Santa Cruz County Outdoor Science School

Experience

Imagine a classroom where the ceiling is the forest canopy and the floor is a carpet of leaves. At the Santa Cruz County Resident Outdoor Science School, we trade desks for creek beds and textbooks for the five senses. We provide fifth and sixth-grade students with a transformative four-to-five-day immersive learning experience in the heart of nature.

What You'll Learn

• Scientific Insight: A deep understanding of ecological concepts.
• Environmental Stewardship: A lasting sense of responsibility for our planet.

Activities

Nature walks at the Outdoor Science School aren’t just hikes—they are “mobile laboratories” where the forest floor and creek banks become the primary teaching tools. By stepping out of the classroom and into the forest, students shift from passive observers to active young ecologists.