Outdoor School

Ascension Outdoor School is dedicated to providing rigorous, fun, and engaging curriculum for learners of all ages. Our goal is to spark an intense and deep appreciation for the natural world while reminding students how fun learning can be. With our hands-on curriculum, students are able to learn with all of their senses in a safe, productive, and enriching environment.

Nestled along Hulick Creek, Mill Creek, and Duncan Creek, Ascension School has direct access to over a mile of natural waterways. These waterways are home to a variety of macroinvertebrates and provide water for a slew of native plants in our vast restoration project. Our outdoor school can be a great resource to utilize as a starting point for a year-long science curriculum, or as an engaging term overview.

A day in the life of our outdoor school students

Stream and Mussel Exploration

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Students will learn all about the mussel life cycle and how mussels improve fish habitat, purify water, serve as a prey for predators and invertebrates, and have been an important late winter food source for indigenous peoples.

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Students will map out the waterways as a way to understand stream features and how they affect mussels.

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Finally, students will take mussel samples across the creek and collect important data on the substrate.

Native Tree Planting

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Students will go on a hike with our Habitats Manager and learn all about native tree and shrub species while tasting some first foods along the way.

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Students will learn where these species thrive and which conditions they must be planted in.

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Students will have the chance to plant native trees and shrubs throughout our habitat restoration project along our waterways.

Garden Tea Harvest

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Students will learn all about medicinal plants like calendula, nasturtium, mint, lemon balm, raspberry leaf, and New York aster in our bountiful garden.

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Students will harvest many of these plants to create a totally unique herbal tea for everyone to enjoy at dinner.

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When students have harvested enough plants for tea, they will have the chance to harvest in-season fruits and vegetables from our heated greenhouse and expansive garden to be used in meals during their stay.

Farm Field Trip

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Many of the schools that come to our campus will have the chance to visit a local farm that grows a large variety of fruits and vegetables for the local community.

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Students will learn how to identify different types of trees on the farm property and go on a short trip to collect tree data samples.

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Finally, students will have the unique opportunity to learn how to use a cross-cut saw and have cross-cut saw races.

Habitat Restoration

Our restoration project is a cultural gathering site for the Cayuse, Umatilla, Walla Walla, and Nez Perce peoples. We are dedicated to restoring the land in hopes of an abundance and diversity of first foods and native habitat including berries, fruits, seeds, and nuts. It is our honor and privilege to tend to these lands and share the deep history with those that join us for outdoor school.

Learn More

Teacher's Checklist

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District student permission slips

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Place students into groups of 6-8

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Communicate with the Program Director about food allergies

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Provide students with the packing list

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Recruit chaperones (minimum of 1 per cabin, usually about 4)

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Provide a full student list to Ascension as soon as possible.

Student’s Checklist

What to bring:

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Warm and cool weather clothing

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Tennis shoes

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Sleeping bag and twin sheet

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Pillow

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Flashlight

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Towel and toiletries

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Pen/pencil and paper

General Facility Rules

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Personal Property: The school is not responsible for the loss of or damage to personal equipment or belongings

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Any personal equipment brought to be used for program activities must be approved by the Program Director to insure that it is appropriate and safe to be used in the school program, including sporting equipment. Please label all belongings

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Smoking, Drugs, Alcohol: The possession and consumption of alcoholic beverages are not permitted on school grounds or trips during Outdoor School

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Smoking and chewing tobacco are not permitted in any building and is strongly discouraged. Any illegal drug activity is prohibited

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Safety and Security: The possession and/or use of firearms, ammunition, fireworks or explosives is prohibited

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The use of candles or open flames is prohibited without prior approval of the site manager

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Safety, security, and maintenance concerns should be reported to the Site Manager or the Program Director

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Visitors: All visitors to camp will report to the Executive Director and the Program Director. After a visitor has checked in they will receive a visitor’s badge

FAQ

How many students can you accommodate?

We can accommodate up to 80 students, but specialize in rural classroom education, and are at our best in the range of 20-40 students.

What are your COVID-19 policies?

We rely on and trust that your school has policies that fit your students’ expectations and needs. We ask that all visitors sanitize and mask up for our buffet style meal line, but otherwise, we will follow and respect your school’s guidelines.

How much does outdoor school cost?

Prices are based on the thresholds dictated by OSU Extension office. We work closely with their team to ensure that schools can cover all their Outdoor School costs.

Will our teachers need to lead activities?

We welcome your school’s educators to join us in teaching the curriculum, but we have an amazing team of educators on deck who know the curriculum in and out. We will never turn away extra hands, but if your hands are full, don’t worry… we got this.