Outdoor School - Multnomah Education Service District
  • About
    • Mission
    • Meet Our Staff
    • Session Calendar
    • Employment Opportunities
    • Merchandise
    • Partners
    • Contact
  • Programs
    • Outdoor School >
      • Program Tour
      • Field Study Tour >
        • Animals Field Study Tour
        • Plants Field Study Tour
        • Soil Field Study Tour
        • Water Field Study Tour
        • Academic Program Elements
      • Sample Daily Schedule
      • Register Your Class for ODS
      • Session Calendar
    • 4th Grade Overnight
    • StarLab >
      • Presentations
      • Space Requirements
      • Adjustments & Fees
  • Sites
    • Angelos / Sandy River >
      • ASR Location & Directions
      • ASR Facilities
      • ASR Science & Nature
      • ASR Land & History
      • ASR Meet the Staff
    • Collins >
      • CL Location & Directions
      • CL Facilities
      • CL Science & Nature
      • CL Land & History
      • CL Meet the Staff
    • Kuratli / Trestle Glen >
      • KR Location & Directions
      • KR Facilities
      • KR Science & Nature
      • KR Land & History
      • KR Meet the Staff
    • Namanu >
      • NM Location & Directions
      • NM Facilities
      • NM Science & Nature
      • NM Land & History
      • NM Meet the Staff
    • Westwind >
      • WW Location & Directions
      • WW Facilities
      • WW Science & Nature
      • WW Land & History
      • WW Meet the Staff
  • History
    • History by Decade >
      • The 1960s
      • The 1970s
      • The 1980s
      • The 1990s
      • The 2000s
      • The 2010s
      • The 2020s
    • Retired Sites >
      • Adams / Milk Creek
      • Adams / Nate Creek
      • Arrah Wanna >
        • AW Location & Directions
        • AW Facilities
        • AW Science & Nature
        • AW Land & History
        • AW Meet the Staff
      • Canby Grove >
        • CG Location & Directions
        • CG Facilities
        • CG Science & Nature
        • CG Land & History
        • CG Meet the Staff
      • Cascade >
        • CAS Location & Directions
        • CAS Facilities
        • CAS Science & Nature
        • CAS Land & History
        • CAS Meet the Staff
      • Colton
      • Crestview
      • Eagle Fern
      • Howard >
        • HO Location & Directions
        • HO Facilities
        • HO Science & Nature
        • HO Land & History
        • HO Meet the Staff
      • Kiwanis >
        • KW Location & Directions
        • KW Facilities
        • KW Land & History
        • KW Staff
      • Scouter's Mountain
      • Sports Acres
      • Trout Creek
      • Yamhill
    • Outdoor School Staff Photos
  • For Parents
    • Dear Parents and / or Guardians
    • Frequently Asked Questions >
      • English
      • Español
      • русски
      • tiếng Việt
    • Forms for Parents
    • Sample Daily Schedule
    • Sample Menu
    • Students with Specific Needs
    • Parents of Student Leaders
    • Session Calendar
  • For Teachers
    • Outdoor School Curriculum
    • Preparation & Follow-Up Ideas
    • Special Needs - Outdoor School
    • Supporting Transgender Youth
    • Forms for Teachers
    • Translated Parent Info
    • Sample Teacher Schedule
    • Ideas for Class Meetings
    • Fundraising Ideas
    • Next Gen Science Standards >
      • NGSS Alignment: Animals
      • NGSS Alignment: Plants
      • NGSS Alignment: Soil
      • NGSS Alignment: Water
    • Teacher Calendar
  • For Student Leaders
    • Criteria for Participation
    • SL Workshop Training
    • Register for Workshop
    • Makeup Workshop
    • Student Leader Recruiters
    • Student Leader Calendar
    • Bus Schedules
    • Forms for Student Leaders
    • Parents of Student Leaders
    • 10 Reasons to Participate
    • Handbook, Songbook, & Skits >
      • Beginner Handbook
      • Advanced Handbook
      • Outdoor School Songbook
    • SL Sample Weekly Schedule
    • Evaluation Rubric
    • College Credit & Scholarships >
      • PCC College Credit
      • Student Leader Scholarship
    • Jobs, Internships & Programs
    • Support Resources
    • Social Media
    • Special Needs Volunteers
  • For Staff
    • Trainings & Certifications
    • Incident Reporting
    • Wildlife Handling Guidelines
    • How to Field Instructor
    • How to Program Leader
    • Staff & Field Study Songs
    • Professional Resources
    • Seasonal Employment
    • Job Listings
    • Merchandise Payment
    • Staff Calendar
  • MESD


