Outdoor School is a three-day, two-night once-in-a-lifetime outdoor learning experience for Sweet Home and Lebanon 6th grade students. Since 2008, the U.S. Forest Service, Sweet Home Ranger District, and South Santiam Watershed Council have hosted this event.
Before attending outdoor school, students have the option of participating in pre-outdoor school discovery sessions. These in-class “field trips” provide students with background knowledge of their watershed.
At Outdoor School, students get orientation and team building on the first day, where students become familiar with Camp Tadmor, their learning groups, cabin groups and their instructors.
For the next two days, students are immersed in an outdoor living laboratory. Local scientists, experts, and volunteers lead discovery sessions on topics such as those listed here.
- Fish Biology taught by ODFW
- Aquatic Ecology, taught by expert volunteers
- Forest Ecology, taught by USFS
- Wildlife Biology, taught by USFS
- Archery, taught by M2 Outdoor Sports
- Be Prepared, taught by Linn County Search and Rescue
- Fire Ecology, taught by ODF
- Orienteering, taught by expert volunteer
- Leave No Trace, taught by USFS
- Forest Management, taught by CTC
- Nature Writing, self guided
- Nature Art, taught by USFS
- Fishing, taught by NW Steelheaders
ODFW: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
USFS: United States Forest Service
CTC: Cascade Timber Consulting