The Beauty of Outdoor Learning
Whether right here on our own beautiful campus or the mountains, rivers, and deserts that surround us, we strive to nurture our students’ curiosity and help them feel at home in the outdoors. We introduce students to a range of activities and environments while challenging them to make meaningful connections to the classroom—and to their lives. We also teach about living in the desert and ways we can reduce our water consumption. Equally important, we help students gain an appreciation for the organisms that share our Southern Idaho home.
Helping Students Develop Character
As students take more responsibility for their own well-being, they become comfortable acting independently. New environments, new equipment, and new issues encourage them to become critical thinkers and work collaboratively as they solve problems or resolve conflicts together. Along the way, ice skating, snowshoeing, and nordic skiing help students develop good old-fashioned balance, stamina, and strength too. And with teachers and parents there every step of the way, students are able to grow in a safe, supportive environment.
Building Community
Our outdoor program fosters a unique sense of community between students, teachers, and parents who learn to trust, challenge, and support each other on trips. Whether laughing together after splashing through a rapid, working together to set up a tent, or telling stories around a campfire, every child and family is an integral part of the experience.
Elementary School Outdoor Education Activities
| Preschool | Rafting and outdoor education in the classroom |
|---|---|
| Pre-Kindergarten | Rafting and rock climbing lessons |
| Kindergarten | Rafting, Rock Climbing, and a Spring Outdoor Education Day Trip |
| Grade 1 | Rafting, ice skating lessons, and a Spring Outdoor Education Day Trip |
| Grade 2 | Rafting, nordic skiing lessons, and an overnight camping trip |
| Grade 3 | Rafting, nordic skiing lessons, and a three-day camp-based trip at Horsethief Reservoir |
| Grade 4 | Rafting, SnowSchool at Bogus Basin, and a five-day camp-based fall trip at McCall Outdoor Science School, Oregon Trail exploration day |
| Grade 5 | Rafting, overnight camping trip at Intermountain Bird Observatory, snowshoeing day trip, and a five-day camp-based winter trip at McCall Outdoor Science School (MOSS) |
Middle School Outdoor Education Activities
| Grade 6 | Four-day camp-based trip to Yellowstone National Park, Southern Idaho camping and civil rights education trip, and ski/snowboard lessons |
|---|---|
| Grade 7 | Four-day biking trip on the Weiser River Trail, ski/snowboard lessons, Mountain Biking/Camping trip in the Owyhees |
| Grade 8 | Six-day river trip on the Main Salmon River, three-day winter yurt trip near Idaho City, and five-day backpacking trip along the Snake River in Hell’s Canyon National Recreation Area |
High School Outdoor Education Activities
| Grade 9 | Three-day backpacking trip in Central Idaho/Eastern Oregon wilderness areas and five-day backpacking trip in Grand Gulch National Wilderness Area (Utah) |
|---|---|
| Grade 10 | Three-day backpacking trip in Central Idaho/Eastern Oregon wilderness areas and five-day backpacking trip to the Rogue River Wilderness in Oregon |
| Grade 11 | Four-day Northwest College Tour, three-day winter camping, central Idaho backpacking trip, and four-day combined college counseling and outdoor education retreat at the YMCA Horsethief Camp |
| Grade 12 | Three-day backpacking trip to Eagle Cap Wilderness and Senior Trip to City of Rocks |