All proceeds benefit Nature's Mountain Classroom whose mission is to foster a love of West Virginia through outdoor recreation and experiential learning while improving the mental and physical health of our mountain community.
Pocahontas County is a scenic and diverse county in south-eastern West Virginia. We are home to the first state park, Droop Mountain Battlefield, and the largest state park, Watoga. The largest ski resort in the state, Snowshoe Mountain hosts UCI World Cup Mountain bike events where the best riders in the world compete. Pocahontas County is the birthplace of eight rivers and over 50 miles of rail trail. While we are an ideal tourism destination, local children and families are not utilizing all our resources. According to WVEIS data, 88% of Pocahontas County students are classified as low-income. With a combination of nature-deficit disorder, an increased number of grand families, and a lack of discretionary household funds outdoor experiences for children are few and far between. In the wake and aftermath of Covid-19 students and teachers have been stressed, spread thin, and disconnected from our community.
In response, Nature’s Mountain Classroom was conceived and Adventure Pocahontas was born. We created, organized, and implemented adventure-based programming for our local public school system. During the regular school day, students explore our county during four consecutive Thursdays and participated in outdoor recreational activities and project-based learning stations. This program was provided at zero cost to the students- including all gear, necessary clothing, and instruction.
We start the school year by taking our fourth-grade students on water-based adventures. We kayak, snorkel, and explored our local watershed. In addition to the recreation component students cover all their West Virginia History content standards through the 4-H Know Your State book, made healthy snacks, do STEM activities with the local library, and more!
Fifth graders learn to mountain bike at four different public and private biking locations across the county. Students focus on STEM with the Green Bank Observatories weekly station where they make stomp rockets and explored the science behind shadows. These participants also work with local healthcare and mental health organizations to learn the importance of healthy relationships, advocacy, and the dangers of bullying.
Our second graders take on skiing! Our first year, 56 students participated, 52 were first-time skiers. By the end of the program, they were ALL skiing green (beginner) terrain with confidence, plus they learn the science behind maple syrup, animal adaptations, learned about reading thermometers, and more!
In the spring, our third graders enjoy a variety of hikes across the county. We encourage students to connect with nature, be in the moment, and utilize breathing practices to reduce anxiety and stress. We also learn about West Virginia wildflowers, pollinators, foods that fuel our bodies, and how to write Haiku poems.
The response to our Adventure Pocahontas program was overwhelming and so wonderful. We were asked to expand the program to include annual programming for every student in Pocahontas County.
Playground Adventure
For Pre-K through first grade, we have added a literature-based playground adventure program. Students spend the day outside, enjoying nature and learning. Our Fall adventure was a huge hit! Our littlest adventurers suited up, rolled around in the grass, practiced yoga, searched for leaves, made chemical reactions (don’t worry, it was only baking soda and vinegar colored to match the fall leaves!), and made a healthy bell pepper snack. With our initial investment in Oaki Suits and rubber boots so that students stay clean and dry we are now looking to the future. This winter they explored with snowshoes! For the spring students learned to ride balance bikes, the importance of helmets, made smoothies with our bike blender, and met with the US Forst Service to learn Leave No Trace practices. For summer the kindergarten and 1st graders traveled to Snowshoe Mountain for a learning day at the lake with bikes, hikes, yoga, and sand castles!
Pocahontas Explores
Middle school students embark on overnight adventures. Sixth graders attend WVU’s Science Adventure School. Students are going to spend 4 days and 3 nights learning the science behind the sports of biking, archery, and rock climbing as well as other learning opportunities. Seventh graders spend 3 days and 2 nights at 4-H Camp Thornwood. The main goals of this program are Hunting safety, CPR, and the Mission 2 Mars program We partner with Youth Health Services for relationship building, bully prevention, and mental health. Either graders spend 3 days and 2 nights camping in tents at Silver Creek as a culminating activity.
Leadership Pocahontas
Our high school students will be able to sign up to help with the other Nature’s Mountain Classroom programs. We are encouraging students to sign up to help in sessions related to their current classes or career interests. For example, Ag students from the Maple program help with our 2nd graders who were learning about maple production and Pro-Start students work with a Chef from Snowshoe to create the farm-to-table lunch provided to students. West Virginia history students from the high school help out with the 4th-grade history sessions. We are excited to see how this program grows.
This program was initially made possible thanks to our supportive Pocahontas County Board of Education. Covid-19 relief funds were used to pay the director’s stipend for the creation and execution of the program. Numerous local agencies and partners presented content to students, giving us staff and a variety of content areas. As a 501(c)(3), we wrote several small local grants to get our first round of programming off and running.
With support and funds, Nature’s Mountain Classroom can continue to deliver engaging, innovative outdoor programming free to Pocahontas County students. West Virginia has some of the best recreation resources in the nation. The great outdoors is notorious for its mental health benefits and the positive effects on the brains of not only children but adults. Our program gives the gift of the outdoors to our students from a young age. Adventure is for all. Not only do we offer the program free of charge to students and families, we ensure every student can adventure. We have partnered with the Challenged Athletes of West Virginia to deliver adaptive programming to students with mental and physical delays. We invite you to view our Facebook page: Nature’s Mountain Classroom to see our program in action!
