Keeping the Tradition Alive by Michele Egan and Mary Thomas St. Mark's teachers Wolf Ridge Almanac Winter 2003

St. Mark’s School is historically vested in the Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Program. In 1980, parents at St. Mark’s school initiated a proposal that students attend Isabella, an environmental learning center in northern Minnesota. These parents felt the experience would enhance their children’s education. The administration and Sister Rosaria (6th grade teacher) accepted it. A TRADITION BEGAN.

Sister Rosaria went twice the first year - spring and fall. She is responsible for locking in the fall time period we now enjoy. In 1988, I took over as director, and attended at the new and current Wolf Ridge campus. The fire was lit, and passion for this program has only continued growing deeper and deeper over the past 14 years. Conviction and enthusiasm for Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center’s program at St. Mark’s is evident.

Then in 1999, after almost 20 years of attending ELC programs the validity of these trips came into question. I have since learned that many schools have run into similar problems. These problems range from financial, to lack of a “champion teacher” (the lead teacher/organizer retires and no one is willing to take over) to seeming incompatability with the attending school’s mission. After having led the Wolf Ridge trips for eleven years and experienced tremendous growth in students, it was mind boggling to think that this trip’s validity would be questioned. It was time to stop and re-evaluate.

Fortunately, that year Mary Thomas joined me as co-director of St. Mark’s Wolf Ridge trip. We are perfectly fit gloves. We truly complement each other. Together, with parents firmly committed to the Wolf Ridge program we wrote the mission statement that links Wolf Ridge to our school. The mission statement was presented to appropriate administrators and the school board. An effort was renewed to communicate the goals and outcomes of this trip to parents. Our mission statement convinced folks that the Wolf Ridge trip was indeed valid.

When writing St. Mark’s Wolf Ridge Mission Statement, Mary and I brainstormed what we felt were standout outcomes of the Wolf Ridge trip. We came up with the following:

• This trip has historically bonded the kids as they enter adolescence with strong educational methodologies.
• It is one of the first major milestones of the transition from childhood to adulthood.
• The ELC experience fosters positive memories of wonderful life changing lessons.
• The encouragement of others allows our students to come out of the self-centered behavior of adolescence, building self-esteem and a sense of personal balance.
• The naturalists at Wolf Ridge are role-models, soundly grounded in respect for the environment.
• Wolf Ridge allows us to practice the spirituality that is part of St. Mark’s. We are very comfortable praying before meals, and celebrating prayer services each day before afternoon classes. Many times our liasion joins us for the Christian and environmentally based prayers.

In short, the ELC trip is a tremendous asset that truly enriches the St. Mark’s experience.

Now, as in the past, Mary and I carefully and more consciously plan our Wolf Ridge trips. In comparison to other similar programs, Wolf Ridge provides the highest possible quality experience for our students. It is the cadillac of environmental learning programs. This experience includes scientific, social, spiritual and community/team building. We select a well-balanced curriculum encompassing all areas of discipline. Our students have pre-trip educational requirements, assignments from many teachers to complete while at Wolf Ridge, and specific journaling expectations.

Our mission statement is a clarifying document of why St. Mark’s School is proud of the tradition it has with Wolf Ridge Environment Learning Center. It will live on for generations to come.

"St. Mark’s Mission at Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center is to educate; to foster personal, social, emotional and spiritual growth; to build a sense of class spirit; and to leave a life long memory of crossing the threshold into middle school and adolescence.The five day; accredited; all encompassing curriculum and experience for the St. Mark’s 6th graders at Wolf Ridge ELC advances our mission by affording:

• The privilege to stand as a community in prayer in Nature’s Cathedral
• Immersion in a “No Walls” school wrapped around the message of environmental responsibility and respect.
• A remote setting, free of everyday distractions, which breaks down personal barriers and expands friendships.
• An opportunity to enhance self-esteem, personal confidence and pride through physical challenges and team building activities.
• Timeless memories of a life-changing experience.

The commitment, faith and support from staff, students and parents is the model of the co-operative partnership that is the hallmark of St. Mark's School and the Wolf Ridge ELC experience."

Karen Needham, one of St. Mark’s long-time teachers described our experiences at Wolf Ridge in this way: “St. Mark’s School has found the trip to Wolf Ridge one of the best educational experiences we offer to our students. Not only are our students getting a hands on experience in the field, they also have the opportunity to interact with everyone as a community, an opportunity to mature in a way they don’t get at home or at school. It improves on an already excellent learning experience each child has at St. Mark’s School. It is a bright and shining example of what we are doing right. The Wolf Ridge experience carries a tradition of excellence for our school.”

“WRELC is such a rich and rewarding experience for all who witness the energy and commitment of the school personnel as well as the staff of Wolf Ridge” says parent Jim Rosno after his experience with two of his children.

Casey Flynn who attended Wolf Ridge with the last of her seven children states, “Wolf Ridge provides a hands on (total body) experience of learning about earth, the reference and respect required to save the planet in a scientific, physiological and interpersonal instruction, interaction and fully experiential environment that no text book or daily school classroom can provide or inspire. It is also food for the soul and ones sense of community and spiritually that only nature, teamwork, cooperation in partnership and exchange between peers, parents and teachers in action away from school and home can provide.”

“The ELC program gives St. Mark’s parents a chance to interact with their children in a way that may never be available to them again as their children age,” is a perspective from Joe Finley.

Students ask me, “when is it my time to go to Wolf Ridge, Mrs. Egan?”

Michele Egan teaches physical education K-8 and is the Athletic Director at St. Mark's. Mary Thomas teaches 6-8th grade science.