After-school Programs for Winter and Spring 2023
* Registration is now LIVE! Click here to register! *
Mountain SOL offers after-school programs for all local students, as well as workshops and classes for adults and the general public. Classes are priced using sliding scale tuition (within a price-range) so you can choose what you want to give to the school. Payments made above the maximum listed price are considered donations. If you would like to apply for a needs-based scholarship, please go to our Giving Goats Scholarship Fund.
All after-school programs are held on the Morgantown Learning Academy
campus unless otherwise noted – map here
Age restrictions for each group are flexible.
We work hard to make sure that kids have a good social network within their class as well as similar skill levels.
Group placement also depends on the experience and maturity of each participant.
Please contact us at [email protected] with any questions.
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Winter Dates
Begins the week of Jan 9th until the week of Feb 20th
Botanical Art: Mondays, Jan 9 – Feb 20, 4:00 to 5:30 (4th Grade+)
Podcasting with Jason: Tuesdays, Jan 10 -Feb 21, 4:00 to 5:30 (4th Grade+)
Animal Tracking and Photography: Wednesdays, Jan 11 – Feb 22, 4:00 to 5:30 (4th Grade+)
Animal Superheroes: Thursdays, Jan 12 – Feb 23, 4:00 to 5:30 (4th Grade+)
Spring Dates
Begins the week of March 6th until the week of May 22nd
Mountain Mallards: Mondays, March 6 – May 22, 4:00 to 5:30 (2nd – 4th Grade)
Mapaches: Mondays, March 6 – May 22, 4:00 to 5:30 (4th to 6th Grade)
Mapaches woohoo: TBD
Zorros: Thursdays, March 9 – May 25, 4:00 to 5:30 (5th to 8th Grade)
Zorros Campout: TBD
Jaguares: Thursdays, March 9 – May 25, 5:00 to 7:00 (8th to 12th Grade)
Jaguares Campout: TBD
Forest Fitness: Tuesdays, March 7 – May 23, 4:00 to 5:30 (4th Grade+ )
Wildcraft Wednesdays: Wednesdays, March 8 – May 24, 4:00 to 5:30 (4th Grade+ )
Wildcraft Wednesdays Hike: TBD
Environmental Stewardship Project Day: Saturday, May 13 10am-4pm
There will be no classes scheduled during the week of MLA Spring Break.
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Winter 2023 Afterschool Programming
Botanical Art
Beginning Monday, January 9
– 4:00 to 5:30*
– Students may arrive as early as 3:20 if needed
– 4th grade+
– Instructors: Jason Ruehl (Mr. Jason) and Lauren Martin (Miss Lauren)
– Cost: $125 per student
Learn different art techniques such as sketching, painting, cyanotypes, and collage to create unique botanical art. While this class is focused on art techniques, you will also learn vocabulary used in Plant Identification. Miss Lauren will be joining us for a few lessons, as well!
Podcasting with Jason
Beginning Tuesday, January 10
– 4:00 to 5:30*
– Students may arrive as early as 3:20 if needed
– 4th grade+
– Instructor: Jason Ruehl (Mr. Jason)
– Cost: $125 per student
This class has been canceled due to low enrollment.
Animal Tracking and Photography
Beginning Wednesday, January 11
– 4:00 to 5:30*
– Students may arrive as early as 3:20 if needed
– 4th grade+
– Instructors: Jason Ruehl (Mr. Jason) and Senora Jen-Osha
– Cost: $125 per student
When Mr. Jason was a child he learned how to trap fur-bearing animals from his father. Now, he no longer wants to hurt animals just for their fur, BUT he still has a bunch of tricks and techniques that would be useful for catching animals on film! Learn how to lure animals into a location and capture them on trail-cams in this fun, winter class! Senora Jen-Osha will also join us in a few classes to teach tracking skills!
Animal Superheroes
Beginning Thursday, January 12
– 4:00 to 5:30*
– Students may arrive as early as 3:20 if needed
– 4th grade+
– Instructor: Lauren Martin
– Cost: $125 per student
Be the change you want to see in the world and become a superhero for domestic animals and wildlife in your community! In this class we’ll learn the fundamental skills to provide rescue and rehab for the most common household pet species and what to do (and not do) if you find a wild animal who may need help. If you’ve ever wanted to rescue a lost dog, care for an orphaned kitten, or help a baby bird that fell out of a nest this class is for you! You’ll be prepared with the knowledge to save lives and be the bridge between a crisis and a happy ending for animals.
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Spring 2023 Afterschool Programming
Mountain Mallards (Ducks)
– Beginning Monday, March 7th
– 4:00 to 5:30*
– Students may arrive as early as 3:20 if needed
– 2nd through 4th grade
– Instructors: Benjamin Tower (Mr. Ben)
– Cost: $200 per student
-Spring semester Focus: Mapping and Navigation
Description:
This class is for our students who just can’t get enough of being outside and who want to learn more about the trees, animals, plants, trails and treasures we have on our campus. We will spend every minute of our time together hiking the trails around the Mountain SOL property, exploring our forests. While this class will be full of fun and exciting discoveries, our instructors will consistently use principles of individual responsibility, team work, and good stewardship to direct our adventures.
