Camp Stevens offers outdoor education retreats and field trips for grades 4th through 12th. Our programs engage students in the natural world and foster social and emotional growth. Schools can bring one or multiple grades and can choose 1-3 days of programming during the months of August – May.
Embarking on an outdoor education retreat can be a transformative experience for individual students and the wider school community. Students will leave with a renewed sense of wonder, awe, and appreciation for the natural world, as well as a deepened understanding of humans’ role in the environment. Our intentional teambuilding curriculum aims to deepen students’ connections with each other and create a community of support and trust that will carry back to the classroom. Students will also cultivate self-awareness as they explore their individual interests, passions, and strengths in a new environment.
Activities
Students are typically divided into small adventure groups, which provides a small staff-to-student ratio and allows students to have an active role in their experience.
Daytime activities can include
- Hands-on environmental science lessons
- Teambuilding games and initiatives
- Outdoor adventure play
- Farm and garden workshops
- Archery
- Climbing wall
- Hiking
- Nature-inspired art
- Schools can add the High Ropes Course for grades 8+ at an additional cost.
Evening activities can include:
- Outdoor skills workshops such as fire building
- Outdoor cooking
- Sunset hikes
- Theater games
- Astronomy lessons
- Campfire with songs and reflections
Supervision and Leadership:
Camp Stevens Staff are responsible for supervising campers during activity sessions and leading all Camp Stevens programs and activities. Our staff have training in First Aid and CPR, conflict resolution, behavior management, experiential education, teambuilding, and more.
School Staff and Chaperones are responsible for all cabin time and overnight supervision. Schools can send teachers, other school staff, or parent chaperones. At least one chaperone should be present for the entire visit (the main contact for our staff) but other chaperones can rotate in and out as long as we know ahead of time.
For Schools/Teachers:
Our programs are open to all educational institutions – public, private, charter, home school, etc. We pride ourselves on providing a highly adaptable program to schools’ unique needs. In advance of your retreat, our staff works with your school to develop a program that meets your specific academic requirements, classroom personalities, and student interests. Pricing varies based on the number of students, days, and meals. For every 10 students, one teacher or chaperone may attend for free. For religious schools: We can also set aside time for your Priest or Religious Educator to lead services or spiritual development activities for your students.
For more details about our programs please contact the Camp Stevens office at 760-765-0028 or submit an inquiry at www.campstevens.org/book-a-retreat/
