Outdoor Science School Details

Hands-on science education in the outdoors! Standards-based exploration of scientific concepts and natural history through field study, group initiatives, fun songs, active games and living together in a community.

Attendance: Offered to K-8th grade students and their teachers for 2-5 day residential programs.

Location: Choose a WOLF School campus based on your travel budget, educational goals and desire to be near/far from your school. Accommodations and trails vary between sites due to location, elevation, etc. Santa Cruz, Sonoma, Sierra Foothill areas.

Availability: Programs are offered throughout the year. Plan your program up to a year in advance! Reserve early for best date and site options. Contact us.

Curriculum: Our curriculum is closely matched to the CDE State Science Content Standards and will cover many parts of the Life, Earth, Physical Science and Investigation and Experimentation sections of the Science Standards. Science Standards at WOLF  (please scroll down on the Teachers page to the Science by the Standards Example).

These seven concepts form the basis of the academic program:

These concepts give students a framework for exploring the natural world and function as an organizing principle for the Science Standards’ individual teaching requirements.

As students make observations in the field, the concepts act as tools to use in understanding and analyzing their discoveries.

Special Focus: Programs can emphasize certain standards or concepts based on your requests or requirements. We work with your school in advance to assure your students’ curricular and social needs are met. From group building to geology to Native American studies, we can offer a wide variety of excellent educational experiences to your students.

Cost: Student, teacher and chaperone rates vary depending on the length of stay, location and choice of program. Contact us for more information.

Chaperones: Your school provides chaperones for your students. Many successful high school and parent chaperones attend our programs each week. Chaperones live and sleep in the cabins with groups of students. We require 1 teacher/chaperone for each 7-10 students. Chaperone training is provided to each chaperone/teacher attending outdoor science school.

Teachers: Our staff works with attending classroom teachers to provide leadership throughout the week. For more in depth information, see Teachers.

Safety: Students at the WOLF School are supervised at all times by chaperones, teachers or WOLF staff. Our campuses are closed to the public. All WOLF and site staff have been background checked. All WOLF staff have been trained in the principles of First Aid and CPR and carry first aid kits and radios in case of need. Contact the WOLF School Office if you have any further questions.

Menu: Tasty meals are provided as part of the cost of the program starting with dinner the first night and ending with lunch on the last day. We provide healthy, kid-friendly food in either a buffet or family-style setting. An example of a typical day consists of pancakes, cereal and fruit for breakfast, build your own sandwich (turkey, ham, peanut butter and jelly, cheese, vegetables, tofu), carrots, trail mix and cookies for lunch, pasta with choice of vegetarian or meat sauce, salad and bread for dinner. We accommodate special diets/food allergies. Contact us in advance of the program.

Lodging: Students and teachers stay in comfortable dormitories or cabins which vary depending on the campus. Student rooms usually hold 4-14 students per room and have bunk beds. Some sites have bathrooms inside the rooms, while other campuses have a central bath house.

Schedule: At outdoor science school, students can expect to have a once-in-a-lifetime experience! Living and learning in a community with their teacher and friends, they have the opportunity to grow academically and socially. Food and safety is taken care of, so real learning can take place! Click here to see what a student might experience during a typical day