Outdoor Ed

For those of you who have followed our blog through the years, you will remember Outdoor Ed. It is something that Faith Academy does with the middle school every year where they camp out in different locations and learn various practical skills. Mikayla started going on OE as part of the "homeschool squad" back when we still lived in Bicol. Then both Zach and Ben have been able to go with Faith Academy. This was our last year of OE since Ben is in grade 8 this year. 

The focus of OE this year was learning about sea turtles (also got to release them into the ocean!), jungle survival (including starting a fire with bamboo, cooking in bamboo, and foraging for food in the jungle), and then a day of ministry at a local elementary school.

Here is Ben with his cool squad of 8th grade guys. 

 

 Something that was cool this year is that Mikayla applied and was accepted to go to OE as a counselor. She was stationed at the beach site and helped with the turtles as well as served as a lifeguard. 

She worked with a great team of students and teachers, and they were definitely stretched when their venue was unexpectedly cancelled midweek, and they had to move to a different site. At the new site, no one spoke good English, so Mikayla's Tagalog fluency came in really handy for the whole group! 

Mikayla loved working with the other students at the beach site. They came back tired, but they were blessed to serve in this way.

 Shortly after Outdoor Ed, it was time for the Sadie Hawkin's banquet. Mikayla and Zach both had fun getting dressed up and practicing their swing dancing moves.