Tag: student board member

Opportunities for Arlington High Schoolers at the Lab

Posted on by Colleen Levine

The Outdoor Lab welcomes Arlington high school students who wish to volunteer at the Lab throughout the school year. Students in grades 9-12 are also welcome to apply for summer camp junior counselor positions, hired through APS. Please see below for details about the various ways we welcome teens to get involved at the Lab.

visitors wait to board boats on the pond

  • Apply to serve as a Student Board Member: In 2021, the AOEA began a student Board Member program offering an opportunity for select APS students who have benefitted from the Outdoor Lab and want to give back. The student Board Member participates in monthly AOEA board meetings mostly via Zoom, offering advice and voting on AOEA business. They participate in AOEA events at the Outdoor Lab and in Arlington and act as a liaison to their schools and student groups in APS.

    If you are a rising Junior or Senior at an APS high school and are interested in applying, please fill out our brief application (2026-27 school year applications are due March 31, 2026) or contact AOEA at secretary@outdoorlab.org with any questions.

  • Summer Camp Counselors-in-Training/Junior Staff: APS conducts three weeks of overnight summer camp, July 6-10, July 13-17 and July 20-24. Current students in grades 9 through 12 are invited to apply for a volunteer CIT/junior staff position; applications are due Fri., March 27.
  • Volunteer: Students can earn service hours at our Spring (April 18) and Fall (tbd) Open Houses or at other volunteer work days throughout the year; please sign up here to hear about upcoming volunteer needs. We also welcome high school seniors to work with the Lab for their senior experience; please reach out to volunteer@outdoorlab.org to inquire about opportunities.

January 2026 Lab Notes

Posted on by Colleen Levine

In this month’s issue of Lab Notes:

Winter at the Lab: Seventh-grade field trips started at the end of November and ran through mid-January. Students enjoyed being outside – despite the colder temperatures – and were excited to study ecology. They visited various learning stations set up at around the property, so they had a bit of freedom to explore on their own. Third grade and high school visits began mid-January, and fifth grade overnights will resume at the end of February.

Be on the lookout for APS Outdoor Lab staff at upcoming Science Nights at Long Branch, Science Focus, and Discovery elementary schools. We’d love to see you!

Recruiting Summer Camp Counselors: Plans for three weeks of 2026 Outdoor Lab Summer Camp are well under way. Camp for middle schoolers (current grade 6-8) will be the weeks of July 6th and 13th, and for elementary students (current grade 4-5) the week of July 20th. Camp registration opens March 6 here. Counselors (18+) and counselors-in-training (grades 9-12) are needed for each session and applications are available on the APS website here. Applications are due by March 27.

Meet ’25-26 Student Board Member Claire McArdle: Claire is a senior at Yorktown High School. She is on the track and field and swim teams, sings in choir, and is an APS Fine Arts Apprentice. She is committed to the Outdoor Lab experience because she believes it is extremely valuable for elementary school kids to learn about nature and the importance of conservation. …