Outdoor Education

Fifth grade students are introduced to the Outdoor Education program with an overnight trip at Key’s Fusco Athletic Park, where they begin building community and confidence in the outdoors. During the fall and spring, students also walk to neighboring Quiet Waters Park for day-long experiences focused on teamwork, exploration, and making connections between the outdoors and their classroom learning.

Sixth grade students camp for three days at NorthBay on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, where they focus on individual challenges, team-building, and Chesapeake Bay studies. Later in the year, they spend two days camping in Harpers Ferry, connecting their experience to Civil War studies while exploring the area’s trails and natural landscape.

Seventh graders take on a two-day backpacking trip on the Appalachian Trail, building endurance and teamwork. They also spend four days camping at Point Lookout State Park, where they are introduced to canoeing and explore the region’s ecosystems in support of their science curriculum.

Eighth grade students begin the year with a three-day backpacking trip in Shenandoah National Park, including a summit of Old Rag Mountain. In the spring, they sail to Wye Island for a six-day expedition that includes camping, canoeing around the island, and environmental exploration. During the winter months, the Outdoor Education and Physical Education departments collaborate on a series of outdoor challenges designed to promote problem-solving, leadership, and community growth.