Outdoor Education Works for Students

CREST HAVEN – The Cape May County Special Services School District at its Feb. 18 board meeting addressed a variety of issues and resolutions. The board approved an additional $1,500 from “clean communities” for the use in the OXE program.
Superintendent Barbara J. Makoski stated that the “Outdoor Experiential Education (OXE), evolved into what it is today: a cross content, multi-disciplinary, N.J. Core Curriculum Content Standards based program that uses the Experiential Learning Mode to help meet the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) goals for over 150 students ages seven-12. Most students in our district have an OXE class on their weekly schedule, where they participate on campus in group lessons in the classroom or outside on school grounds. The students also take monthly or bi-monthly field trips to experience the community-based aspects of the curriculum,” she explained.
“The components form the basis for the OXE program’s major curriculum goals,” Makoski revealed. Those goals include, “Recreation and leisure skills, academic skills, social skills, environmental skills and transition to life skills. OXE uses a multi-disciplinary, multi-modality, collaborative approach ensuring that the goals of each student’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP) are incorporated into the lessons, differentiated to meet his/her diverse learning needs, linked to Core Standards and assessed by all professionals who work with the child. It is very successful, winning an Innovations in Special Education Award in 2011,” Makoski confirmed.
“The money we receive from them will be used for transportation costs for the OXE program which also provides service to the community in terms of beach cleanups. Structured learning experiences are provided to students who are close to graduation and could benefit from work experiences in the community. Sites are student picked and based on student interests and need for work place skills. We also have a community based instruction (CBI) program for students aged 19-21 who have completed their graduation requirements and also need the support of a special education teacher in the work environment. These classes are located at ShopRite, Acme and Crest Haven Nursing Home,” explained Makoski.
The board approved a transportation agreement with the Cumberland County Educational Cooperative. “Our transportation department develops agreements and provides transportation services for students traveling to and from different districts for a variety of purposes.”
The board also approved field trips. “One class trip for COMPACT is to the Franklin Institute and the Philadelphia Museum of Art,” Makoski confirmed. “Another unique field trip for Ocean Academy is a park day at the Cape May County Zoo. A fascinating field trip for the Cape May County High School will be attending the Seaview Equine Learning Facility,” Makoski said.
To contact Terence Harris, email tharris@cmcherald.com.