Outdoor Education

Welcome to WVU Jackson’s Mill, an ideal destination for outdoor education and recreation in the heart of West Virginia. Our outdoor education team can guide your group through team building activities, environmental education lessons, or recreation opportunities like kayaking and rock climbing. Whatever your outdoor interests or experience level may be, our team promises an engaging and active learning environment.

Customized learning for K-12 students

Visits can be customized for grades K-12. Programs can be focused on a variety of topics including:

Environmental Education
Team Building
Outdoor Recreation

Experience nature's classroom

WVU Jackson's Mill offers a spacious campus to get hands-on with the outdoors.

Outdoor Education with Larel Teter

Outdoor Education Program Coordinator Larel Teter gives an overview of what visitors can expect from WVU Jackson's Mill's Outdoor Education program.

Outdoor lessons

Curriculum standards support class learning requirements. Classes are offered to students K-12 and activities range from approximately 30 to 120 minutes depending on the chosen topic.

Outdoor Education
Class Name	K	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
Games & Team Building Activities	Available	Available	Available	Available	Available	Available	Available	Available	Available	Available	Available	Available	Available
Youth will participate in age-appropriate games and activities that work on increasing teamwork, communication and other social skills needed in day-to-day life. Time: 30-120 minutes West Virginia Education Standards
Outdoor Cooking & Fire Science	Not Available	Not Available	Not Available	Not Available	Not Available	Not Available	Available	Available	Available	Available	Available	Available	Available
Youth will learn the science behind fire, how to build different types of fires for different situations and how to cook over open flame and on coals. Time: 30-60 minutes West Virginia Education Standards
Rock Climbing	Available	Available	Available	Available	Available	Available	Available	Available	Available	Available	Available	Available	Available
Youth will learn the basics of rock climbing using the rock faces of our Tango Tower. Material will be grade appropriate. Time: 30-90 minutes West Virginia Education Standards
Paddle Sports	Not Available	Not Available	Not Available	Not Available	Not Available	Not Available	Not Available	Not Available	Not Available	Available	Available	Available	Available
Youth will learn the basics of paddling and be able to paddle on the West Fork River. Material and difficulty will be age appropriate. Canoeing will be the default unless otherwise noted and weather permitting. Time: 75-120 minutes West Virginia Education Standards
Biking	Not Available	Not Available	Not Available	Not Available	Not Available	Not Available	Available	Available	Available	Available	Available	Available	Available
Youth will learn the basics of bike function, maintenance and proper riding techniques. Time: 30-60 minutes West Virginia Education Standards
Disc Golf	Not Available	Not Available	Not Available	Available	Available	Available	Available	Available	Available	Available	Available	Available	Available
Youth will play disc gold on the WVU Jackson's Mill course. The style of gameplay will depend on the groups size and age. Time: 30-120 minutes West Virginia Education Standards
Knot Tying	Not Available	Not Available	Not Available	Not Available	Not Available	Not Available	Available	Available	Available	Available	Available	Available	Available
Youth will learn to make different types of knots and the common uses for each type. Time: 30-60 minutes West Virginia College and Career Readiness Standards: This activity does not meet any standards set out by the WV Department Of Education.
Leave No Trace	Available	Available	Available	Available	Available	Available	Available	Available	Available	Available	Available	Available	Available
Learn the 7 Outdoor Ethics Principles and how to practically apply them outdoors. Different interactive activities will be done for different grades, and each will have information appropriate for the age of the students. West Virginia Education Standards
The Incredible Journey	Available	Available	Available	Available	Available	Available	Available	Available	Available	Available	Available	Available	Available
Learn about the water cycle and how water flows through the Earth through interactive activity, the way it affects difference ecosystems, and how changes in the Earth’s climate have affected the water cycle. The students will get to make a small bracelet that represents their individual journey through the water cycle as a part of the activity. West Virginia Education Standards
We All Need Trees	Not Available	Not Available	Available	Available	Available	Available	Available	Available	Available	Available	Available	Available	Available
Learn about the lifecycles of trees, what products come from the forestry industry, and how wildfires affect the ecosystem and life of a forest. At the end, students should have a greater understanding of how important trees are to the Earth and humanity. West Virginia Education Standards
Nature Hike	Not Available	Not Available	Not Available	Available	Available	Available	Available	Available	Available	Available	Available	Available	Available
Walk through the forests at Jackson’s Mill and learn about the plants and animals that we have here. Along the way, we will talk about erosion, invasive species, and small little bit of Jackson’s Mill history. West Virginia Education Standards

Active Campus Alert

Customized learning for K-12 students

Jeff Schmoll

Experience nature's classroom

Outdoor Education with Larel Teter

Outdoor lessons

Meet Jeff, the expert who will lead outdoor programming on field trips