Testimonials
Statements of Support
"The program at Echo Hill is one of the most valuable educational experiences we have witnessed in four decades of teaching. By coupling experiences designed to heighten their awareness and appreciation of our fragile environment with rustic living, Echo Hill accomplishes that which others profess to do - have a profound impact upon children. Living together and learning to work as a cohesive unit to solve a myriad of challenges presented at Echo Hill has become a rite of passage in our urban community, one met by over three thousand students, spanning two generations. Through the efforts of the Echo Hill Outdoor School, our children have become not only aware of Pennsylvania's impact upon the Chesapeake Bay, but of our impact upon each other." - Robert and Kristina Frick, Teachers (retired), Garrettford Elementary School, Drexel Hill, PA
“I have visited Echo Hill with fifth grade students for over 15 years. The children that I bring come thinking that they will learn about ecology, the Chesapeake Bay and their environment and they do, but they learn so much more. They learn so much about themselves and their ability to function outside the safety of their homes and school. At Echo Hill, they learn to interact with people they don’t know very well and with the natural world, which they get to know better. They get to dig deep to try things that they never dreamed they could do.” - Ellen Chamberlin, teacher, Chestertown Middle School, MD
“Children love Echo Hill and why not? They are given freedom to explore the outdoors and, in small groups, engage in meaningful hands-on learning that relates to their lives and their interests. They get dirty, see things they’ve never seen before, and do things they’ve never done before. Exhausted students return to the classroom with two gifts from Echo Hill’s creative staff: a deeper knowledge of their environment and an enthusiastic desire to preserve it.” - Lee Franklin, Teacher, Kennard Elementary, Centreville, MD
“As a teacher it is wonderful to see the students in a nontraditional learning environment like Echo Hill and to witness the enthusiasm and camaraderie that they bring to the various learning activities at the school. There are many team-building activities at the school, like Giant Swing and the Adventure I and II courses, and it is a joy to see the way that students learn to interact with their peers as they work together to meet the challenges that they are presented with. All of these things are wonderful life lessons that teach the children to work together to achieve a common goal.” - Philip Zimmerman, Teacher, Roland Park Middle School, Baltimore, MD
“The residential outdoor education programs offered by Echo Hill are exemplary models. Echo Hill Outdoor School is the epitome of what hands-on experiential environmental and outdoor education programs for students and teachers should be.” –Mary Bea Preston, Maryland State Department of Education
“They love walking along the beach, feeling the wind on their skin, and finding treasures. What joy to be given permission to take home an oyster shell or a piece of sea glass.” –Billie-Lynne Roberts, Teacher, Worton Elementary School Kent County, MD
“Although we have a wonderful textbook and a few relevant videos, nothing can compare to the ‘hands-on’ experience our urban children attain at Echo Hill. I have taught for 13 years and have never had a class experience as wonderful and meaningful as that of Echo Hill.” –Mrs. Deytre D. Jackson, Teacher, Hamilton Elementary School Baltimore City, MD
“Surrounded by your patient, loving staff who encourage them,
anything was possible! There were smiles on children who otherwise come
to school hunched over from the weight of their personal responsibilities.
There was laughter from children who do not even want to make eye contact.”
–Penny Muzyka, Teacher, Hillcrest Elementary School Upper Darby,
PA
“The leaders provide direction, insight and energy, and fun. They
have designed a program that suits the specific needs of our students.
We can count on the staff at Echo Hill to help adolescents negotiate
the intricacies of leadership, bonding, and learning.” -Peter
J. Caldwell, Asst. Headmaster, St. Andrew’s School Middletown,
DE
“Many students learned how to take full responsibility for themselves
and their own belongings. They improved their social interaction skills.
Cohesiveness was enhanced. Staff professionalism was excellent.”