Spring 2022 Outdoor School


MESD Outdoor School > For Parents > Spring 2022 Outdoor School
Use the links below to jump to a specific topic, or scroll down to see all topics
covid virus icon Health, Safety, and COVID-19

2022 icon New in 2022

High School Student icon High School Volunteers

calendar / clock icon The Schedule

leaf icon What Students Will Learn

school bus icon Transportation

weather icon What to Bring

place setting icon Meals and Snacks

hand and heart icon Special / Specific Needs

pills icon Medications

conversation icon Questions?


COVID virus icon

Health, Safety, and COVID-19

How we keep your student healthy at Outdoor School:
  • Please do not send your child to Outdoor School if they are sick
  • Send your student to Outdoor School dressed appropriately for the weather
  • Outdoor School will be following the rules of the school district with the strictest masking mandate in Multnomah County, so your child may be asked to wear a mask at Outdoor School even though their regular school does not require it; as mask mandates change, we will adapt — find current masking mandates:
    Oregon Health Authority   •    Oregon Department of Education​
  • We will practice physical distancing, and prioritize handwashing and hand sanitizing
  • Students will learn in small groups, and they will be in the same group both days
  • COVID-19 testing will be available at Outdoor School if your child becomes sick and you filled out the consent form that accompanied the health history form
  • We will contact you if your child becomes sick, and you will need to pick them up from the Outdoor School site to bring them home
  • We recommend your child is vaccinated for COVID-19; all of the Outdoor School staff and high school volunteers will be fully vaccinated
Questions? Contact Peggy Sedlak - (503) 257-1606, psedlak@mesd.k12.or.us

2022 icon

What's Different About Outdoor School in 2022?

What your child can expect from their Outdoor School experience, as we return to Outdoor School sites for the first time in two years
  • We are excited to get back into the forest, and show your students the bounty of Oregon's natural beauty as we learn science in our Outdoor classroom
  • Outdoor School began in Multnomah County in 1966 — the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 provided funding for educators to make Outdoor School happen — since then, over 350,000 sixth graders in our region have been a part of Outdoor School
  • Generations of students have been participating in this program — we welcome your 6th grader to be a part of that tradition and community
  • ​Historically,  the Outdoor School program has been a 6-day, 5-night residential experience with a focus on environmental science, with lessons on water, animals, soils, plants, weather, and social-emotional learning
  • COVID-19 changed our operations: this year, your child's Outdoor School experience will not include an overnight
  • In the fall, our staff and high school volunteers met your student at their school, and provided outdoor learning opportunities in the natural places near the school, focusing lessons on seeds, seed dispersal, weather activities, and science skills like observation and nature journaling — we played games and connected students with each other, their teachers, and the Outdoor School community to prepare them for their return in the spring
  • At Outdoor School sites this spring, lessons will meet Next Generation Science Standards, with a focus on data collection, and bringing lessons back to their classrooms at school
  • Your student's experience will include recreation and Outdoor School songs, and they will be supported, taught, and mentored by the Outdoor School staff and our high school volunteers
High School Student Icon

High School Volunteers

  • The high school volunteers, or Student Leaders, are local high school students who volunteer a week of their time to provide a great experience for your student — these high school students provide an incredible services for our program as well as directly for your student
  • Virtually all of the high school Student Leaders were 6th graders at Outdoor School themselves, and many report that the reason they want to come back to volunteer is because they had such a great experience in 6th grade, and want to provide that for others
  • The Outdoor School program is built on this spirit of giving and support
​
​See more topics below for additional details

