dc.description.abstract | The Apostle Islands Outdoor Education School is a field environmental education
experience for sixth grade students which takes place in the Apostle
Islands National Lakeshore. The ''Island School" is. directed by the Sigurd Olson
Environmental Institute of Northland College in Ashland, Wisconsin, and is
staffed by Northland College students. The Island School was developed to provide
local school children with education about the Apostle Islands and to provide
environmental education teaching experience for Northland students.
The Island School was field tested in 1986 and 1987. In 1988 The Sigurd
Olson Institute initiated a planning effort to evaluate and insure the long term
consistency and continuation of the program.
A survey was conducted to assess Island School needs. Northland students
who taught the program and cooperating public school teachers were the target
audience. The survey topics were: programs, facilities, island features, educational
support services, and limiting factors. Items were rank ordered or
rated on a Likert type scale from one to four. Results were used in assessing
long term locations within the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, program
priorities and educational support services.
Survey results showed that hands-on learning, environmental attitudes and
values, island ecology, and living history were the most important program
topics. Respondents showed a high interest in educational support services,
ranking eight educational tools over 2.5 in importance. A teaching unit was prepared
to supplement the Island School and a guide for Northland students was
developed to increase their teaching effectiveness.
Facilities and island features data showed that diversity, and a view of
the open lake and other islands, daytime shelter, sleeping in tents, sheltered
dock, and trails totaling over five miles were very important. The most important
limiting factors for the Island School were cost and lack of equipment.
Possible locations for the Island School were assessed and recommendations were
made. | en_US |