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Outdoor Education

Sixth graders pose in the water of Catalina in their life vests.

Outdoor Education

Students in grades five through eight participate in outdoor education. Outdoor education expands the limits of the classroom through exploration of the natural surroundings of Southern California. Students learn about the power of teamwork and perseverance by working through challenges, as well as participating in activities such as zip lining, hiking, snorkeling, and canoeing. These trips offer students the opportunity to bond with each other and their teachers while being immersed in nature. 

Outdoor Education Trips:

5th grade – AstroCamp

6th grade – Catalina

7th grade – Big Bear

8th grade – Lower Colorado River

Sixth graders take a hike along the coast of Catalina.
A photo of Big Bear Lake in the winter time with snow on the surrounding trees.
A sixth grade girl sitting and smiling on a beach rock in Catalina.
Group of seventh graders saying cheese as they smile in the Big Bear snow.
Seventh grade boy poses with snow on his nose in Big Bear.
Photo of the Catalina Coast.
Eighth graders stretching their friend in the water of the Colorado River.
Students posing in the water before diving into the ocean to snorkel.
Scenic photo of a canoe dock at the Colorado River.
Teachers pose for a selfie in their life vests on the Colorado River trip.
Eighth grade students take a nap on their canoe ride on the Colorado River.
Seventh grade girl smiles as she ziplines through the trees in Big Bear.
Girls smile for a sunset photo in their life vests on the Colorado River.

Immersing middle schoolers in outdoor education is akin to unlocking a treasure trove of life's lessons amidst the whispering leaves and dancing desert sunlight. As they navigate winding coastal trails and conquer rocky terrains, students not only master the art of teamwork and problem-solving but also forge an intimate bond with the natural world. The scent of earth after rain, the symphony of birdsong, and the gentle caress of a breeze become their classroom, teaching them invaluable lessons in resilience and environmental stewardship that textbooks could never convey. In these wild spaces, amidst towering trees, rushing rivers, and open ocean, students not only discover the secrets of science by studying ecosystems firsthand but also uncover the poetry of mathematics in patterns of leaves or the physics of water currents. Nature becomes their laboratory, their library, and their muse, offering a holistic education that nourishes both mind and soul, fostering a lifelong love affair with learning and the world around them.Ms. Phan
Middle School English and literature teacher