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.  Our curriculum is designed for 4-6th grade students.  Classes are taught by Mission Springs Naturalists with supervisory assistance from parent chaperones the school provides.  Class size varies from 15 to 20 depending on the number of students attending that week.  All classes involve some hiking. 

Naturalists 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.

Meet the Natives

Students will go back in time as they learn about the history and culture of the Ohlone people who once lived here. Students will compare the traditional hunting and gathering techniques of the Ohlone people to the way we grow and produce our food. Students will get their hands dirty as they explore and work in our organic teaching garden.

Mi Casa, Su Casa

One of our goals at Mission Springs Outdoor Education is to challenge students to take what they have learned here and use it when they go home. This class will provide them with the tools they need to study the ecosystems where they live. Students will learn how to use field guides and plant keys.

Resources Revolution

Students will learn about environmental stew­ardship by testing the water quality of our local stream and 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.

Sensesational

Students will develop and sharpen their obser­vational skills through activities that utilize all five senses. Students will learn the importance of making and recording observations, learn about scientists who have made important discover­ies through careful observations, and become scientists themselves as they study local wildlife at Mission Springs.

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 trust the Lord during a short solo hike through the dark.

The Wall

Using a climbing rope, helmets, and harnesses, students climb our 40-foot climbing wall with the encouragement and expertise of well-trained Naturalists. Once at the top, they are carefully belayed to the ground.

Electives

Several options are offered during this time. With the direction of their Naturalist, students choose what topic interests them most. Exam­ples include animal tracks, team-building games, birding, art in nature, gardening projects, and an adventure hike.

Campfires

Naturalists deliver 2 campfires each week. 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!

New PDF forms!

Teacher Information Manual

Parent and Chaperone Manual

Teacher Manual Insert Forms

Scholarship Request Form