-Marsha Moore, Teacher, Brookland Elementary Washington, DC
“One of the most important things is that I learned to cooperate with others, not just care about myself. I really got to know the people in my tribe better. We helped each other in things when we were in trouble. I really felt good about doing all of these things. Thank you for the best time of my life.” –Houry B., Student
“For the most part our students are from crowded streets in urban neighborhoods. They have had few opportunities to interact with nature on its own terms. They deeply appreciate and don’t soon forget the EHOS classes which teach respect and conservation values in a variety of creative ways.” –Eduardo Gamarra, Teacher, Oyster Bilingual Elementary School Washington, DC
“While the classrooms have no walls, I witnessed boys learning about science and the environment, about themselves, about group dynamics, and about leadership.” –Douglass E. Norry, Middle School Senior Master, Landon Middle School Potomac, MD
“In those five days you were able to instill responsibility, increase self-confidence, teach new skills, open up new friendships, and increase an appreciation of our environment for Matthew.” –Carolyn Purdy, Parent
“Mostly I learned about myself. I may not be as athletic as other people, but I found out that I do have something inside of me that some people don’t have; something inside of me that said, “Keep going!’ when I thought I couldn’t. I can do things that other people enjoy without being teased about what I look like. These are some of the things that I learned about myself. I also learned that the people in my class like me and make me feel good.” –Elisa G., Student
“Having worked now in the city schools for over 25 years, I can honestly say there are few experiences available to our children that compare to the rich, deep, and expansive learning that is at the core of the Echo Hill experience. Few of our students have the opportunity to kiss a fish from the Chesapeake Bay or take in the wonder of a night sky far from the city or take a long, wet nature hike with their friends. Echo Hill Outdoor School opens a new and very exciting world for our kids.” –Patrick Pope, Principal, Hardy Middle School Washington, DC
“At Friends, we strive to help children grow to be open-minded, reflective, and well-rounded. Echo Hill’s program perfectly supports our philosophy of working together to develop both individual and group potential in an inclusive, respectful, and supportive environment.” –Greta Rutstein, Director of Academic Administration, Friends School of Baltimore Baltimore, MD
“Routines established before and during the excursion provided a structured and safe environment for the students. Students and teachers were mutually respectful and students were held accountable for following the rules, participating in the collection of samples, and writing in their journals.” –Susan K. Laber, MSDE Site Visitor Baltimore, MD
“Even days when I was exhausted, grumpy, and searching for energy, there was always someone to put a smile on my face. There were so many moments when I wanted nothing else than to be doing what I was doing, where I was doing it, and with whom I was doing it.” –Stanley Dunn, Teacher, Echo Hill Outdoor School
“You are certainly in a wonderful location, but for me it is the people that you hire and train that pull it off in splendid fashion. I applaud you for having the dedication and commitment to help make a difference in the lives of our students. I often have students who have gone on to Upper School and college tell me that their experience at Echo Hill was one of the highlights of their Episcopal Experience.” –Win Shafer, Teacher, Episcopal Academy
“I have been bringing my sixth grade students to Echo Hill for about 10 years now. We use the challenge course program with our students. This program has always been well organized and highly engaging. One of my favorite aspects of the program is that it truly challenges the students. The staff does an excellent job of pushing the students to go one step further than they think they can. Counselors also work on leadership and cooperative skills with my students. This is a character building experience for all involved. My pupils talk about the experience for weeks after we return to school.” – Mrs. Trina Honer, Teacher, Galena Middle School Kent County, MD
“The knowledge each student learns about himself may be your most lasting lesson. The impact the Outdoor School has on developing interpersonal relations and self-concept is tremendous. Students are placed in group and individual situations that cannot be duplicated in the classroom. Therefore they have to summon help from within and from others… something they frequently have never had to do before.” –Anonymous
Student Letters of Support
Teacher / Administrator Letters of Support
The Saturday Environmental Academy had our overnight at your facility this weekend. It was fabulous. The buildings, grounds, adventure courses, boats, etc. are terrific. The activities were just what we'd hoped for. As predicted everyone has raving about the food. As the person who normally shops, hauls, and cooks food for our weekends, I think I was particularly delighted, but daunted for future overnights at other sites. But most special of all is the staff. They are talented and engaging and professional. Your whole operation is a step above what we've experienced elsewhere and we will be back. Thank you to everyone involved.
Jane Osborne
Executive Director
Saturday Environmental Academy
March 23, 2009
Dear Betsy, Andrew and Debbie,
Thank you for another successful experience this year at Echo Hill Outdoor School. I am so glad that in spite of our postponed week due to the snow and frigid weather, that you were able to accommodate us the very next week. With the number of students reduced, and the continual vigilance of your staff, the mixed dorm worked out quite well.
