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 OUTDOOR
ACADEMY: NEW DIRECTIONS IN HIGH SCHOOL
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Written
by: Kalin
Daquila
As a physical education teacher, there
are an abundance of ideas you could
use for your students’ everyday
“team sport” activities.
How often is it that students have the
opportunity to experience PE outside
the classroom environment, while at
the same time learning the concepts
of being a team as well as developing
individual goals?
 Tracy
Krause, a Tahoma High School
physical education teacher and National
High School Teacher of the Year,
knows exactly how to answer this question.
Tracy, along with his fellow colleagues,
has developed a number of different
integrated PE programs for students.
One program of particular interest is
the Outdoor Academy program, which consists
of a sophomore class and integrates
the core areas of PE, language arts,
and science.
In this Outdoor Academy, eighty-five
students work closely with three other
teachers to take part in several activities
outside of the classroom, which include
fly fishing, rock climbing, and hiking.
To build on the core subjects, students
are required to keep a field journal
to record their experiences and observations.
In addition to the journal write-ups,
students are also required to read a
selected book for the class in relation
to the activity at hand. An example
of a novel that the students have read
is A
River Runs Through It by Norman
Maclean, which relates to the activity
of fly fishing. For the science portion
of the academy, students have tested
water quality in the local streams.
The academy assists the students “to
build rigor, relevance, and relationships
within an outdoor recreation theme,”
states Krause. You could imagine that
being in the same environment would
affect a student’s interest in
the class, let alone his or her academic
performance. Does the integration of
different core subjects have an effect,
as well as the environment? “We
have found a link between the class
and higher scores on state assessments
in the core areas. If there is another
program like ours, we are not aware
of it.”
Along with the Outdoor Academy, there
are several other programs that students
can sign up for through the physical
education program at Tahoma High. Some
examples are Outdoor Recreation, Team
Sports, Training and Conditioning, Club
Fitness, Dance, and Zero Hour Conditioning.
Along with these courses, teachers include
four essential and fundamental concept
bundles, which include fitness concepts,
nutrition, decision making, and stress
reduction. Tracy states that he and
the other teachers also “incorporate
thinking skills and habits of mind into
our lessons on a daily basis.”
 The
Outdoor Academy program not only benefits
the students educationally, but also
gives back and builds a sturdy relationship
with the community and the surrounding
environment. Tracy often coordinates
stewardship opportunities for the students
throughout the school year by planting
trees, teaching the students to build,
use resources, and relate to the community.
“If the students weren’t
building for the environment, the stewardship
opportunities wouldn’t have much
impact,” says Tracy. “We
think advocating in our community is
the best way for us to change the culture
around personal health and wellness.
Once our community sees its value, so
too will our school and students.”
It is fair to say that Tracy Krause
has made an enormous impact in the physical
education department of the Tahoma School
District, whether it be with an individual
student or the community as a whole.
“Our department is on the same
page. We have a common philosophy, and
support each other in the development
and implementation of curriculum. It
is unique to have everyone in the department
committed to the same goals. It allows
us to have a common message for our
students, and ensure that no matter
which teacher our students have; they
will leave our school with the foundation
they need to live a healthy and successful
life.”
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