Calendar / Clock icon

The Schedule

  • Students will attend Outdoor School for two consecutive days, either Monday and Tuesday, or Wednesday and Thursday
  • Exact arrival and departure times will vary depending on how far away your child's school is from the Outdoor School site — most schools will arrive at Outdoor School around 10 - 10:30 am, and will depart around 5:30 - 6:00 pm
  • Transportation will be provided by your child's school - contact your child's classroom teacher for details
leaf icon

What Will Students Learn?

  • Students will experience hands-on science learning at Outdoor School, on the topics of Plants, Animals, Water, and Soil
  • Students will learn in small groups, making observations, collecting data, and doing experiments
  • High school volunteers will be your student's teachers and mentors while they experience Outdoor School; they are sophomores, juniors, and seniors in high school

School bus icon

Transportation To and From Outdoor School

Most 6th grade students will ride a school bus from their school to the Outdoor School site, along with their classroom teacher. Occasionally, families may need to drop off or pick up their child directly from an Outdoor School site. If this is true for you:
  • Please communicate this need with your child's school / teacher
  • Your child's teacher will help your child check in when they arrive, and check out when they depart - it's important that we know who is on Outdoor School property at all times
  • If we know when to expect your arrival, we will keep an eye out for you
  • Please remain in or close to your vehicle until we can come to you

Weather icon

What to Send With Your Student Each Day

Things you should bring to Outdoor School
  • warm jacket / warm hat - Outdoor School sites are usually colder than the city
  • rain jacket - we will be learning outdoors, rain or shine! - check the weather report!
  • water bottle - staying hydrated is important
  • closed-toed shoes, long pants - we will be learning in the forest; protect your legs and toes!
  • a backpack to hold your water bottle, jacket, hat, or anything else you brought
If you don't have one of these items, tell your teacher and we can find something for you to borrow. Please leave cell phones and other electronics at home, with your teacher, or safely stowed away during your time at Outdoor School.

Place Setting Icon

Meals and Snacks at Outdoor School

  • Your student will receive dinner, and a snack each day at Outdoor School
  • Meals are a time to get to know each other and build community at Outdoor School, but your child's health and safety come first
  • Kitchen staff are fully vaccinated, and provide nutritious meals while following standard health and safety procedures
  • Meals will be eaten outdoors when possible, or in shifts indoors to maintain safe capacity in indoor eating areas; students will be supervised by staff and high school volunteers to maintain safe distance will unmasked and eating
  • The Outdoor School kitchen can accommodate most diets, including vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free; if your child has additional dietary needs our kitchen cannot accommodate, you may send additional food with your student to Outdoor School (this also applies to picky eaters) — please do not send any food containing nuts to Outdoor School
  • What will we eat?  Outdoor School Menu (coming soon!)
More questions? Attend a Q&A event, or contact Peggy Sedlak for questions about food at Outdoor School - (503) 257-1606, psedlak@mesd.k12.or.us

Hand and Heart icon

Students with Specific Needs or Concerns

Kitty Boryer, Outdoor School's Student Services Specialist works closely with you, your child's teacher, and the Outdoor School staff to ensure every student has their needs met at Outdoor School.
  • Your child's classroom teacher will share with us any accommodations your child might need while your child is at Outdoor School
  • Please include any additional information about your child on the health history form, or by contacting Kitty Boryer directly - (503) 257-1607, kboryer@mesd.k12.or.us​
  • Every Outdoor School site includes staff members who have experience working with students with special or specific needs
  • Learning groups are kept small to better support all students' needs
  • One-on-one volunteers help students who need additional support
  • If your child has an aide who helps them in the classroom, please advocate for your child, and encourage your child's school to send that aide to Outdoor School with them as well
  • Most of the Outdoor School sites are wheelchair accessible, and we have all-terrain wheelchairs available —please have your child's teacher reach out to us to make sure we have one ready for your child, or that we make alternate accommodations if needed
Questions? Contact Kitty Boryer - (503) 257-1607, kboryer@mesd.k12.or.us

