Welcome to The Trailblazers at BRMS Did you know that …  BRMS has an outdoor classroom that is a certified National Wildlife Habitat?  BRMS was honored at the Library of Congress and Loudoun’s School-Business Partnership for our commitment to place-based education with National Parks Service? click here to read more (page 2) click here to read more (page 2)  we have a kiosk at Bears Den located on the Appalachian Trail that features student work?  click here to read the article that was written in the Loudoun Times Mirror click here to read the article that was written in the Loudoun Times Mirror Assistant Principal Marlene Jefferson with Congresswoman Capito accepting award at Library of Congress gala

What is place-based education? “Place-based education is the process of using local community and environment as a starting point to teach concepts…” David Sobel

at Blue Ridge Middle School Implementing Place-Based Education Through A Trail to Every Classroom (TTEC) Appalachian Trail at Bears Den

A Trail to Every Classroom Program (TTEC)  The purpose of TTEC is environmental stewardship and civic engagement by providing authentic learning opportunities across all content areas.  Three teachers on the Trailblazer team have completed this three-season, multi- disciplinary professional development program.  TTEC provides extensive training in place-based education, service learning, professional networking, and environmental stewardship education.  Because TTEC teachers have been trained in grant writing, they have been awarded over $3000 in grant money. On Blue Ridge Pond

The Appalachian Trail

TTEC RESOURCES Appalachian Trail Conservancy National Park Service Virginia State Arboretum (Blandy) PATC (Potomac Appalachian Trail Club) Bears Den

Children and Nature Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better. Albert Einstein

Halfway to the Sky (place-based novel about the Appalachian Trail)

Quotes from Blue Ridge M.S. Students about studying the Appalachian Trail “ We love learning and reading about the Appalachian Trail. We would love to keep learning about the nature that lives right outside our doors.” Samantha P. “By asking and researching questions, we learn more and more about our community and our environment.” William J. “The outdoor classroom is a place for free expression.” Christine R. “Walkin’ Jim made me appreciate and picture the scenery along the Appalachian Trail.” Lelia B. “This book inspires me to hike more and care about nature, and it inspires me to help animals and make the world a better place.” Maddy H.

Outdoor Classroom Pictures taken by students using cameras purchased from ATC grant

Evidence of Wildlife Pictures taken by students using cameras purchased by grant from ATC TurtleGroundhog Skull Bird Nest

Evidence of Wildlife Pictures taken by students using cameras purchased by grant from ATC Fox Den Spider Web Frog

Outdoor Classroom Nature Journals & Documentation

PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT

GUEST SPEAKERS Appalachian Trail MEGA-Transect Walkin’ Jim

“Moonman” Assembly

“Walkin’ Jim” Assembly Made possible by the ATC

OUR STUDENT ACTIVITY CLUBS SAVE OUR SNAKES & OUTDOOR CLASSROOM

Outdoor Classroom Paper By: Sean Monaghan From Georgia to Maine there is nothing else like the Appalachian Trail. With wandering meadows, misty waterfalls, triumphant wilderness, and the outdoor beauty, the ATC couldn’t have done a better job of preserving the Trail. When I hiked on the Appalachian Trail it wasn’t just a trail, it was freedom, it was life; it was life for every leaf, flower, tree, field, mountain, and living creature along the range of the trail. Living on the foothills on the mountain is a privilege not just for me but for the other 14 states. The conservancy is a volunteer organization not working for a boss but for a trail and that trail is like a 390 million year old helpless baby needed to be taken care of. They do the job, they do the work, they are the volunteers, the people of the Appalachian Trail. The 4 million hikers that visit the Appalachian Trail every year also do a great job in keeping the trail nice and tidy. We respect the trail and the people who hike it before and after by picking up trash, leaving no trace behind, and being careful not to disrupt the wildlife. Some things we can’t control like grass growing, habitats forming, and the falling of trees but the ATC can take care of it while keeping the wildlife at peace.

Outdoor Classroom Paper The kids of the Appalachian Mountains, including my class and I, treat this mighty mountain range no differently as a HUGE movie star walking down the red carpet. We know we can’t hike a huge movie star but we can have the honor to be in its presence. Place Based Education is about learning about the world around us. The Appalachian Trail is great for the program because it is one of the world’s most stunning of natural beauties and we get to learn about it. We approach the program with curiosity, excitement, wonder, adventure, and with our minds wide open. This isn’t just a classroom vocabulary word, it’s not a short term memory study, it’s something that stays with us forever and no matter what, we won’t forget Place Based Education and we won’t forget the Appalachian Trail.