What is the Outdoor Education program?

Caving Photos

Outdoor Education Trip List 

The Outdoor Education (OE) program is an extracurricular program designed especially for grade six students.  There is no requirement to join; a student may join if he or she wishes to come on any OE trips during the school year.  Students must make the decision of whether to join at the beginning of the school year, as there is no opportunity to join midway through the year. 

 

Outdoor Education is entering its 12th year at Rundle College Elementary.  With each passing year, the program improves and just gets more exciting!  We are pleased to offer a variety of excursions to students, such as mountain biking, ice walking, rock climbing, cross-country skiing, and scuba diving.  All of the trips are accompanied by professional guides, with the exception of mountain biking.

 

Day trips usually take place on Saturdays with the exception of our over night cross-country ski trip which takes place on a Saturday/Sunday.

 

Why Outdoor Education?  Our philosophy is as follows:  We, as teachers, strive to educate the whole child, spirit, mind and body.  Nowhere is this education more relevant, authentic and inspiring than in the context of team building experiences in the natural environment.  We find that as our students meet the challenges of the OE program throughout the course of the year, they develop strong interpersonal skills, a deep respect for our natural habitat, and a desire to continue their involvement in outdoor activities.  The City of Calgary is ideally situated close to the mountains, and Alberta’s backcountry play area is within an hour’s drive of the school.

 

Oh – and one more thing.  It’s a lot of fun!

 

Trip Selection Information

 

As stated previously, there are a wide variety of OE trips for students to choose from.  Historically, the demand for certain excursions outstrips the number of spaces available.  This year, you are going to be provided with a list of trips; on this sheet, check off all of the trips your child is interested in.  We will make sure that he/she is able to go on several trips of his/her choosing.  Check off as many trips as your child is interested in!  We’ll do our best to accommodate everybody.

Your child is not guaranteed to go on all of the OE trips.  We do, however, guarantee that he or she will be able to attend between two and three trips, and quite possibly more. If there is not enough room on a particular trip, he or she will be placed on a waiting list for the trip.  When a vacancy comes up, we will give the space to individuals on the waiting list. 

Logistics and details

 

On this website, you will find a schedule of all trips offered, as well as the cost. Outdoor Education reserves the right to make changes to the schedule as deemed necessary. As letters about upcoming trips come home throughout the school year, please be sure not to lose them.

 

At the beginning of the year, a letter of introduction will be sent home, indicating the procedure for registration for this years upcoming trips. Please review the trip list on our website and list all trips your child is interested in attending. Students will receive confirmation of the trips they have been selected to attend along with an invioce of cost. Please send a cheque, payable to Rundle College Elementary payable for all confirmed trips and mark these dates on your calendar so that you and your child can anticipate upcoming trips and avoid double-booking.  If your child is unable to attend a trip, we would appreciate as much advance notice as possible so that we may adjust our bookings with guides.  In addition, if we are informed of a vacancy ahead of time, the space can be offered to a child on the waiting list for a trip.

 

In the event that your child cancels his or her enrolment in an outing, trip money will not be refunded, but will be considered a donation to the Outdoor Education fund.  This fund allows us to cover shortfalls, pay for gas, and acquire equipment for the program.  Thanks for your understanding.

 

A reminder about upcoming trips for which your child is scheduled will be sent home approximately a week before the trip date.  Again, we actively discourage making extra copies for families and children who misplace their notices. 

 Equipment

 

An equipment list will be included with each trip reminder notice.  It is to be used in helping your child prepare for the trip, and to ensure that he or she has the necessary gear to participate.  In past years, we have been concerned for a child’s welfare on a trip because he or she lacked adequate gear.  If an item is on a trip list, trust that it is there for a purpose – to keep your child safe and comfortable.  If you need assistance in renting or purchasing appropriate gear, please ask us.  We would be thrilled to help.  Do not send you child on an OE outing without the proper clothing or equipment.  If a child comes inadequately equipped, he or she may not be permitted to come on the trip.

 

All students will be expected to attend an initiation meeting at the beginning of the year.  During this meeting, we will discuss backcountry etiquette, travel tips, wildlife awareness and equipment requirements.  Smaller meetings geared toward specific trips will be held throughout the year to inform students about important considerations and equipment needs.  Items you may want to purchase (if your child does not already possess them) :

• ·        sturdy hiking boots with good ankle support and traction (runners are absolutely unacceptable)

• ·        a water bottle (one litre plastic)

• ·        proper raingear (jacket and pants.  Gore-tex and/or plastic only – nylon jackets have no water resistance and are unacceptable)

• ·        a sensible daypack, large enough to carry warm layers, water bottle and lunch

 

 

Mountain Equipment Co-op, Camper’s Village, and The Hostel Shop are all excellent providers of top quality gear. 

 

Can I come on the trips?

 

Outdoor Education program is a bit like camp: children are encouraged to explore and learn in a safe and challenging environment, under competent supervision. Experience has shown that students enjoy a greater sense of accomplishment and independence if they make a trip on their own, without a parent in attendance.  In the rare instance where OE program has the need for increased chaperoning, we may then contact parents.

 Parental Consent

 

On the O.E website you will find a parent/guardian consent form which must be filled out in order for your child to participate in OE program.  With any outdoor activity there is a certain degree of risk to the individual.  The safety of our students is foremost in our minds at all time.  We are proud of our impeccable safety record over the years, and we look forward to many safe and fun trips in the future.  Please read the waiver carefully, sign it and send it to Mr. James along with your child’s trip sheet. 

 

For most activities, we hire professionally trained guides from established and reputable organizations.  At times, an additional consent/waiver form will be sent home as required by these organizations.  These waiver forms must be signed and returned to school before the day of the trip; if Mr. James has not received a waiver form from your child before the day of the trip, your child will not attend.

 In closing…

 

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Ms. Cole, Mr. Gibson or Mr. James. 

 

We are eagerly looking forward to a whole new year of wonderful wilderness experiences with the grade six students!  Have a super summer in the outdoors, and happy trails!

 

OE Program

 

Outdoor Education Trip List