Field Trips is a series of stories that highlight schools and districts that have implemented new strategies to improve student outcomes, developed exemplary practices and validated their results through data and other verifiable demonstrations of student performance.

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CDE Field Trips - 5/28/25 - Experiential Education at Wamsley Elementary

Posted 05/28/2025 - 4:10pm

At Wamsley Elementary in Rifle (Garfield Re-2 School District) Principal Kathi Senor is transforming education through experiential learning—an approach that blends academic instruction with hands-on, real-world experiences to foster deeper student engagement, life skills, and community connection.

Senor’s philosophy is simple: kids remember experiences, not worksheets. What started with hikes and gardening has evolved into a robust experiential education model that now includes camping, cooking, community service, and even power tool use.

Students learn to read maps and fishing guides, budget for trips, and wash dishes at camp, linking core academic skills to meaningful tasks. This year, fourth and fifth graders traveled to Moab and Mesa Verde, bringing classroom science lessons to life through firsthand exploration.

Experiential education at Wamsley also emphasizes service and citizenship. Students have sewn pet toys for local animal shelters, built a turtle habitat, and created Christmas ornaments for Hotel Colorado’s holiday trees. Kindergarten and fifth-grade classes adopted a local trail and learned about stewardship through regular clean-up hikes. These activities are often supported by grants and community volunteers, including parents and local experts.

Senor credits this approach with improving student attendance and performance. Wamsley, located in a high-poverty area, is now one of the district’s top three schools in performance ratings.

“Kids don’t want to miss EE days,” Senor said. “They see why reading, math, and science matter in the real world.”

The approach has also strengthened family involvement. Parents who can’t volunteer during the school day often join overnight trips or help with building projects. Many report that their children have brought home new skills like cooking and budgeting.

At its heart, Senor’s vision is about giving students space to shine in different ways and building resilience. Whether tying a fishing knot, lighting a campfire, or presenting data at a school-wide assembly, students are encouraged to persevere and believe in themselves.

“We’re not just teaching academics,” Senor said. “We’re helping kids grow into capable, confident human beings.”

See photos of Wamsley kindergarteners making bread on Flickr.

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