The children loved all of their classes, dorm life, mealtimes, and night time activities. My co-teacher, Karen, and I had great fun walking around campus and observing the classes. It was rather funny that we kept looking for pond studies all over the campus only to find out that it is an off-campus activity! I am sorry that I had to finish up some “school work” and so was unable to attend either the auction or the visit to Chestertown with the students on their mystery tours. However, there is always next year!
As usual, the students were most taken with the teachers and staff. It is testimony to the well thought out training they are given not only in terms of class/lesson content, but also in terms of caring and careful management of children. As we have all noticed over the years, our children spend less and less time outside “in the woods” so to speak. This leads to a deprivation of sorts that the children crave. It also provides us with children who must learn to be with nature. That not only requires knowledge of what to wear and how to walk through an unpaved environment, it also requires a training of the spirit to be in the natural world. We as teachers and the students feel safe and confident in the hands of the people at Echo Hill. This sense provides for an optimum learning experience; an experience from which the students return each year with increased self-assurance and an increased sense of responsibility for stewardship of the land and its inhabitants
Thank you again for a terrific time and we look forward to seeing you next spring!
Sincerely yours,
Sara Grossman
Dear Ms. McCown,
It is my pleasure to endorse the Echo Hill Outdoor School’s application to NOAA to assist the State of Maryland in providing Meaningful Watershed Experiences for 400 Maryland Public School, 4th – 8th grade, students through the 3-5 day residential programs. This expansion of Echo Hill Outdoor School’s watershed experiences will serve six of Maryland’s 24 public school systems (Baltimore City and County, Kent County, Montgomery County, Queen Anne’s County and Talbot County) and is in partnership with the Maryland State Department of Education.
Echo Hill has been a grant recipient from the Maryland State-Aided Educational Institutions (SAI) programs, administered by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), for over twenty years. The hands-on experiential programs for Maryland students and teachers have always been exemplars of meaningful outdoor and environmental education. Throughout their history in the SAI program they have received outstanding reports from the annual on-site visits. The many different Department staff having reviewed the program has always raved about the program’s high quality.
Echo Hill’s curriculum addresses Department priorities and is aligned with the Maryland State Voluntary Curriculum. Their program addresses the state’s environmental education by-law and the Maryland Science Content Standards. In addition the Echo Hill student experiences are recognized as fulfilling the “Meaningful Bay Experience” required for elementary, middle and high school students. The residential outdoor education programs offered by Echo Hill are exemplary models. Public funds support these programs, particularly for students and schools that would other wise not be able to have this experience.
In summary, the Echo Hill Outdoor School is the epitome to what hands-on experiential environmental and outdoor education programs for students and teachers should be. Their proposed Meaningful Watershed Experience residential project will do much for extending their exemplary work to more Maryland students and teachers. I fully endorse the Echo Hill Outdoor School being a recipient of this NOAA grant.
Sincerely,
Mary Bea Preston
Director, Grant Programs Initiatives and
Program Manager, State-Aided Educational Institutions
Division for Learning Development
Mary State Department of Education
Betsy, Andrew & Peter:
I am happy to respond to your request for a quote for your brochure about my experiences at Echo Hill! I first visited the outdoor school in 1982 with Episcopal and have missed only a few years since that time. I always look forward to the time each year when we return.
As I reflect on many happy visits to Echo Hill I am most appreciative of your ability to know what it is that you hope to accomplish in a short week with a group of middle schoolers and to deliver a quality program year after year. It is clear to me that Echo Hill has spent a great deal of time developing its mission and goals. More importantly you are able to ingrain that mission in your wonderful staff each year. What impresses me the most is the ability of your staff to educate and enthuse our students and our faculty. Your teachers know what Echo Hill and The Bay are all about, and they do a fabulous job of communicating that to us in a manor that is full of information, possibilities and enthusiasm. You are certainly in a wonderful location, but for me it is the people that you and train that pull it off in splendid fashion. Our students gain so much from their time spent at Echo Hill: an enhanced appreciation for the environment and our duty to be good stewards of it, an appreciation of the diversity and importance of estuaries like the Chesapeake & Delaware Bays, and most importantly an opportunity to step outside their comfort zone and risk making new friendships. I applaud you for having the dedication and commitment to help to make a difference in the lives of our students. I often have students who have gone on to Upper School and college tell me that their experience at Echo Hill was one of the highlights of there Episcopal experience.
Thank You!
Win Shafer
Middle School Science Teacher
Episcopal Academy