Spring/Fall Programs
Philosophy and Program Overview-
Every student at Explorer West participates in the Outdoor Education program. Students go on two multi-day camping trips each year (fall and spring) with other students from their grade level. Explorer West faculty and other outdoor leadership specialists who are experienced in working with middle school-age students lead these trips. The Outdoor Education trips provide students with opportunities to explore the natural world around them and to experience and observe ecosystems, geology, natural history, and local geography for themselves—actively learning about these things in ways not possible in a classroom. Although physical exercise and play are integral parts of the experience, the faculty plans trips and curricula so that the Outdoor Education program and the classroom experience enrich one another, focusing on the themes of sustainability and exploration. Furthermore, students learn a variety of camping and "survival" skills, as well as minimum impact and leave-no-trace camping practices.
Skills Overview -
Over three years at Explorer West, students will develop skills such as:
- Minimum impact and leave no trace camping practices
- Backpacking and hiking
- Use of camping equipment such as camping stoves and tents
- Map reading and navigation skills
- Planning and preparing (and cleaning up after) meals
- Basic first aid
- Leadership and cooperation
- Reflection and self-examination
- Trail maintenance
Content Overview -
The content of the Outdoor Education curriculum is derived from the content of the academic disciplines and driven by the themes of exploration and sustainability. Some examples of the topics and locations students explore during their Outdoor Education experiences are:
- 6th grade trips: Ft. Worden and Cypress Island, marine science, gaining a working knowledge of the equipment and practices needed for a safe and enjoyable wilderness experience, trail maintenance, estimation, a focus on teamwork
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7th grade trips: Alpine Lake Wilderness and the Quilcene area, woodland environments, classification of living things, land use and settlement, gaining proficiency in the equipment and practices necessary for a safe, enjoyable and minimum-impact experience, trail maintenance, a focus on teamwork and a personal relationship with the outdoors
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8th grade trips: Mt. Rainier and the ocean beaches of Olympic National Park, remote areas, glaciology and geology, volcanology, myth telling a focus on teamwork, a personal relationship with the outdoors and strong leadership skills
Winter Program
Philosophy and Program Overview-
Every student at Explorer West participates in the Winter Outdoor Education program. The four consecutive Wednesdays of the Winter Program are designed to expose students to the rich variety of winter activities available in the Pacific Northwest. Along activity-specific, students are taught winter safety skills such as preventing hypothermia and the basics of avalanche safety. Explorer West faculty and other outdoor leadership specialists who are experienced in working with middle school-age students lead these trips. The Winter Outdoor Education trips provide students with opportunities to experience winter in the Cascades while learning lifelong outdoor pursuits that they can share with their families. Although physical exercise and play are integral parts of the experience, the faculty plans trips and curricula so that the Outdoor Education program and the classroom experience enrich one another, focusing on the themes of sustainability and exploration.
Skills Overview -
Over three years at Explorer West, students will develop skills such as:
- Minimum impact and leave no trace practices
- Recognizing avalanche danger
- Map reading and navigation skills
- Local geography
- Basic first aid
- Leadership and cooperation
- Reflection and self-examination
Content Overview -
The content of the Outdoor Education curriculum is derived from the content of the academic disciplines and driven by the themes of exploration and sustainability. Some examples of the topics and locations students explore during their Winter Outdoor Education experiences are:
- 6th grade trips: Snowshoeing at Gold Creek Snow Park – designing, building, and testing their own snowshoes in a partnership with local outdoor manufacturer, Cascade Designs, basic avalanche safety taught by the Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center, preventing and treating hypothermia and frostbite, building shelters, introduction to the equipment and practices needed for a safe and enjoyable winter wilderness experience, focus on teamwork
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7th grade trips: Cross Country Skiing at Snoqualmie Pass Nordic Center - guided instruction, review of safety procedures, gaining proficiency in the equipment and practices necessary for a safe, enjoyable and minimum-impact winter wilderness experience, focus on teamwork and a personal relationship with the outdoors
- 8th grade trips: Alpine Skiing or Snowboarding – guided instruction, review of safety procedures, gaining proficiency in the equipment and practices necessary for a safe, enjoyable and minimum-impact winter wilderness experience, focus on teamwork and a personal relationship with the outdoors
