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Clubs, Activities & Programs

"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing." ~Helen Keller

The William S. Schmidt Center (Camp Schmidt) is an academic center that provides students with a meaningful outdoor experience that enhances as well as reinforces skills learned in the classroom. As a result, participants have a greater comfort level in being in the outdoors as well as a greater awareness of the environment and their responsibility as citizens in making informed decisions that make the environment better.             

A major focus of the Schmidt program is the fifth grade overnight visit. All schools are provided with the opportunity to visit either the Schmidt Center or Hard Bargain Farm (Alice Ferguson Foundation). Schools coming to Schmidt are assigned an Instructional Specialist who works with the school in developing a schedule of activities. The activities include but are not limited to, Stream Ecology, Dropping in on Deer, Orienteering Challenge, Nature Walk, Team Building, Problem Solving and the Confidence Course. Evening activities include a wagon ride and campfire. These activities taught at the Schmidt Center complement and enhance the existing curriculum and are aligned to Common Core, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) and Environmental Literacy.

The Schmidt Center is working on expanding learning opportunities in environmental science. The center is the site for the Envirothon, as well as promoting activities such as Bridging the Watershed, school ecology clubs, using rain barrels, and building school gardens.

Our 450.6 acre campus is focused on becoming the center piece for environmental education for Prince George’s County Public Schools. We work to fulfill our obligation to offer high quality, multi-disciplinary, environmental education programs that result in students making decisions and taking actions in devising solutions to environmental questions.

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