Megan and Michael turned Holmes Lake into a marine-based classroom this fall as they spent 45 minutes gliding over smooth-as-glass waters.

The Southwest High School students joined nearly two dozen classmates on a kayaking expedition during a picture-perfect morning in Lincoln. They traveled to the lake as part of a Lincoln Public Schools physical education course called Outdoor Adventure. The class promotes lifelong skills such as teamwork, communication and creativity through a wide range of outdoor activities.

Megan and Michael both gave five-star reviews about their Outdoor Adventure experiences.

“It’s really amazing because lots of times, especially with P.E. classes in the past, it was kind of like, ‘I have to do this to get credits and pass,’ but this is something I want to do,” Megan said. “I look forward to it every day. It’s ‘Oh my gosh, what are we going to do in Outdoor Adventure today.’”

“I think it’s a good way to learn,” Michael said. “It’s a good intro to everything. When they learn them here, then they can take them out into the real world, go camping with their friends, do other fun things outside. I feel like it just opens up a lot more opportunities for people.”

Physical education teacher Amy Cariotto beamed as she watched Megan, Michael and other Silver Hawks enjoy their time on the lake. Cariotto chairs the Southwest health and physical education department and has taught Outdoor Adventure classes at LPS for more than a decade.

Juniors and seniors in Southwest’s course experience activities such as kayaking, fishing, map reading and navigation, archery, geocaching, hiking, camping and outdoor cooking. The curriculum is aligned with state and national physical education standards.

“The purpose of this class is to offer a fun new way to experience physical education,” Cariotto said. “This allows our students to experience new activities in the outdoors, all of which they can do right here in our community and within our state.”

Cariotto and former LPS Curriculum Specialist Marybell Avery created the Outdoor Adventure course together in 2011 when Cariotto taught classes at Lincoln High. Cariotto launched the class at Southwest when she began teaching there in 2015. It is also currently available for East High School students.

Matt Avey is the current LPS curriculum specialist for K-12 health and physical education. He said the goal is for all eight LPS high schools to teach the five-credit course during the academic year. LPS also began offering Outdoor Adventure in its summer school programming three years ago.

“I’ve been an avid outdoorsman for my entire life and I grin every time I see our students engaged in this class,” Avey said. “I dreamed of a class like this as a student in LPS, so I am so happy to see our teachers provide such a great class for kids in Lincoln Public Schools!”

Cariotto uses the “Paddle Safe, Paddle Smart” curriculum for the kayaking portion of the course. She teaches students about boating safety and paddling techniques, how to wear and properly adjust lifejackets, how to stay upright in the kayak and what needs to be done if their boat capsizes.

The Silver Hawks spent four days in late August practicing in Southwest’s swimming pool. Day one involved learning the basic kayaking maneuvers, and they discovered how to get back in their boat from the open water on day two. They played five-on-five kayak polo in the pool on the final two days to refine their balancing, turning and paddling skills.

Students then met Cariotto and Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (NGPC) representatives at the end of Holmes South Shore Road for their trips on the lake. They donned safety gear, picked out kayaks to use and then launched their boats from the dock. They soon began smiling as they realized all of their practicing in the pool was paying off.

“A lot of them like the pool, just in general, but when they get a chance to come out here, it’s like a whole new world,” Cariotto said. “There are so many of them that are like, this was the best day of the whole term for them, just because it’s so relaxing.”

“It was really fun,” Megan said. “It was really peaceful, especially having it first block. Just having the lake be so clear and smooth and everything, it was really nice.”

Cariotto said she has received notes and photos from many LPS graduates who have used their newfound skills in places like the Rocky Mountains. She said it is fulfilling knowing that Outdoor Adventure has given them the belief and assurance that they can accomplish anything they put their mind to.

“I think it’s just the confidence piece,” Cariotto said. “A lot of kids come into these activities not really feeling like they can do it, and then once they try it, they’re like, ‘Wait a second, I got this.’ Knowing that they have it within themselves to keep trying new activities and succeeding, even if they fail a few times at the start, they can still come out and do amazing things.

“That’s what I enjoy seeing, and I think that’s what they like to get out of it too, is that they can improve.”

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A Southwest High School student beams as she moves across the surface of Holmes Lake in her kayak. She is facing left to right and is holding a paddle with both hands.

Southwest students gain lifelong skills through Outdoor Adventure class