Tri-County Technical Center Visit to GeoCamp Iceland

In April, GeoCamp Iceland hosted a group of students from Tri-County Technical Center in Dexter, Maine, led by educator Erin Towns. Tri-County is a public career and technical education (CTE) school serving students from multiple districts, offering a wide range of programmes designed to develop practical skills and prepare students for further education and employment.  

The visit to Iceland was designed as an extension of this approach, with a focus on field-based learning and outdoor education. Throughout the programme, students worked directly in a range of natural environments, including geothermal areas, volcanic landscapes, and glacial systems. Activities were structured around observation, documentation, and interpretation of natural processes, with students applying methods such as data collection, photography, and drone-based recording.

The emphasis was on understanding active Earth systems in real conditions. This included examining geothermal activity, identifying geological features in volcanic terrain, and observing glacial processes and indicators of environmental change. Rather than working with simulations or case studies, students engaged with the landscape itself as the primary source of information.

The programme also supported the development of transferable skills aligned with technical education. Students worked in teams, recorded field observations, and interpreted environmental data. The use of technical tools in the field—such as drones and digital documentation—provided a direct link between classroom-based learning and applied practice.

This type of outdoor learning environment allows students to connect theoretical knowledge with practical experience, particularly in areas related to environmental science, natural resources, and technical disciplines.

It’s hands-on, immersive, and sometimes a bit unpredictable — just like the careers they’re preparing for. That’s the power of outdoor learning. We thank Erin and Tri-County for showing us this in real life.

All images from Erin Towns