Just Take It Outside!
How many times have we heard that? At ESD, we take it to heart. By maximizing classroom space,
indoors and out, our students learn through experience and exploration. At every grade level, the ESD curriculum integrates hands-on, outdoor education. Some experiences are had at the Lower and or Middle and Upper School campuses; many others take place at Wolf Run, ESD's very own outdoor education campus.
The Episcopal School of Dallas has developed a large portion of Wolf Run Ranch as an outdoor education center thanks to the generosity and guidance of Pete Gifford of Dallas, who donated the property to the school. Located just outside of Anna, Texas, Wolf Run provides a 300-acre environment for experiences of community through outdoor education. Nature trails, a lake, a low ropes course, two bunk houses, a lodge, an outdoor amphitheater, and a working ranch create unique learning opportunities for students in grades one through twelve.
“Wolf Run is the embodiment of one of our Founding Tenets: Community. The basic goals of all our trips are to learn about ourselves, others, and the world around us, as well as learn to work together, to care for each other, and the world around us.” says Andy Perry, Director of Outdoor Education and Wolf Run.
In the outdoor education department, led by Perry and his team, students are taught to use the world as their classroom. Core curricular classes like history, mathematics, science, and literature come alive as students, sometimes literally, dig in.
"The outdoor education program is fully integrated into the curriculum developed by the teachers; we're simply taking learning to a higher level," offers Rebecca Royall, Chief Academic Officer. "Through the outdoor education program, our students gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of their coursework and of their world. Wolf Run enables students to make creative, imaginative connections with their traditional classroom experiences."
Andy Perry explains further, “Learning about the people that lived in the area over the course of 
history is neat on paper, but actually getting out here and experiencing some of those activities can be inspiring. For example, building upon their studies of Texas Native Americans, the 4th grade spends a day exploring aspects of different American Indian lifestyles and cultures. Focusing on decision- making, students embark on an activity where they must work together to survive as a “tribe” by completing certain tasks. These tasks include: sand painting, buffalo dance, hunting and gathering activities, making and using a Travois, and observations activities."
Other integrated units include an interdisciplinary project between the English and History departments for juniors where, after a teacher-directed study of 19th Century American authors, including Thoreau and Emerson, students visit Wolf Run to incorporate related ideas into written sketches that culminate in a final creative research project. Archaeological digs, class building activities, journal writing, sketching, class retreats, night sky watching, photography, mapping, biological and ecological testing are just some of the hands-on and engaging activities that afford our students another avenue to express themselves and learn about their world.
Wolf Run Ranch and Outdoor Education Center has been made possible by a generous gift from the Gifford Family. Per Mr. Gifford's wishes, the school has agreed to preserve Wolf Run Ranch "in perpetuity" as an outdoor education center.
