Claud E. Kitchens Outdoor School at Fairview
12808 Draper Road
Clear Spring, MD 21722
Phone:  301-766-8138

Click the button below for a quick link to the Parent Wiki Space Page for Picture Slideshows

I collected the pictures below during a recent day trip with Maugansville Elementary School.  Many thanks to the incredible first grade team and to the wonderful parent chaperones who made this day such a huge success!
Tim and Fairview Team

In June 2014, I was teaching the Cell Discovery Lesson to a group of students from Boonsboro Elementary School and took this cool video by putting my camera on video mode and by holding the camera directly on top of the microscope eyepiece.  You've got to check this out!

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Students from Pleasant Valley and Cascade examining Macro-Invertebrates from Tom's Run to evaluate water quality during the Stream Study Lesson at Fairview.
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Parents taking home free tomatoes following our first parent training on Monday, August 12, 2013
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A fifth grade student using a field microscope to identify Macro-invertebrates from Tom's Run in an effort to evaluate the water quality.

    Claud E. Kitchens Outdoor School at Fairview is owned and operated by Washington County Public Schools.  It is just over 100 acres of land to include hardwood forest, meadows, streams, and ponds nestled at the foot of Fairview Mountain in Clear Spring.  Every fifth grader comes here during their fifth grade year in school to benefit from a fun-filled and educational week.  Students spend four days and three nights with their teachers, classmates, and parent chaperones while exploring science and environmental issues with hands-on learning in an outdoor environment. 
    Other available days are granted to WCPS teachers kindergarten through twelfth grade who access the facility and  resources within to extend student learning.  Our staff also supports team building for adult and student groups.  Ours staff supports the Office of Elementary Education during the summer months by supporting summer school at our facility. We work under the supervision of Mrs. Sandy Graff (Supervisor of Science K-12), and periodically conduct professional development for WCPS teachers to include Project Wet, Project Wild, and Project Learning Tree.  We host weekend activities throughout the year to include our annual Maple Sugar Festival, Rain Barrel Workshops, and Fishing Rodeo.  We are a MAEOE certified Green Center and proud to be supporting efforts to promote environmental literacy.   

I share with you the letter below that a student sent to me following his recent 5th grade experience at Fairview because of how well-written his reflections are in regard to the impact that our program had on his life.  This is what makes us show up for for work each day!  Way to go Jack!

Parent Chaperone Reflections To Kick Off The 2013-2014 School Year....

"Couldn't ask for better!! Was an amazing experience, everyone is extremely friendly, knowledgeable and fun! Was a very pleasant experience from the minute we arrived!! Great control with the kids while still making in an amazing environment."
Potomac Heights Parent - from the first week of the 2013-2014 school year

"Impressed! I never heard of outdoor school until I got the paperwork for my son. We did not have programs like this when I went to school. However my husband went to outdoor school, loved it and came back to be a counselor!  This is a wonderful program for the kids and I was happy to be a part of this experience!
Potomac Heights Parent - from the first week of the 2013-2014 school year

"I loved it! I was very unsure about the whole week, from not being from this area, however it was amazing! ALL of the teachers have been amazing! It was nice as a mom to spend time with all of the kids and became even closer with all of them. The entire experience from start to finish has been amazing and am looking forward to my first grader coming in a few years!"
Potomac Heights Parent - from the first week of the 2013-2014 school year