“Reel Learning” – The Power of Renbrook Outdoors
Renbrook School’s 5th graders recently spent the day immersed in a hands-on fishing and outdoor education experience at Forster Pond State Park in Killingworth, Connecticut. The trip was part of Renbrook Outdoors, the school’s growing commitment to experiential learning and meaningful connections with the natural world.
While students certainly learned the fundamentals of fishing and aquatic science, the day ultimately became about something much bigger: patience, confidence, curiosity, community, and the power of learning beyond the classroom walls.
Bringing Classroom Learning Into the Outdoors
Leading up to the outing, students learned the basics of fishing in PE classes, including rod care and management, safety procedures, catch-and-release practices, and environmental stewardship.
At Forster Pond, students had the opportunity to apply those skills in a real-world setting, catching trout, perch, sunfish, and bass throughout the day. Many students proudly baited their own hooks for the first time, embracing challenges that initially felt unfamiliar or intimidating. For some students, the experience revealed entirely new sides of themselves.
“We watched some students who are typically in constant motion sit quietly and patiently by the water for stretches of time longer than many of us had ever seen before,” reflected Carley Elkin, Renbrook’s Assistant Athletic Director and one of the organizers of the trip. “They were fully focused, calm, and immersed in the moment.”
The outing also highlighted the strong sense of community among the students. “We heard cheers erupt across the pond not only when students caught fish themselves, but even louder when their friends did,” Elkin shared. “The joy and genuine celebration of one another was impossible to miss.”
Hands-On STEM
In addition to fishing, students participated in a STEM activity modeled after real fisheries research. Using bananas as fish models, students practiced placing a mock “tracking device” inside the “fish,” then stitching it back up and “releasing” it into the water. The activity helped them better understand how scientists study fish movement, migration patterns, and aquatic ecosystems while reinforcing problem-solving, observation, and fine motor skills.
The kids also explored the wooded trails surrounding the education center at Forster Pond State Park, deepening their appreciation for Connecticut’s natural environment through hiking and outdoor exploration.
Curiosity and New Experiences
One of the most meaningful moments of the day came when two students who initially believed they would not participate in fishing because they are vegetarians ultimately chose to give it a try.
“They tried it not because their values changed,” Elkin explained, “but because opportunities like this, real learning, often ask us to hold what we believe while still staying open to new experiences.” “That, in many ways, is the point of days like this,” she continued. “Not to change who students are, but to help them stretch at the edges of comfort and certainty. It’s not just about learning a new skill. It’s about practicing how to meet life directly, with curiosity, humility, and an open mind.”
Partnering with Connecticut DEEP
The program is managed through the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s Learn to Fish with CARE (Connecticut Aquatic Resources Education) program. The initiative promotes fishing education, environmental stewardship, and outdoor recreation for students across the state.
The experience was led by Renbrook educators Carley Elkin, Assistant Athletic Director, and Olivia Goodrich, Upper School STEAM and Science Teacher and STEAM and Inquiry Integration Coordinator. Both Carley and Olivia recently completed training with Connecticut DEEP and became certified Fish with CARE coaches, helping bring this unique opportunity to Renbrook students.
Growing the Renbrook Outdoors Program
At Renbrook School, outdoor education is an important extension of classroom learning. Through Renbrook Outdoors, students are encouraged to engage deeply with the world around them while developing resilience, independence, empathy, and confidence.
Experiences like this one remind students that some of the most meaningful learning happens when they step outside, slow down, and connect with nature and one another.
As naturalist John Muir once wrote, “In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks.”
Learn more about Connecticut’s Learn to Fish with CARE program.
