TRAILS School Outdoor Education Program

At TRAILS School, Outdoor Education forms the bedrock of our curriculum, emphasizing a deep, practical engagement with nature and environmental stewardship from kindergarten through eighth grade.

Our Vision: We aim to cultivate environmentally literate students who treasure outdoor experiences, respect nature, and are prepared to be proactive stewards of their environment and community. Our program not only strengthens academic learning but also builds self-confidence and a deep connection to the natural world.

Curricular Focus: Our Outdoor Education curriculum is inspired by the Oregon Environmental Literacy Plan. It encompasses five fundamental strands:

  • Systems Thinking: Holistic understanding of systems and their interconnected parts.

  • Physical, Living, and Human Systems: Comprehensive knowledge of Earth's varied systems.

  • Interconnectedness of People and the Environment: Recognizing the symbiotic relationship between humans and nature.

  • Personal and Civic Responsibility: Emphasizing environmental citizenship and sustainable community involvement.

  • Investigate, Plan, and Create a Sustainable Future: Encouraging proactive, sustainable actions for future well-being.

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A group of young students in orange safety vests listens to a guide outdoors. They are in a grassy field with mountains in the distance, under a clear blue sky, suggesting an educational field trip.
A young boy with red hair in a tie-dye shirt is carefully walking on a slackline, holding the hand of a boy in a grey shirt who is assisting him. They are surrounded by a group of cheering children in a grassy area with trees in the background.

Educational Approach:

  • Younger students (K-3) explore Lithia Park weekly, focusing on specific scientific concepts through direct interaction with nature.

  • Older students (grades 4-8) primarily use EarthTeach Forest Park as their outdoor classroom, complemented by extended field trips to diverse natural environments like Klamath, Upper Rogue, and the Pacific Ocean. These experiences allow students to observe seasonal changes and understand diverse ecosystems.

Outdoor Ed 5-8:

Outdoor studies connect us to our local community, while strengthening our students’ self-confidence, adding depth to our academic studies, and providing students with the opportunity to establish a sense of place and a deep connection to nature.

Some of the extended outdoor opportunities our students participate in are:

  • 8th Grade Float

  • 8th Grade Back Packing Trip

  • Leave No Trace Backpacking Trip

  • Ashland Watershed Field Trip Units

    • Bend

    • Klamath

    • Upper Rogue

    • Pacific Ocean

A group of students wearing blue life jackets and helmets poses for a photo by a river. A bridge and trees are in the background, suggesting preparation for a water activity, possibly rafting.

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group of students sitting on benches outdoors attentively listen to an instructor wearing a hat. They are raising their hands, ready to answer or ask questions. The background shows a clear sky and a distant mountain range.

Outdoor studies connect us to our local community, while strengthening our students’ self-confidence, adding depth to our academic studies, and providing students with the opportunity to establish a sense of place and a deep connection to nature.
Our partnership with local organizations include:   

  • Lithia Park      

  • North Mountain Park

  • Eagle Mill Park

  • Rogue River Keepers

  • Mt. Ashland

  • Deer Creek Outdoor School

  • Cascade - Siskiyou National Monument

  • EarthTeach

  • Restoration work with Lomakatsi

  • Siskiyou Field Institute

  • Southern Oregon University

    • Outdoor Program

    • Outdoor Adventure Leadership Program