Parents: personal responsibility is a BIG part of this club, so remind your child to prepare and encourage them to pack their own gear the night before. We will be going outside in ALL weather types (Cold, wet, rainy, and muddy!). Please feel free to e-mail Mallards instructor Mr. Ben at [email protected] if you have questions about gear. Each child needs to bring a backpack, a water bottle or camel pack, and a nut-free snack with a label for each adventure.
Please note: Instructors will determine which students will advance to Mapaches based on experience, maturity, and levels of personal responsibility. Parents will receive a checklist of their child’s progress at the end of each semester.
*Study hall for MLA students will be 3:15 to 4:00 to allow time for public school and home-school students to travel to MLA. We will begin hiking promptly at 4:00!
Mapaches (Raccoons)
– Beginning Monday, March 7th
– 4:00 to 5:30*
– Students may arrive as early as 3:20 if needed.
– 4th to 6th Grade
– Instructor: Paula Taylor (Ms T)
– Cost: $200 per student
– Mapache Woo-hoo:
– Spring Topic: Navigation and Geocaching
Description:
The Mapaches group is for students who have learned how to be responsible for themselves, are respectful of nature, and are aware of the potential dangers of the woods. These students have achieved a level of independence and are ready to learn how to work as a pack. They have earned the instructor’s trust, allowing them to venture into the woods with less supervision. Mapaches focuses on the practical application of sur-thrival skills with particular emphasis on building outdoor camps with limited supplies and resources. This will include learning practical knots, basic knife skills, and how to use items typically found in a survival pack.
For Spring 2023, the Mapaches group will be learning Navigation through creating a multi-stage geocache on the Mountain SOL property!
Parents: personal responsibility is a BIG part of this club, so remind your child to prepare and encourage them to pack their own gear the night before. We will be going outside in ALL weather types (Cold, wet, rainy, and muddy!). Please feel free to e-mail Mapache instructor Ms T at [email protected] if you have questions about gear. Each child needs to bring a backpack, a water bottle or camel pack, and a nut-free snack with a label for each adventure.
*Study hall for MLA students will be 3:15 to 4:00 to allow time for public school and home-school students to travel to MLA. We will begin hiking promptly at 4:00!
Zorros (Foxes)
– Beginning Thursday, March 9th
– 4:00 to 5:30*
– Students may arrive as early as 3:20 if needed.
– 5th to 8th Grade (5th graders with prior experience)
– Instructor: Lauren Martin (Miss Lauren)
– Cost: $200 per student
– Zorros camp-out: TBD
– Spring Topic: Foraging, Water, and Social Justice
* All Zorros will need to fill out our Wild Edible Release Form to participate in eating our collected wild foods! Please make sure to sign that when you drop off your student for the first day of class. *
The Zorros program is the next step for students graduating from the Mapaches. Each semester they will practice a different skill-path (Medic, Provider, Scout, or Herbalist) to help them decide what advanced program they will pursue in Jaguares. Zorros have increased responsibilities and will learn that their actions and decisions can have consequences. Zorros will have the opportunity to be invited into our Cheat Mountain Campus summer program.
For Spring 2023, the Zorros will be learning about foraging for wild edible plants as well as finding and purifying water in the wilderness, and they will also learn about social justice through practice scenarios. These skills will all count towards their Mountain Medic Path progress! Zorros are also encouraged to come for our Environmental Stewardship project day at Chestnut Ridge Park, which will count for their Environmental Stewardship unit as well.
Parents: personal responsibility is a BIG part of this club, so remind your child to prepare and encourage them to pack their own gear the night before. We will be going outside in ALL weather types (Cold, wet, rainy, and muddy!). Please feel free to e-mail Mapache instructor Miss Lauren at [email protected] if you have questions about gear. Each child needs to bring a backpack, a water bottle or camel pack, and a nut-free snack with a label for each adventure.
*Study hall for MLA students will be 3:15 to 4:00 to allow time for public school and home-school students to travel to MLA. We will begin hiking promptly at 4:00!
Jaguares (Mountain Lions)
– Beginning Thursday, March 10th
– 5:00 to 7:00*
– Students may arrive as early as 3:20 if needed.
– 8th to 12th Grade (with prior experience)
-Instructors: Variety of Teachers
– Cost: $200 per student
– Jaguare camp-out: TBD
– Spring Topics: National Geographic Slingshot Challenge and Student’s Choice Skills
This advanced group has options to focus on different Paths through our curricula: Medic, Scout, and Provider, and our newest one, Mountain Medic. Jaguares will work towards graduating their chosen Path. At this level, students are able to complete scenarios as a pack and begin to consider their responsibilities as leaders, including our obligations to the greater community, and the stewardship of our natural areas.
