List of 8 frequently asked questions.

• Why do we take trips into the wilderness?

  The CDS Outdoor Education program challenges students to embark on a journey each fall where the spirit of active learning permeates every trip. As students explore the natural world, they discover that each individual contributes to our collective experience as they move between thinking for themselves and thinking for and with the group. We believe getting into the wilderness is critical to providing this opportunity for growth. Together students and teachers share in the collective experience of being disconnected from technology, in awe of nature, and gaining a personal understanding of our responsibility to climate justice. These fall trips also provide a chance to shift structures of traditional classroom dynamics between students and teachers. 

• What if my student experiences homesickness or is nervous about being away?

  Homesickness is completely healthy and normal! It is one of the more common challenges our students experience on trips. If your student has experienced high levels of homesickness before or has never been away from home, please let your student’s advisor, the school counselor, or the division director know prior to the trip. With support, we want to ensure this trip is manageable, reasonable, and a positive experience.

• What does my student need to pack? Will my student be able to shower?

  For a complete list of what to pack, click here for 8th grade students or here for 5th-7th grade students.

  
  

  8th Graders: There are no bathroom facilities or showers on backpacking routes. This trip is a true backcountry experience! Students will learn how to appropriately answer nature's call while on the trail. 

  
  

  5th-7th Graders: There are bathroom facilities (non-flush vault toilets) but there are still no showers. 

  
  

  Hygiene is still important when off the grid with others, so things like hand washing before meals, doing dishes, and brushing teeth are always part of a student's daily wilderness routine. Students can bring environmentally friendly, biodegradable soap to clean up a bit without showers.
  
  All groups will engage in conversations with group leaders to discuss the ways in which menstrual health and hygiene needs are handled. Additionally, WA Trip Leaders all carry tampons and pads that are accessible to group members if needed. On the trips, students are educated about management practices regarding waste in keeping with Leave No Trace principles. 
  

• Why can't students bring phones?

  Phones and other electronics are a big distraction from engaging with the present moment. Students have shared they are grateful for the experience of being disconnected for a short while.

  
  

  WA Trip Leaders will have phones for safety and communication, as well as two-way texting devices and satellite phones for areas where there is no cell phone coverage. CDS faculty will also have their cell phones to use when service is available.

• What is your program’s accreditation and your instructors' experience?

  We partner with Wilderness Adventures, who encourage students to "Do Something Wild." All trip leaders are Wilderness First Responder certified, complete a background check, provide references, attend Staff Training, and are 21 years old or older. Each trail group will have at least two Trip Leaders. All Trip Leaders are committed to Wilderness Adventure’s mission of inspiring growth and wonder. To learn more about WA Trip Leaders, click here. Children’s Day School faculty and staff also attend each trip.
   

• Where are your trips located?

  2024-2025

  5th: Pinnacles National Park

  6th: Pinnacles National Park

  7th: Point Reyes (with kayaking option)

  8th: Yosemite & High Sierras (with backcountry option)

  
  

  2023-2024

  5th: Half Moon Bay

  6th: Portola Redwoods

  7th: Lake Tahoe (with kayaking option)

  8th: Yosemite & High Sierras (with backcountry option)

• Will you see any animals, like bears?

  Our trip locations are varied, but with the goal of immersing students in nature, we do expect to encounter wildlife. Students who attend trips in the Sierras might see a black bear - how exciting! 

  
  

  Black bears are shy and rarely aggressive. They are omnivores that eat a variety of plants, birds, fish, and dead animals. They are attracted to garbage, human food, strongly scented lotions (sunscreens included), and small animals. 

  
  When hungry bears learn they can access food easily, they become less shy. We teach students about proper food, toiletry, and trash storage. We use responsible food-storage practices like bear cans when backpacking and bear boxes when camping. It’s crucial that nobody sneaks food into their tents or stashes food away for later. We encourage everyone to pack minimally when it comes to toiletries.

• What if my student doesn’t like the outdoors and doesn’t want to go on the trip?

  Steeped in the values of risk-taking and courage, students navigate challenges with resilience and integrity, fostering a sense of responsibility towards both each other and the environment. Amidst the rustling leaves and open skies, physical and figurative structures are let go, and kindness and joy are shared freely. For those students who may not (yet) enjoy camping or hiking, these outdoor education experiences will help push their boundaries.

  
  

  The Outdoor Education Program is a vital component of the CDS Middle School commitment to experiential learning. These trips are rooted in our Learner Profile’s core skills of Collaboration and Critical & Creative Reasoning. As such, students are expected to participate on the trips. Just as a student may not be drawn to science or drama, for example, CDS still requires students to take science or theater courses as part of the CDS experience. 

  
  

  Alumni often reflect on Outdoor Education being a highlight of their middle school years and yearn for the opportunity to return to the woods with friends again.