Teaching Life Skills
Eagle Bluff Environmental Education Center (EBEEC) has been quietly fostering respect for the environment and teaching students and visitors life skills for nearly 20 years. Beginning as the Forest Resource Center, the site became known as Eagle Bluff in 1997, and has been growing to meet the
expanded demand for classes ever since.
A large part of the EBEEC’s business comes from students, primarily in grades 5 through 8. While at the Center the students, whose stay lasts between three and five days, are involved in learning about the environment through hands-on, experimental sessions. “Usually the students come as part of a school program,” stated Education Coordinator Sharon Kaufman. “Through the environment, we teach not only academic skills, but life skills:
* respect,
* conservation,
* cooperation and
* communication.”
Enjoying the Natural Elements
EBEEC is also a great destination for families and others who are interested in the natural elements of this region of southeastern Minnesota. Located near Lanesboro, Minnesota, EBEEC is the only residential environmental learning center south of the Twin Cities. As part of an expansion in 1997, EBEEC added a great new dormitory and dining hall, each lined with windows framing spectacular views of the Root River valley down below.
During the week the buildings are filled with students and teachers, who come to learn about the forest and the surrounding area. The weekends are devoted to everyone else, from church groups, to educators, to hunters, and once a month, to families.
Cultural Themes
The site for the Eagle Bluff Environmental Education Center is a perfect setting for students to learn about environmental studies, with plenty of outdoor activities that range from cultural themes to forestry, from conservation to natural lifeskills and adventure. “Because of the topography, we are in a perfect place to illustrate some of the abstract concepts of environmental science. We can not only teach the academic side of what a watershed is, but actually show students what a watershed looks like,” said Kaufman.
What sets the Center apart from traditional learning opportunities is the possibility of teaching skills
that are not taught elsewhere. Students can learn about:
* winter snowshoeing and winter survival,
* animal tracking,
and can return to see the changes over time in an ecosystem. Students are also allowed opportunities for leadership and team building skills. Whether it is in small groups orienteering their way through the forest or problem solving the intricacies of a rope challenge course, or supporting each other on the Center’s new impressive climbing wall, students learn lessons in trust, responsibility, and sharing that are invaluable.
Cultural Lessons
The EBEEC also teaches important cultural lessons. Through demonstrations of life styles of some of the Native American groups who once lived in the area and explorations of current cultural differences, students gain valuable lessons about themselves and the people around them. A recent group from St. Paul’s Century High School, from a variety of different backgrounds, had only good things to say about their experience at EBEEC.
“When they said they’d catch me, they did. Trust is something we need to add between cultures,” said student Nicki Haagenson. Student participant T.K. Huynh found an analogy in nature. “In a garden, people plant a lot of different kinds of flowers. Their differences make the garden beautiful. It’s like the whole world, we all have different backgrounds, cultures, nationalities, talents. Diversity is beautiful and it makes our lives more powerful. That’s why we are here…to make a difference.” 
The Eagle Bluff Environmental Education Center is making a difference in people’s lives. Through educational programs for students and visitors alike, valuable lessons are being learned about the environment and about human relations and interaction. Whether it is on the “Tree Tops” course, the climbing wall, or in the beautiful new dining hall, visitors to the EBEEC are participating in an eye-opening venture that aims to awaken people’s curiosity about nature while creating an appreciation and understanding of where they fit in our diverse world.