This semester the Jaguares will be completing the National Geographic Slingshot Challenge, which is an exciting environmental awareness challenge where each student will make their own video about an environmental issue and their ideas! These videos will be shared publicly as a part of National Geographic’s awareness project. In addition, the Jags will be focusing on a variety of units that our students need to graduate the Mountain Medic and Provider paths. These units will be different for each student, depending on what they need to work on their paths and what they are interested in, and may include Campsite Tools and Firewood, Advanced Tarpology, Food Preservation, First Aid, and Practical Herbalism. Different students will have the opportunity to focus on different units. There will also be time for advanced students to work on their Provider projects if they are close to graduating. The Jags are all highly encouraged to come for our Environmental Stewardship project day at Chestnut Ridge Park, which will count for their Environmental Stewardship unit as well!
We will be going outside in ALL weather types (Cold, wet, rainy, and muddy!). Please feel free to e-mail Jaguare instructor, Jen at [email protected] if you have questions about gear. This is an advanced class so each Jaguare will need the following: a day pack, water bottle or camel pack, a nut-free snack, a compass, a safety whistle on a cord, a 100-foot coil of paracord, matches and/or a lighter, proper footwear and clothing, a trash bag, other applicable survival materials, and any books that they receive to use in this class.
Forest Fitness
Beginning Tuesday, March 7th
– 4:00 to 5:30*
– Students may arrive as early as 3:20 if needed
– 4th grade+ (Younger kids may join with adult supervision)
-Instructor: William Miller (Mr. Will)
– Cost: $200 per student
Forest Fitness is a class all about being healthy in an outdoor environment. Our focus is not only on lifting, but also movement, stretching, and nutrition. The focus is not about how much weight you can lift, but instead on how well you can move yourself. Classes will include climbing, running, throwing, yoga, and much more! We will utilize the ENTIRE campus ranging from the field to the bars to Maple Clearing!
Students should dress appropriately for the weather. In the warmer months light weight clothing is fine, but as it gets colder they should dress in layers, starting with shorts and a t-shirt, sweat pants, sweatshirt, and a lightweight toboggan. This way we can work out in all weather and still be able to remove layers as necessary. In case of rain, a lightweight poncho is recommended. Some students may also want to have a pair of weight lifting gloves to prevent blisters.
Parents: personal responsibility is a BIG part of this class, so remind your child to prepare and encourage them to pack their own gear the night before. We will be going outside in ALL weather types (Cold, wet, rainy, and muddy!). Please feel free to e-mail Forest Fitness instructor, Mr. Will at [email protected] if you have questions about gear. Each child needs to bring a backpack, layered clothing options, a water bottle or camel pack, a towel, and a nut-free snack with a label. (The label is extra important for this class since we will be using the nutrition information on the packaging as a teaching tool!)
Wildcraft Wednesdays (Jackalopes)
– Beginning Wednesday, March 9th
– 4:00 to 5:30*
– Students may arrive as early as 3:20 if needed
– 4th grade+ (Younger kids may join with adult supervision)
-Instructor: Jason Ruehl (Mr. Jason)
– Cost: $200 per student
-Wildcraft Wednesday Hike: (To be announced)
Wildcraft Wednesdays is an open-aged class where students can embrace their creative freedom in the woods! They will learn about local folklore, observe the wonders of nature, what makes different ecosystems special, and how to create art in the wild.
Wildcraft Wednesdays is open to a wide age-range and students will be able to participate equally whether they are in 4th grade or high school. Their only limit is their imagination! The teacher, Mr. Jason, is also our Jaguares Provider instructor, knife safety instructor, and is leading our new satellite after-school program at Mason Dixon Park!
Parents: personal responsibility is a BIG part of this club, so remind your child to prepare and encourage them to pack their own gear the night before. We will be going outside in ALL weather types (Cold, wet, rainy, and muddy!). Please feel free to e-mail Wildcraft Wednesdays instructor, Mr. Jason at [email protected] if you have questions about gear. Each child needs to bring a backpack, a water bottle or camel pack, and a nut-free snack with a label for each adventure.
*Study hall for MLA students will be 3:15 to 4:00 to allow time for public school and home-school students to travel to MLA. We will begin hiking promptly at 4:00!
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Environmental Stewardship Project Day: Soil and Pollinators
– Saturday, May 13
– 10:00 to 4:00
– 4th Grade+ or accompanied by adult
– Instructor: Katie Zucker and guest specialist Stephanie Zucker
– Location: Chestnut Ridge Park and Campground, red school house area by the back parking lot
– Cost: by donation
Description:
During this project workday students will learn about environmental stewardship and soil, and students will get hands-on experience mixing soil varieties to create the perfect garden soil to promote happy, nourished plants. We will be working with guidance from Chestnut Ridge staff to build a new garden filled with local, native pollinator plants in the raised beds behind the red school house, and we will also be improving our existing triangle garden. We will also learn about pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, and how pollinators play a critical role in the garden ecosystem.
The cost of this class is by donation. You can pay ahead of time through our PayPal portal to donate to Mountain SOL School (you can put “Environmental Project Day” in the “How did you hear about us?” field), or you can pay in person by credit card when you drop of your student to donate to Chestnut Ridge Park and Campground.
This project day counts as your Environmental Stewardship unit, which is required for the Provider, Scout, and Medic paths.
Things to bring:
- Large garden shovel
- Hand trowel
- Gardening gloves
- Sunscreen and bugspray
- Water bottle
- Lunch and any additional snacks