pills icon

Prescription Medications & Dietary Supplements

  • If your child takes medication, please send what they will need for both days of Outdoor School; your child will arrive around 10 am, and leave around 5:30 pm
  • Give your child's medication to their classroom teacher; we will keep the medication at Outdoor School overnight, and send it back with your child's teacher on the second day
  • Please send all medication in its original container; if it is not sent in its original container, we cannot give your child their medication
  • Your child's name must be on the prescription label
  • For over-the-counter medication, check the label to make sure it is age-appropriate
  • For dietary supplements, such as Lactaid, and vitamins, please send a note from the child's healthcare provider along with the medication in its original container
  • If you are sending medication, page 3 of the health history form must exactly match what you are sending (instructions for this are on page 2)
​Questions? Contact Peggy Sedlak - (503) 257-1606, psedlak@mesd.k12.or.us

Conversation Icon

More Questions? E-mail a Site Supervisor, or Attend a Parent Q&A Event

​You are invited to attend one of scheduled Zoom or Google meetings below. Please locate the site that your child is attending. This is an opportunity to meet the staff and get information about what your child will experience at our Outdoor School sites.
Badger
Angelos with "Badger" 
psusi@mesd.k12.or.us
  • March 18th at 5:00 pm (Zoom)
  • April 20th at 6:00 pm (Zoom)
Falco
River Team with "Falco" (Arrah Wanna)  
jmata@mesd.k12.or.us
  • March 16th at 4:30 pm (Zoom)
  • April 18th at 5:00 pm (Zoom)
Flank
Canby Grove @ Collins with "Flank"
dlloyd@mesd.k12.or.us
  • March 28th at 4:30 pm (Zoom)
  • April 11th at 5:00 pm (Zoom)
Satchel
Howard @ Collins with "Satchel"
swise@mesd.k12.or.us
  • March 29th at 5:00 pm (Zoom)
  • April 19th at 4:30 pm (Zoom)
Weasel
Kuratli with "Weasel"
aduncan@mesd.k12.or.us
  • March 16th at 5:00 pm (Zoom)
  • April 5th at 4:30 pm (Zoom)
Weasel
Namanu with "Flea"
mbraim@mesd.k12.or.us
  • March 14th at 4:30 pm (Zoom)
  • April 18th at 5:00 pm (Zoom)

ODS Logo

About

Mission
Meet Our Staff
Session Calendar
​Employment
Merchandise
Partners
​Contact

PROGRAMS

Outdoor School
4th Grade Overnight
​StarLab

History

ODS since 1966
ODS Staff Photos

Locations

Angelos ODS
Arrah Wanna ODS
Canby Grove ODS
Howard ODS
Kiwanis 4th Grade
Kuratli ODS
​
Namanu ODS

