Our standard 5-day outdoor science school program runs like a typical school week, Monday through Friday. We also offer a 4-day alternative learning program. During this week, the children learn about botany, geology, astronomy, meteorology and the water cycle, ecology, habitats and adaptations, energy and conservation in an outdoor school setting. Each science activities unit is based on the State Board of Education Science Framework.
The kids receive school credit for participating in this exciting outdoor science camp program. Their normal classroom teachers accompany the students on this science camp for kids trip which creates some wonderful bonding opportunities. Our outdoor science school cabin leaders meet the students as soon as they arrive and the week is off and running to a great start. The boys sleep in cabins in their own area and the girls in theirs, but they all come together to form science camp trail groups.
On the first night of science camp; all the students are entertained by the staff as they perform skits where they dress up in crazy costumes and act silly as different characters. This breaks the ice and sets the tone for the week and is also a preview of what the students will be asked to do on Thursday night where their cabin group will get up on the stage with a skit that they create on their own and entertain the entire camp. Students will also enjoy a dance activity on the 5 day program whereas students on a 4 day program will see skits and go on an astronomy hike.
Mealtime is when all trail groups come together as a school. We serve three square meals a day in an all-you-can-eat buffet style. Only the purest and best food is served to your children at our outdoor school. We also offer vegetarian options and specially prepared meals designed to accommodate food allergies. Our programs are offered at two different sites – our home site at Arrowhead Kids Camp and at Pinecrest Conference Center. For additional information about the second location for our outdoor science school program, Pinecrest Conference Center, visit their website at http://www.pinecrest-ccc.com
Arrowhead Ranch Outdoor Science School teaches from the California State Board of Education, Science Education Framework and is updated each year to conform with science education standards. We adapt information taken from fifth and sixth grade science textbooks to create our unique hands-on learning style with actual science activities for the kids. The kids are here to hike, hear, see, feel, touch and smell science ideas and concepts outside of the classroom. They are able to interact with nature and their surroundings. We find that this hands-on alternative learning style is very effective in internalizing these science concepts into the lives of the children.
The Outdoor Science School science education emphasizes:
* The biological sciences
• The earth sciences
• Conservation and wise use of natural resources
• Recreation, arts, crafts and music
• Health education
• Cooperative living Specific science classes include Botany, Geology, Astronomy, Meteorology/Water Cycle, Ecology, Habitats & Adaptations, Energy, Native American Studies, and the Night Hike which covers many nocturnal science ideas and principles.
Arrowhead Ranch Nature Camp has 12 dorm style rooms available. Each room will accommodate either 8 or 10 nature camp guests with a total capacity of 108. Each room is separate with interior connecting doors that can be accessed if desired. Each room has its own private bathroom shared by the 8 to 10 campers. The dorm rooms at our nature camp do not come equipped with any linens. However these can be requested for an additional charge. There are no phones, nor televisions in the rooms which make these ideal for youth retreats and kids camp.