Mission Springs Outdoor Education utilizes hands-on science and team-building activities to foster each student's relationship with his or her Creator and to promote good stewardship of God's creation.

All of our activities, from classes to campfires, are designed to foster both academic and spiritual growth. Naturalists intentionally weave spiritual lessons into their outdoor science classes.

During campfires, this integration of faith and learning continues when Naturalists share from their own experiences. Students are challenged to grow in their relationship with Christ during their week at Mission Springs. Naturalists usually teach the same group of students all week so they can develop relationships with them and be available to listen.

Our highly qualified Naturalists are Christians who have been selected for the following:

• Love and knowledge of God and His creation,
• Bachelors degree,
• Previous experience teaching or working with children,
• First Aid / CPR certification and fingerprint clearance.

Our classes focus on God’s creation, environmental stewardship, and team-building.  Classes are taught by Mission Springs Naturalists with supervisory assistance from chaperones that the school provides.  All classes involve some hiking.  Class size varies from 15 to 20 depending on the number of students attending that week.  There will be no elective class period this year; instead we will have up to six classes that the students will rotate through.

NATURALIST 101

This introductory class utilizes team-building activities to introduce the students to Mission Springs, their Naturalist, and hiking group for the week.  Emergency and discipline procedures for the week are also discussed.

WILD KINGDOM

This class will give students the opportunity to explore and develop their observation skills while learning about animals’ roles in an ecosystem.  Students will touch on topics like animal ecology, predator-prey relationships, food chains, and the interconnectedness of animals and their habitat. By the end of class, students should be more aware of their surroundings and better acquainted with the animals at Mission Springs.

BRANCHING OUT

This class takes students on a journey from the Redwood Forest, through the Mixed Evergreen, to the Chaparral.  As students are led through the three different ecosystems of Mission Springs, they will come to understand what characterizes each ecosystem and identify various plants and trees in each habitat.  Students will also hone in on their observation skills, using all five of their senses to explore each ecosystem.

GET GROWING

Students will spend a majority of this class in the garden learning about the way we grow and produce our food.  Students will get their hands dirty as they work in our organic teaching garden and learn the importance of composting.

AQUATIC LIFE

Students will have the opportunity to be water scientists, conducting several tests to determine the water quality of the local Mission Springs stream. Students will explore concepts such as water conservation, pollution prevention, watersheds, aquatic life and food cycles.

NIGHT HIKE

Students will be guided on an adventure through the trails in the dark, listening to night sounds, learning about night vision and nocturnal creatures, and exploring the night sky.  Naturalists encourage students to put their trust in the Lord during a short solo hike through the dark.

GO GREEN!

Students will learn about environmental stewardship through interactive investigations of energy, renewable and non-renewable resources, recycling and solar energy. Weather permitting, students will get to experiment with our solar equipment and bake a treat in the solar oven.

CAMPFIRE

Naturalists deliver two campfires each week during 4- and 5-day programs.  The first campfire is a fun time of singing, skits, and a campfire talk by our staff.  During our second campfire, time is reserved for students, chaperones and teachers to perform their own skits!  We ask for each student to only participate in one skit.

New PDF forms!

Teacher Information Manual

Parent and Chaperone Manual

Teacher Manual Insert Forms

Scholarship Request Form