Outdoor Education
Outdoor Education is one of the programs at Keys that makes this school unique. Each year classes go on a variety of outdoor adventures that build character, enhance social development, and teach students about the environment. From the one-night kindergarten camping trip, to the eighth grade week of oceanography and snorkeling off Catalina Island, these class trips grow in length, distance from home, and complexity of issues presented. Each trip is integrated with science and social studies, and professional naturalists join Keys teachers and parents to provide expertise on a variety of ecological topics.
Kindergarten
Trip
- » Costonoa Overnight Camping
- » Huddart Park
- » Follow directions
- » Learn precautions for outdoors
- » Use listening and observing skills
- » Observe/learn about different habitats
- » Enjoy/discover/respect the outdoors
- » Learn about trees
- » Take precautions
- » "Each One/Teach One"
- » Share observations orally
- » Cooperate with teaching partner
Reflection
- » Recall favorite parts of trip for shared writing
- » Partner writes picture captions for Memory Book
- » Recall in writing/drawing "What Trees Give Us
- » Observe different trees
- » Recall parts of tree
- » What each part does
- » How animals use trees
- » Use observation skills and recall class learning about habitats
First Grade
Trip
- » Elkus Ranch
- » Hiking
- » Following directions
- » Food preparation and clean-up
- » Cooperative activities
- » Teamwork
- » Farm chores
Reflection
- » Writing/reflection on activities
- » Farm life
Second Grade
Trip
- » Hidden Villa
- » Sleeping away
- » Hiking
- » Exploring
- » Team building games
- » Scavenger hunt
- » Sharing experiences
Reflection
- » Personal journals
- » Hike activities
- » Tide-pools
Third Grade
Trip
- » Mount Cross , Santa Cruz Mountains
- » Independent living skills
- » Hiking
- » Swimming
- » Team building
Reflection
- » Art
- » Writing
- » Drama
- » Nature observations
- » Coastal Redwood forests
- » Stream studies
Fourth Grade
Trip
- » Point Reyes
- » Kistler Ranch
- » Packing gear
- » Pitching tents
- » Tide-pooling
- » Horseback riding
- » Canoeing
- » Hiking
- » Gold panning
- » Calf lassoing
- » Games
- » Cooking
- » Cleaning
- » Skits
Reflection
- » Journaling
- » Plant & coastal animal identification
- » Miwok Indians
- » Skits using vocabulary
Fifth Grade
Trip
- » Salt Point
- » Yosemite
- » Hiking, tide-pooling
- » Wood chopping
- » Tent pitching
- » Cooking
- » Blacksmithing
- » Pioneer living
- » Team activities
- » Yosemite Meadow Town Meeting
- » Historical role playing
Reflection
- » Journal writing
- » Introduction to sea life & geology
- » Pygmy forests
Sixth Grade
Trip
- » Pinnacles National Monument
- » Montara Lighthouse
- » Rock climbing
- » Night walks
- » Recreation hiking
- » Swimming
- » Campfire songs
- » Group gems
- » Tent sharing
- » Food preparation and cleanup
- » Skits
- » Trust walk
- » Climbing support
Reflection
- » Poetry
- » Chaparral ecosystem
- » Bats
- » Plate tectonics
- » Pinnacle formation
- » Night sky and constellations (stargazing)
Seventh Grade
Trip
- » Mono Lake
- » Monterey Bay
- » Volcano hike
- » Mono Lake swim
- » Sleeping out
- » Night hike
- » Group activities
- » Mono Lake water debates
- » Group sharing
Reflection
- » Journal writing
- » Group discussions
- » Volcanic, riparian, saline and desert ecosystems
Eighth Grade
Trip
- » Camp Whitsett
- » Catalina Island
- » High ropes course
- » Rock climbing
- » Mountain and cliff hiking
- » Canoeing and kayaking
- » Snorkeling
- » Overnight backpacking
- » Hiking
- » Group challenges
- » Cooking
- » Cleaning
- » Cooperative games
- » Arts & crafts
- » Orienteering
- » End of year bonding
Reflection
- » Muir-style journal writing
- » Discussion/analysis of events
- » Forest issues
- » Sequoia preservation
- » Marine life identification