What does the Outdoor Program involve?
In the Lower School, students take field trips as often as once a week. The activities on field trips might be outdoor activities (hiking, climbing, an outdoor science activity) or a non-outdoor activity related to an area of study in the class. Beginning in 1st or 2nd grade, classes typically do an overnight trip during the year. The length of trips increases as students get older. Middle School students do a 3-6 day backpacking trip in the fall as well as a 2-4 week trip in the spring. The Upper School students do a 10-day backpacking trip, a month long trip in the spring, usually to another country, and 2-3 shorter trips during the year, as well. The activities in the Outdoor Program can include hiking, rock climbing, caving, boating, biking, and more. Outdoor experiences are designed to build particular social, emotional, and academic skills, which make the program meaningful to students individually as well as enhancing their entire educational experience.
