In the latest print edition of the bi-monthly Mansfield Magazine which serves the communities of Mansfield, Kennedale, South Arlington and Grand Prairie, a story was published on the new and successful Outdoor Education program started by KHS Biology teacher and outdoor enthusiast Danny Wilcox. {{more:[Find out more]}}
Under the headline, ?Outdoor Exposure: Kennedale High School Teacher Builds Love of Outdoor Activities in His Students? and published by Melanie Heisinger, the article describes how the program and the Outdoor Education Club started and what the teacher sees as the goals of the program are.
Wilcox, who lives in Mansfield with his wife and daughter, is beginning his 20th year of teaching this year, five of those with KISD. He teaches biology and adventures in outdoor education at Kennedale High School and is the sponsor of the school?s Outdoor Education Club. The school also has an ACE Archery Team and a bass fishing team.can’t remember not being in the outdoors …
Danny Wilcox, KHS Biology & Outdoor Education Teacher
The article states that ?Wilcox says he grew up in Oklahoma and says he can?t remember not being in the outdoors, particularly fishing along the Arkansas River or in local ponds. But he loves hunting, camping and all kinds of other outdoor activities and as a biology teacher and the head of Kennedale High School?s Outdoor Education Club, he is sharing his passion, love and knowledge of the outdoors with a whole new generation of students.?
Wilcox tells the magazine that there are four areas for students to get involved at Kennedale High School. The first is through the Adventures in Outdoor Education which is a PE-approved class that students take during the school day. Students can take it as an elective or as a way to meet their PE requirement. Many don?t need the PE credit but want to take it anyway. As the part of the program, students who are able to obtain their Hunter Safety Certificates along with Boater Safety Certificates which are both required in Texas for hunters and those operating boats. (The student does have to pay for the certificate from the State).
?We also teach beginning archery, angler education, Dutch oven cooking, tent set-up/take-down, field dressing, hunting scenario reconstruction and virtual skeet/trap shooting,? said Wilcox.
AOE classes started two years ago and are popular with students …
Students can also get involved in the outdoor program by participating in extracurricular activities through the Outdoor Education Club, the ACE Archery Team and/or the Bass Fishing Team, all after school programs.
The Outdoor Education club is described as a community-service based club designed to give back to the community. One of its big events each year is to sponsor an all-day outing to Sonora Park for fishing and hotdogs for students. The archery program has really been successful this past year, qualifying for state as a #16 seed and finishing in 7th place.
successful getting sponsors, donations and experts …
Wilcox has be able to line an number of sponsors to help fund the programs including the following: Scott McClure and the Dallas Ecological Foundation, Ralph Stow and the Willow Bend Hunt Club, the National Turkey Federation, Winchester Safe Company, the Kennedale ISD Education Foundation and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department along with the ACE Program at KISD.Wilcox also got support from Scott and Della Michnavich, who hosted a fundraiser that purchased 7 Dutch ovens and all equipment needed for the outdoor ed cooking instruction. And, a number of experts in the field who spoke to the students including Steven Bardin from Texas Pro Lake Management and the Bass Brigades, Kip Bassett who is a muzzleloader historian and member of the Arlington Sportsman?s Club and Mike Oser of Moe?s Tackle who showed students how to make different lures use in fishing.There is much more to the story. Read the full story at MansfieldMagazine.com
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