Anonymous wrote:I grew up in the mountains of West Virginia where we spent plenty of time outside doing a lot of things and my kid's still go there on a regular basis. Also the schools I went to were very poor. I had never even heard of "outdoor ed" until I moved to Montgomery County. It sounds like some hippy dippy bullshit. When I was a kid we just called that playing outside.

It sounds like you would benefit from learning more about Outdoor Ed.

I grew up in the mountains of West Virginia where we spent plenty of time outside doing a lot of things and my kid's still go there on a regular basis. Also the schools I went to were very poor. I had never even heard of "outdoor ed" until I moved to Montgomery County. It sounds like some hippy dippy bullshit. When I was a kid we just called that playing outside.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Outdoor Ed sounds terrific. And weather can be good, or lousy, any time of year.
Slots at the Outdoor Ed center are awarded by lottery. My son's middle school "won" next week.
Freezing temperatures and rain are forecast.
Help me cope.

Lots of people routinely bwork outside in freezing temperatures and rain, OP. Send him with the appropriate gear. He'll be fine, and he'll have a tale to tell.

+1. OP, your post should say “Help Him Cope.” This isn’t about you.

Send him with appropriate gear. Visit REI and ask for help.

Outdoor ed is not in tents.

Just like ES has indoor recess, if the conditions are bad LESS of it is outside.

That does not means NONE of it is outside nor does it mean that your DC won't get cold and wet if it rain or even colder with a wind chill like last week.

Part of the point is to expose them to something different than their parent's ultra safe/comfortable cocoon.

I’m typing for, NJ where my 8 y/o is going to his first school overnight outdoor ed in north NJ later this week. It’ll be cold. He’ll survive.

Waterproof boots, winter jacket, hat gloves. Lots of socks. Sweats to sleep in. One of my kids went during the polar vortex, and was just fine.

Anonymous wrote:I think outdoor ed in January is insane. If it was this week, I would keep my kid home because of the temps. However, this coming week the temps are going to get into the 50s. The only questionable day is Monday (tomorrow) when there's supposed to be some mixed precipitation. Which days are your son going? I think it will be okay.

Oh for God's sake. It's not like they are going to be left in Antartica with a backpack and a pack of matches. There was a story in the Post last week about people like you. Wish I could find it now.

My Outdoor Ed was in early February back when MCPS did a full 5-day week. It was lots of fun! +1 to good clothes (some extra in case of getting wet) and enjoy the quiet in your house this week.

My kids both went in January, one when there was ice and snow on the ground. He took plenty of warm clothes, snow boots, and tons of socks and had a great time.

Anonymous wrote:I think outdoor ed in January is insane. If it was this week, I would keep my kid home because of the temps. However, this coming week the temps are going to get into the 50s. The only questionable day is Monday (tomorrow) when there's supposed to be some mixed precipitation. Which days are your son going? I think it will be okay.

Well, you’d be raising an annoying wuss who would grow to hate you if you kept him home.

Anonymous wrote:Outdoor Ed sounds terrific. And weather can be good, or lousy, any time of year.
Slots at the Outdoor Ed center are awarded by lottery. My son's middle school "won" next week.
Freezing temperatures and rain are forecast.
Help me cope.

Lots of people routinely bwork outside in freezing temperatures and rain, OP. Send him with the appropriate gear. He'll be fine, and he'll have a tale to tell.

I think outdoor ed in January is insane. If it was this week, I would keep my kid home because of the temps. However, this coming week the temps are going to get into the 50s. The only questionable day is Monday (tomorrow) when there's supposed to be some mixed precipitation. Which days are your son going? I think it will be okay.

Send him with clothes which are appropriate for the weather. He'll be fine!

Outdoor Ed sounds terrific. And weather can be good, or lousy, any time of year.
Slots at the Outdoor Ed center are awarded by lottery. My son's middle school "won" next week.
Freezing temperatures and rain are forecast.
Help me cope.