About the Outdoor Program

 

Embrace the Adventure

Through challenging and inspiring outdoor experiences, the Sun Valley Community School Outdoor Program supports the school’s mission by fostering personal growth, teamwork, and leadership; strengthening the relationships that are unique to our school; providing opportunities for students to develop a love for wild places; and teaching wilderness skills.

Sun Valley Community School students climb mountains and cliffs, run rapids, explore wild coasts and deserts, and overnight in snow shelters. Through these adventures with a purpose, students develop the confidence to take risks and overcome challenges and adversity. By stepping outside their comfort zone, students build confidence and grow in ways impossible in traditional classroom settings. Outdoor trips also encourage environmental ethics that enrich student lives and the lives of others.

We believe unequivocally that the Outdoor Program promotes not only academic success but helps students develop insights about themselves and the world that will serve them well on their journey to adulthood.

A Brief History of the Outdoor Program

Since the fall of 1973, outdoor education has been an integral part of the our school's culture and curriculum, evolving to become a comprehensive, standard-setting Outdoor Program that is integrated with the school’s academic curriculum. Today, the school’s commitment to the exploration of wild places is an essential component in how our students learn. The bonds created in the backcountry lead to dynamic, collaborative experiences in the classroom and are a vital component of a Sun Valley Community School education.

In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.
John Muir

Student Voices