Camp
Trinity 

NOTE: Both Wednesday and Thursday sessions for the fall 2023 semester of the Outdoor Classroom are full.

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Registration for spring 2024 classes will begin in late fall.

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Every year more parents choose to school their children at home. It can be a daunting task.

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That's where the Outdoor Classroom comes in.

 

Homeschooling families generally have little difficulty covering the core subjects (reading, math, language arts), but sometimes they can use a little help with other parts of the curriculum (science, history, geography and fine arts).

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Camp Trinity introduced the Outdoor Classroom in fall 2020 to assist homeschooling families with disciplines outside the core curriculum. The Outdoor Classroom has included sessions on wildlife flora and fauna, history, wilderness survival, physical and cultural geography, mountain music, sculpture, drawing, photography, archeology, botany, engineering, and orienteering. Classes are taught by Camp Trinity staff and guest presenters.

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Guest speakers have included Petit Jean State Park interpreters, Arkansas Game & Fish Commission officers, University of Arkansas Extension agents, zookeepers, cowboys, master gardeners, law enforcement officers, helicopter pilots, firefighters, EMTs, historians, professional musicians and artists, zoologists and exotic animal keepers, as well as an archeologist and a veterinarian. 

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Because of the large number of early registrations for the fall 2022 semester, Camp Trinity added a second option. Courses are now taught not only on Thursday but on Wednesday as well.

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Families can choose when to participate and pay just for the classes they attend or they can sign up for the entire 10-week semester at a steep discount (prices below). Those who sign up for the semester are not required to attend every session but can attend only the classes of most interest.

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The sessions are for school-aged children (6-18). Depending on the subject, participants may be divided into groups by age.

 

The fall schedule dates are below, with details to be added later. Classes are subject to change as scheduling conflicts arise for guest speakers:

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Sept. 20/21: Frontier Skills

Students will learn and practice pioneer survival skills as well as archery, canoeing, and axe throwing.

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Sept. 27/28: Reptiles of Arkansas

Trent Powell, education specialist with the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission, returns to Camp Trinity to teach about reptiles of Arkansas.

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Oct. 4/5: Animal Anatomy & Health

Dr. Jennifer Ballard, veterinarian with the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission, will teach about anatomy, ecology and nutrition of native Arkansas animals.

 

Oct. 12: Basic First Aid

Students will learn basic first aid skill and build their own first aid kits. The session will be taught by Sunflower (Heidi Cox), an American Red Cross CPR and first aid instructor trainer.

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Oct. 18/19: Leadership Training through Games

Mountain Man (Aaron Davis) will lead this session where students will have fun while learning team-building skills leadership and "followership."

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Oct. 25/26: Falconry

Falconer Jim Biggs will teach about Harris hawks, with a live demonstration. Students will also learn characteristics of other raptors of Arkansas — eagles, hawks, owls and kites.

Nov. 1/2: Engineering

Students will design and build their apparatuses. Details to come later.

 

Nov. 8/9: Creationism

The Rev. Dr. Leroy Leach will make the case for design in creation, debunking popular cultural myths about the origins of the universe and humankind. Pastor Leach will take as many questions as time allows.

 

Nov. 15/16: 

Taking Flight

This session will take place at Little Rock Air Force Base where students will hear from a flight crew from the 19th Airlift Wing about the military and humanitarian work of military aircraft. Students will also explore the inside of a C-130 plane.

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Nov. 29/30: Old-Time Christmas

Students will string popcorn and berries, make Christmas ornaments, bake and decorate cookies and learn about old-time Christmas traditions. They will also share their families' special traditions.

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