Posted: September 12, 2025
Outdoor School is a four-day residential outdoor education program for upper elementary school students. Penn State students serve as the Cabin Counselors and Assistant Leaders, guiding the campers through a hands-on, feet-in positive outdoor experience.
Spend a week at Shaver's Creek in a camp setting learning and teaching about the natural world.
As a counselor, you are responsible for helping campers maximize the benefits of Outdoor School.
Primary responsibilities include:
- Getting campers ready for the day/night
- Supervising their safety
- Leading games/activities
- Sleeping in the cabin
- Being a positive role model
Another role you will have during the week is that of teacher. You will assist the Outdoor School staff in teaching the daily ecology lessons to your Learning Group. Your task may be as simple as helping to manage the group during an activity or as involved as teaching a portion of the lesson. You will also teach a station in 19th Century costume for Then & Now, the cultural history lesson, or assist with the Living Things lesson, during which students are introduced to live animals from Shaver's Creek.
There is an application process to become a counselor, and if accepted, you can also enroll in a two-credit academic course, RPTM/SciEd 140 Outdoor School Field Experience (counts as GHW credits). The requirements for the course are to participate in three training sessions, one full week of Outdoor School (usually Monday at 1:30 pm through Friday at 3:00 pm) and write a short reaction paper after the experience. Outdoor School Counselors also earn 75 volunteer Community Service hours!!
Here's a link to our website where you can read more about the program, including FAQs.
