PoDS Outdoor Immersion: Practical Skills, Powerful Bonds.

Each fall, Point of Discovery School (PoDS) students in grades 7 through 10 are challenged to overnight camping trips. These trips are community-building exercises designed to push students out of their comfort zone and into the “yellow zone,” the space where real learning and growth happen.

“We share with families that it is okay to be in the yellow zone,” said Cathy Barbier, literacy teacher and trip leader. “Green is your comfort zone, you're happy, but when you step into the yellow zone, that is a real chance for you to learn and to grow, whether it be in the classroom or on trips like this.”

This fall, students in grades 7 and 8 took on Devil’s Lake State Park in Baraboo while 9th and 10th graders traveled to Trees for Tomorrow in Eagle River.

Devil’s Lake: 7th and 8th Graders

Before their trip, the 7th and 8th graders practiced tent setup and created how-to videos on essential camp skills at Boston School Forest. They knew the goal: three days of games, campfire cooking, and camaraderie.

 “I was most looking forward to hiking and hanging out with everybody,” said 7th grader Elliott Watson.

On the Devil’s Lake trip, students are fully in charge. They create the menu, cook the meals, and manage the clean-up. “It allows students to feel part of the fact that their decisions are important and their contributions are valuable. And without each other, we wouldn't be able to be as successful.”

“I was surprised how beautiful the views can actually get, no matter what the weather is,” said 7th grader Warren Schnittger.

Yet, true growth often comes with a few growing pains. As Elliott later described the experience, “It was fun, it could get a little hectic at times, and it was just a really cool experience.”

That hectic moment arrived with the rain. “Our tent fly came loose, and of course, it happened to rain that specific night, and I woke up in an inch of water,” Warren said. But in the true spirit of the yellow zone, the students worked together to empty the tent and dry it out quickly, a hands-on lesson in problem-solving that no classroom could replicate.

When asked for their favorite memories, Warren and Elliott didn’t cite the famous landscape or the wildlife sightings. They cited getting to know their classmates better and yelling to each other across the camp from their tents at night.

Trees for Tomorrow: 9th and 10th Graders

Up north in Eagle River, the 9th and 10th graders dedicated three days to connecting science concepts with the natural world.

For 10th grader Wyatt Paulson, making his second visit to Trees for Tomorrow, the value is simple. “It’s really great to get away from screens, be able to go out in the wilderness, and experience what Mother Nature is truly like,” he said.

As 10th grader Noah Johnson summed it up, “We learned a lot and built a community.” That focus on social support is key. “The Trees for Tomorrow tip is a crucial part of the PoDS experience,” added 10th grader Zeb Jegoditsh. “You get to know each other and get to know the teachers better.”

The resulting feeling of acceptance is profound. “When I came to PoDS, I felt like I was accepted and I felt like I belonged here,” Wyatt reflected.

It is the deliberate push into the yellow zone that builds independence and deepens student bonds. Because they develop teamwork, resilience, and problem-solving skills on these trips, students gain the confidence and collaborative mindset necessary to succeed and persevere through academic challenges in the classroom.

See snapshots from their adventures!