Northwest Regional Outdoor Science School

Northwest Outdoor Science School is a multi-day, overnight experiential education program for sixth-grade students. Students live in and learn about the natural world in a natural setting, spending many hours each day on different science field studies. Learning takes place in small groups, and the activities are hands-on, short, interactive and fun. Students study about forest & aquatic habitats and life forms, soil and water quality, and more. At OutdoorSchool, students develop an understanding and appreciation of the natural world and their place in it.

Social growth occurs as the students learn, live and play together. Students live in cabin groups and participate in evening campfire programs, cabin unity games, camp duties, recreation, and homeroom time with their classroom teachers. They learn to function as a team as they perform basic duties such as serving meals, presenting a weather forecast, or cleaning their cabins. Family style dining reinforces table manners, etiquette and nutritional diet. All sites have comfortable sleeping cabins with heat and electricity, restrooms with showers, a dining hall and covered areas for field studies.

College and high school students volunteer as counselors for one week. They live in the cabins with the sixth-graders, engaging the students in a variety of fun activities (games, songs, icebreakers, skits) to build cabin unity and forge friendships. Counselors also teach the activities on the science field studies, allowing the average study group size to be 5 students per instructor.

OutdoorSchool staff provides training in good child management, field study activities and teaching techniques, game and song leading, and camp duties. Counselors arrive a day before students to begin training, and are mentored throughout the week. The staff is always available to assist counselors in any way.

No prior camp experience is required! Nor are counselors expected to be experts in science. You only need to be ready and willing to learn at OutdoorSchool. People wishing to counsel at OutdoorSchool must:

1. Enjoy spending time with children.

2. Enjoy spending time in the outdoors.

3. Take initiative to engage students in activities.

4. Be responsible & mature.

5. Be enthusiastic & positive.

6. Be flexible to do whatever is needed.

7. Be able to communicate clearly.

8. Focus all of their energy on making OutdoorSchool as rewarding an experience as possible for students.