​Project Based Learning Electives provided by the Berrien Springs Virtual Academy​​​​
Loonling Learning                                                  Fall 2020
Students and teachers must be able to readily switch to online lessons at any point in the semester in order to register for classes. All students must complete a project for these classes.

Additional registration at location is NOT required

Natural Acts, Environmental Studies and Hiking.
Instructors: Colleen & Tom Hurst
​Format: In-person
Location:  Various areas within 20 miles of Berrien Springs.  Ages: 6 and up,  must be  good walkers.
Time, Dates:  Sunday afternoon 1:00 - 5:00PM.
        Sept. 14, 21, 28,  Oct 12, 26.  With a chance for weather make up date.

Description:   This is a class where families are introduced to local natural areas.  We will meet at a different spot each time.  Hikes will be less that 4 miles and will include nature, forestry, geology and history instruction.  A snack will typically be included.   This is designed as a family participation activity where a parent joins the hike.  We will introduce hiking and camping equipment, outdoor cooking and wilderness safety.
Younger children in carriers are encouraged.  Sorry no strollers.  Solid outdoor shoes are a must.  We will send out specifics prior to the start of class.  Emails will be sent out prior to each hike with instructions for location, parking, activities.  We do need to be a bit weather flexible.  Classes will not be held outside in dangerous conditions.  We do have indoor nature activities available at the home farm.
Our area is rich with many large parks and publicly accessible natural areas.  From original forests to sand dunes and river walks.  Berrien county is diverse.  Past hikes have included. Love Creek, Ross Preserve, Warren Woods, Grande Meer, river valleys, orchards, lake shores, and farm activities.  Colleen & Tom have been exploring the outdoors and guiding trips for schools, families, youth groups and conservation organizations for over 30 years.  Allow us to share with you some of our local favorites.  Detailed directions will be shared by email prior to each class.  


​Instructors' Qualifications:  Colleen and Tom Hurst have many years of growing and putting up our own food.  We have a large organic CSA type garden for our own use and provide food to friends and folks in need.  This is not a commercial operation.  We grow our own food, build stuff, explore and spend as much time outside as possible.  We love what we do and are glad to share our knowledge, syrup, fruits and veggies.

*Please note: it is important to make as informed a decision as possible when choosing your student's Community Resource classes. Most locations will allow a student to drop a class after one meeting, at no charge if it wasn't a good fit for the student, but not all. Some classes plan ahead based on the number that have signed up and have purchased materials, hired teachers, etc. and there might be a fee for class time or materials given to the student if the student drops after one or two meetings. The school cannot pay for classes that students do not complete, so choose wisely; if you do not take the class off of your student's schedule by the deadline, you may be asked to pay for the class time incurred prior to dropping the class. 
Syllabus
Teacher of Record: Tom Hurst