As part of their Catholic Education Week activities, students from St. Benedict’s outdoor education program hit the water on Silver Lake early to practice some of their canoing skills on May 5, 2011. In order to prepare for their four day canoe trip later in the month, the St. Ben’s students manned their canoes and worked on their paddling techniques around the lake. Eighteen students will be traveling to Kukagami Lake for their four day trip and Outdoor Education teacher Pat Morris makes sure that each student is confident in their abilities before they leave embark on their excursion. Morris explained how the outdoor education program at St. Benedict really allows students to connect to the outdoor world, and the students learn to become cognizant of their impact on the environment through this program. “ When we are working on our outdoor ed. skills, we look at what we bring to the space and what we leave behind,” Morris stated. “Even when we come to Silver Lake to practice, we do a garbage clean up of the launch site before we hit the water, and make sure that when we leave, the space is exactly as it should be – nothing left behind – this way our students develop a deep respect for our earth.” Catherine McCullough visited the students as they practiced canoeing and spoke to the strength of the program at St. Benedict and its impact on the school and community. “These students really understand the importance of being stewards of the earth,” McCullough said. “This program really develops our students as leaders in the environment, and it is a connection that they bring to the community and beyond.”