Randolph third-graders to experience outdoor activities | News, Sports, Jobs

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Organizers and volunteers including, from left, Ray Mearns, Kate Reed, Valerie Hart and Charlie Friddle will lead Randolph County third-graders through educational outdoor activities at the Izaak Walton League Mountaineer Chapter.

ELKINS — This week Randolph County third-graders will have the opportunity to experience educational outdoor activities.

Wonder & Grow, a local nonprofit organization that offers mindful outdoor programs for children and adults, won a bid to coordinate the Randolph County Outdoor Education programs in the county.

In collaboration with several other organizations, the “Randolph County Outdoors” program is ready to welcome students this week.

“We are thrilled to be part of this initiative and to share our passion for outdoor education with the students of Randolph County,” said Valerie Hart, co-founder and chief operating officer of Wonder & Grow. “We believe that spending time in nature can have profound benefits for children’s physical, mental, and emotional health, as well as their academic performance and social skills.”

From today through Wednesday, all third graders in the county will visit the Izaak Walton League Mountaineer Chapter to participate in various outdoor activities, including:

* Archery with Izaak Walton League Archery experts;

* Camp craft and tent building with Experience Learning staff;

* Mindful Fire Building 101 with Wonder & Grow Mindful Outdoor Guides;

* Health and nutrition with West Virginia University Extension officers.

The program aims to provide students with hands-on experiences that foster their curiosity, creative and connection with the outdoors. It also supports the development of essential skills such as teamwork, problem-solving, and resilience.

This week’s Randolph County Outdoors program is made possible by the collaboration of several local organizations that share a common vision of promoting outdoor education and recreation in the county. These include the Izaak Walton League Mountaineer Chapter, Experience Learning, WVU Extension, Tygart’s Valley Master Naturalist, Kump Education Center, Davis & Elkins College, the Randolph County Board of Education, and many other volunteers throughout the county.

Charlie Friddle, a retired MonPower employee and avid outdoorsman, is a volunteer who will be assisting with the program. He said he is looking forward to teaching the students about archery and seeing their excitement.

“Archery is a great sport that can teach kids about focus, discipline and confidence,” Friddle said. “It’s also a lot of fun and a way to connect with nature and our local history.”

The Randolph County Outdoors program will continue in the spring of 2024 with additional events planned for second-,fourth- and fifth-graders. The program hopes to inspire students to appreciate and protect nearby nature in their community and to pursue lifelong learning and adventure.

For more information about the program, contact Kate Reed at wonderandgrow@gmail.com or 304-590-1156.