Resources

For Parents
For Teachers
For Student Leaders
For Volunteers
For Staff
MESD Logo
11611 NE Ainsworth Circle, Portland OR 97220
phone: (503) 257-1600 fax: (503) 257-1592
​outdoorschool@mesd.k12.or.us
© COPYRIGHT 2019. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  • About
    • Mission
    • Meet Our Staff
    • Session Calendar
    • Employment Opportunities
    • Merchandise
    • Partners
    • Contact
  • Programs
    • Outdoor School >
      • Program Tour
      • Field Study Tour >
        • Animals Field Study Tour
        • Plants Field Study Tour
        • Soil Field Study Tour
        • Water Field Study Tour
        • Academic Program Elements
      • Sample Daily Schedule
      • Register Your Class for ODS
      • Session Calendar
    • 4th Grade Overnight
    • StarLab >
      • Presentations
      • Space Requirements
      • Adjustments & Fees
  • Sites
    • Angelos / Sandy River >
      • ASR Location & Directions
      • ASR Facilities
      • ASR Science & Nature
      • ASR Land & History
      • ASR Meet the Staff
    • Collins >
      • CL Location & Directions
      • CL Facilities
      • CL Science & Nature
      • CL Land & History
      • CL Meet the Staff
    • Kuratli / Trestle Glen >
      • KR Location & Directions
      • KR Facilities
      • KR Science & Nature
      • KR Land & History
      • KR Meet the Staff
    • Namanu >
      • NM Location & Directions
      • NM Facilities
      • NM Science & Nature
      • NM Land & History
      • NM Meet the Staff
    • Westwind >
      • WW Location & Directions
      • WW Facilities
      • WW Science & Nature
      • WW Land & History
      • WW Meet the Staff
  • History
    • History by Decade >
      • The 1960s
      • The 1970s
      • The 1980s
      • The 1990s
      • The 2000s
      • The 2010s
      • The 2020s
    • Retired Sites >
      • Adams / Milk Creek
      • Adams / Nate Creek
      • Arrah Wanna >
        • AW Location & Directions
        • AW Facilities
        • AW Science & Nature
        • AW Land & History
        • AW Meet the Staff
      • Canby Grove >
        • CG Location & Directions
        • CG Facilities
        • CG Science & Nature
        • CG Land & History
        • CG Meet the Staff
      • Cascade >
        • CAS Location & Directions
        • CAS Facilities
        • CAS Science & Nature
        • CAS Land & History
        • CAS Meet the Staff
      • Colton
      • Crestview
      • Eagle Fern
      • Howard >
        • HO Location & Directions
        • HO Facilities
        • HO Science & Nature
        • HO Land & History
        • HO Meet the Staff
      • Kiwanis >
        • KW Location & Directions
        • KW Facilities
        • KW Land & History
        • KW Staff
      • Scouter's Mountain
      • Sports Acres
      • Trout Creek
      • Yamhill
    • Outdoor School Staff Photos
  • For Parents
    • Dear Parents and / or Guardians
    • Frequently Asked Questions >
      • English
      • Español
      • русски
      • tiếng Việt
    • Forms for Parents
    • Sample Daily Schedule
    • Sample Menu
    • Students with Specific Needs
    • Parents of Student Leaders
    • Session Calendar
  • For Teachers
    • Outdoor School Curriculum
    • Preparation & Follow-Up Ideas
    • Special Needs - Outdoor School
    • Supporting Transgender Youth
    • Forms for Teachers
    • Translated Parent Info
    • Sample Teacher Schedule
    • Ideas for Class Meetings
    • Fundraising Ideas
    • Next Gen Science Standards >
      • NGSS Alignment: Animals
      • NGSS Alignment: Plants
      • NGSS Alignment: Soil
      • NGSS Alignment: Water
    • Teacher Calendar
  • For Student Leaders
    • Criteria for Participation
    • SL Workshop Training
    • Register for Workshop
    • Makeup Workshop
    • Student Leader Recruiters
    • Student Leader Calendar
    • Bus Schedules
    • Forms for Student Leaders
    • Parents of Student Leaders
    • 10 Reasons to Participate
    • Handbook, Songbook, & Skits >
      • Beginner Handbook
      • Advanced Handbook
      • Outdoor School Songbook
    • SL Sample Weekly Schedule
    • Evaluation Rubric
    • College Credit & Scholarships >
      • PCC College Credit
      • Student Leader Scholarship
    • Jobs, Internships & Programs
    • Support Resources
    • Social Media
    • Special Needs Volunteers
  • For Staff
    • Trainings & Certifications
    • Incident Reporting
    • Wildlife Handling Guidelines
    • How to Field Instructor
    • How to Program Leader
    • Staff & Field Study Songs
    • Professional Resources
    • Seasonal Employment
    • Job Listings
    • Merchandise Payment
    • Staff Calendar
  • MESD