Being able to withdraw from the classroom is a calming opportunity and pretty uncommon occurrence. However, outdoor education teacher and football co-defensive coordinator coach Stephen Reves rewards his students for their work during this stressful time of the year in the form of his cookouts.

“They’re fun, they give everyone a chance to decompress. It’s normally done after tests and stuff so it gives us a second to breathe. It’s also nice because I don’t go outside nearly as much as I should and just being outside in the sun is always good,” senior Evan Christensen said. “Being surrounded by good food and all that kind of stuff is great.”

Christensen expresses his appreciation for the cookouts and the interactions they spark. 

“It definitely gets me out in the sun like I said, and also the food is always yummy and it’s always good and fun to see it being made as well,” Christensen said. “You can also just hang out with other students, a lot of times there’s also horseshoes or other stuff out there too, so it also gets a little bit of physical activity.”

Whether it is outdoor education or playing kickball in English, allowing students to spend time outdoors is beneficial for student morale. Students including Christensen enjoy spending time outside of the classroom and hope it is a tradition that continues in the future.