deal

When she went last year, it snowed!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What happens if you and your child decide that attending Outdoor Education is not beneficial? Can you keep your child at home and do an alternative activity (museum visit, hiking at Great Falls, etc.)? Or will the school provide an alternative activity for children who don't attend Outdoor Education? I'm from another culture. So, I don't understand the significance of having my child spend a few nights in crappy living corridors with strangers. Nor do I trust leaving unsupervised middle school children together. If you declined your child from attending this, then what was the alternative? If your child attended Outdoor Education, then was it really some life changing positive experience? I envisioned lots of bad things happening in these type of situations. So, I'm not sold on the fact that this will be a positive experience for my child. Also, do you have to sign waivers that will exempt the school from any wrongdoings in case something happens to your child?

Then keep your kid home. The school will accommodate your ridiculous fear-based request.

When was the last time some child was harmed during OE?

Like mcps would tell you.
Like they told you that your child's teacher was a pedofile.
Idiot parents like you are what perverts love.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter didn't go to outdoor ed. She had a medical procedure scheduled that week that couldn't be changed. It was just one day and I asked if she should go to school the other days. We were told to keep her home on the days her half of the grade was at outdoor ed. I figured we would just send her to school all week but they said she would repeat the same classwork and lessons the 2nd half of the week. There was absolutely no fall out from not going. Teachers didn't ask her to make anything up. Friends just told her they'd miss her and but didn't make a big deal of it. The absences were excused.

Because your kid had a legit reason for not going. It wouldn't be the same reaction if she hadn't gone because Mommy thought it wasn't safe.

[Anonymous]

What do they serve food wise there? Do they accommodate kids with allergies or special diets? I would love for my child to go but was wondering if they provide options for kids with special dietary needs. My child has a dairy, egg and nut allergies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What do they serve food wise there? Do they accommodate kids with allergies or special diets? I would love for my child to go but was wondering if they provide options for kids with special dietary needs. My child has a dairy, egg and nut allergies.

Yes. They accommodate for allergies and there are vegetarian options. My older child is a vegetarian and she said it was fine. I don't think they do glatt kosher or anything, but at my school, observant Muslim kids who only eat halal go every year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What do they serve food wise there? Do they accommodate kids with allergies or special diets? I would love for my child to go but was wondering if they provide options for kids with special dietary needs. My child has a dairy, egg and nut allergies.

Yes. They accommodate for allergies and there are vegetarian options. My older child is a vegetarian and she said it was fine. I don't think they do glatt kosher or anything, but at my school, observant Muslim kids who only eat halal go every year.

Thanks PP!