As students came back from summer break and rejoined the pace community in August, students and teachers alike came together to share all the impactful outdoor journeys they had this past summer. From this stir, a group of teachers united to discuss how they could create an enhanced connection to nature within the Pace community. So, just a few weeks after school began, a form was sent out from the teachers to students to gauge how interested students were in participating in a new nature driven initiative. The results of the form reflected the Pace students were beyond eager to get outside, and in response, a group of 12 teachers came together to form a new Pace outdoors initiative.
The new initiative is comprised of a student-run club that works along side the 12 teacher group. The two groups work together with the goal of facilitating and providing outdoor opportunities for students. “We want this to be a space where students can take ownership of their interests, and us faculty are here to make sure that they are doing dso safely,” said faculty board member Mr. Ewing. Taking time in nature allows Pace students to interact with each other away from their phones and the bustling technology that typically surrounds them. This sets up a unique experience where students can form unexpected friendships and build a community among people they share common interests with. “Getting out in nature builds a community that is centered on the people, and its not an activity where anyone is going to focus on college and how to add this to their transcript,” added Ewing.
The Pace Outdoors initiative may be new, but the idea of teachers helping students get outside more, is not a new concept for the school. “Before covid, Mrs. Aggrant and Mr. Ballard used to take kids camping every semester, but after covid that began to fizzle out,” said Ewing. Students also greatly enjoyed a nature-focused ICGL trip to Northern Minnesota in 2012, which ultimately prompted the expansion of nature-focused trips. The student club hopes to reopen the door to students outdoor involvement so that it can hopefully grow to be a valuable part of the Pace community in the way that it was in pre covid years.
The Pace Outdoors Initiative is set to hold their first event on November 15, 2026. There will be a sign up form sent out to all students so that they can claim a spot to participate on a hike. On the 15th, there will be two hike options offered, one that is higher intensity, and one that offers a mellow introduction to hiking. The group plans to host another hike in the spring and possibly other subsequent hikes based on the show out at the first two events.