High Trails Outdoor Science School

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High Trails Outdoor Science School

Started in 2000, High Trails is an outdoor science school that focuses on residential outdoor education for California elementary and middle schools.

Started in 2000, High Trails is a Big Bear based small business that focuses on residential outdoor education for California elementary and middle schools and their students. Each year we host more than 100 schools and 8,000 students as they visit us in the mountains for 3, 4 and 5 weekday programs. To date, we've had 115,000 students spend more than 400,000 nights at High Trails. This single mind

ed approach of focusing on only outdoor education has let us refine our program into what is now, we believe, the best natural outdoor science camp experience for your students. If you’re looking for a friendly, innovative and fresh approach to the world of outdoor education, come join us at High Trails Outdoor Science School; your very own dirty classroom.

09/07/2024

It’s that time of year again! Our Senior Admin team started off the week with a Team Discovery Hike and ended it with a Site and minds ready to embrace a new year with a new crew of staff starting Monday! Let the journey begin!🌲🌞

06/19/2023

Looking for a little light (yet highly informative) reading this summer?? Check out our Blog Posts written by our staff over many years about the topics they are most passionate about - nature, teaching, leadership, getting outside, the list goes on!
You can find them all right here: https://dirtyclassroom.com/dirticulum-staff-blog-posts/

05/18/2023

Staff Highlight Alert: Meet Liv!

𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘦𝘯𝘫𝘰𝘺 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘵 𝘏𝘪𝘨𝘩 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘴?
What I enjoy most about teaching at High Trails is that I get to help plant the seed on environmental love and care into the youth’s of tomorrow. I love seeing the student’s faces when they see things like animal tracts and fallen trees on the ground because then they have so many questions about what happened or why it is there. Then as a group, we get to hypothesize about what occurred in the area based on what are some clues we see. Not only is it a fun moment for them, but it makes them feel like scientists. I also get to share my love and knowledge for nature and they get excited learning in the outdoors.

𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘬𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘵 𝘏𝘛?
The best way to spend the weekend while working at High Trails is by hanging out with your friends. Working at High Trails, I have gained 30 new friends where we can go on fun adventures like go camping in the desert, spending time at the beach, or simply going on day hikes. Spending time with those people help me relax and recharge. Plus, we are a goofy group so we are always having a great time. I love my besties 🫶

𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶? 𝘞𝘩𝘺?
Nature is important to me because it has shaped me to who I am today. Growing up, I was fortunate in the aspect that I was surrounded by wooded areas and everyday after school, I would go outside, wander area, climb trees, and relax from a stressful day at school. When I was in middle school, I went to a charter school where they focused on environmental awareness and education, so a big portion of teaching was being outside and surrounded by trees, grass, invertebrates, and mammals. And by being in that environment, it helped me excel as a student. So nature, not only, helped me love the outdoors and was a sanctuary for me, but I was able to learn and become a better scholar. Therefore, being at High Trails, I want to try and provide both of those opportunities to students, I want them to feel comfortable in the outdoors and thrive in it.

05/08/2023

Next Staff Highlight: Nick! His answers are so good that they’re too long for one caption. Catch the rest in the comments.
(PS: his birthday was yesterday, so give him a “Happy birthday!” in the comments!)

𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘏𝘪𝘨𝘩 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘴?
High Trails combines two things I love: teaching and being outside! I wanted to push myself outside of my comfort zone and explore somewhere I’ve never been and do something I’ve never done. Southern California also has a little bit of everything, from mountains to beaches to lakes and rivers, it’s hard to get bored here! Being able to do something I love in a place I love can sometimes feel like a dream come true.

𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘵 𝘏𝘪𝘨𝘩 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘴?
Seeing students light up when they experience something new is so rewarding. Taking a group of students on a big hike where they get to see a wild animal they’ve never seen, or taking them out on a night walk to see the stars clearer than they have ever seen are a few of the very special moments that keep me stoked about teaching at High Trails.

05/02/2023

An overdue Staff Highlight: Heeeeere’s Hannah!

𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘏𝘪𝘨𝘩 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘴?
I came to High Trails because I wanted to work in the great outdoors! I used to work a traditional nine to five job and I really wanted to try something different.

𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘪𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘰𝘧 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘵𝘩 𝘪𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘵 𝘏𝘪𝘨𝘩 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘴?
My biggest area of growth in my time at High Trails has to be my teaching skills. The High Trails admin helped to train and teach me! I’ve learned how to impactfully teach students the importance of working together to help our Earth and all those living on it.

𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭? 𝘞𝘩𝘺?
Being in nature makes me feel the most connected to myself and everything around me. I feel at peace and happy when I’m outside! I feel this way because I have a deep appreciation for nature and its beauty. I also recognize our important relationship with nature and the need to give back just as much as it gives us!

𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘷𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘦 (𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵) 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩𝘺 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘦𝘵?
One thing I have learned about how we can all fit together on one healthy planet is how truly important one small step or change can be. Learning this has allowed me to remember everyday about our responsibility to protect our planet, together as a community!

05/01/2023

That’s a wrap on the 2nd Annual Unofficial High Trails Triathlon aka the High-Tri!

Started by Leslie herself as a way to get staff who love being outdoors together on the weekend for a little unofficial friendly competition, it includes a running, biking, and climbing element and we couldn’t have asked for better weather. Well done to all of the competitors and support crew out there today!
🌞🚵🏼🧗🏼‍♀️👟🏆

04/17/2023

Is it time yet? Sure is, here’s another staff highlight! Meet Sam:

𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘦𝘯𝘫𝘰𝘺 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘵 𝘏𝘪𝘨𝘩 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘴?
I absolutely love getting to show others the intricacy and detail of the outdoors - there’s so much happening all around us! I enjoy helping students find a new aspect of the outdoor world that they can use as a gateway to finding a love and appreciation of humanity’s true home.

𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘖𝘶𝘵𝘥𝘰𝘰𝘳 𝘌𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯?
As soon as I arrived in California I knew that OE was right for me. It’s an accessible way to introduce young minds to parts of the world they may not have any experience with, and has allowed me to do a great deal of personal and professional growth too :)

𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘴 𝘴𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘬?
If trees could talk they would probably ask Instructor Maddie to stop eating so much bark literally all the time.

𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘷𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩𝘺 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘦𝘵?
I’ve learned that when we keep an open mind about what we might not know or may disagree with, we can have a much more productive experience together. Listening and understanding is key to living together on one healthy planet.

04/10/2023

The sun is shining, the birds are singing, enrollment is opening and so are staff applications! We’re starting a series of Staff Highlights to showcase some of our stellar staff from this school year. First up is Instructor Katie! She has proven to be an awesome teacher and has put in the time and effort to Level Up this year. Find out more about what Katie loves about High Trails and the outdoors below!

𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘏𝘪𝘨𝘩 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘴?
I came to High Trails so I could teach outdoors while being a part of a fun and supportive staff community! I also wanted to experience living in Southern California.

𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘦𝘯𝘫𝘰𝘺 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘵 𝘏𝘪𝘨𝘩 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘴?
I am super passionate about science, both learning it as a subject, and teaching various classes. I also love being outdoors, whether that be relaxing, exercising, or teaching! I love how at High Trails, I can do all the things I love outside while teaching science and learning something new every day!

𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦? 𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶?
I find the most peace in nature in a forest near lakes and rivers. This part of nature means a lot to me because I grew up in the Northwoods in Wisconsin, and I love everything in the forest from the trees to the lakes and rivers to the variety of wildlife that lives there. I also love being able to experience how all our 5 senses work together in the forest which brings a unique experience to me!

𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘷𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘦 (𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵) 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘪𝘵 𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩𝘺 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘦𝘵?
One thing I've learned about how we can all fit together on one healthy planet is that one person can make a big difference through their own personal actions, but if that one person influences others with their words and actions, they can make an even bigger impact on our environment and planet!

07/30/2020

Big Bear parents!
High Trails Outdoor Science School and YMCA Camp Oakes are teaming up to run day camp with support for distance learning. Check out the flyer for more info!

Address

Big Bear City, CA
92305

Website

http://hightrails.com/

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