Outdoor School - San Diego
Every year, the eighth- through 12th-grade students help to plan and coordinate the details of their Outdoor School excursion. Outdoor School is one week of classes in the great outdoors. Each year the students travel to one of five locations that have been selected. Four of the five locations include Grand Canyon National Park, Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, and Rocky Mountain National Park.
This year’s destination provided a different experience. Students traveled to San Diego, many of them for the first time, to see the ocean and learn about navigating around a big city. We sat down with HIS Teacher and Outdoor School Coordinator, Mrs. Anita Ojeda, and Junior student, Slade, to discuss this year's learning excursion.
“We include San Diego in our Outdoor School rotation to provide students with an opportunity to experience the urban jungle as well as study topics related to the ocean. ”
About Outdoor School San Diego
with Anita Ojeda
What grade levels participated in the San Diego trip?
Outdoor School is for 8th-12th graders.
Where did the group stay for this trip?
Our group camped at the KOA in Chula Vista, CA (near San Diego).
Can you briefly outline how the San Diego destination differs from the other Outdoor School destinations?
Instead of visiting a national park, we will visit an urban environment close to the ocean. Instead of having many small classes, we will all visit the same venues and work in small groups.
Dakota (left) and Quentina work together to set up their tent in KOA campsite.
What is the objective behind the San Diego trip?
We include San Diego in our Outdoor School rotation to provide students with an opportunity to experience the urban jungle as well as study topics related to the ocean. Part of the curriculum includes traveling around the city on public transportation. Our theme this year is “In it, but not of it,” referring to Jesus’ advice that while we must live in this world, we don’t have to be part of the world.
What activities did the students participate in?
Starting on Wednesday, April 12th, we traveled to San Diego. On Thursday, students visited the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Friday, they spent a good portion of their day participating in a Leadership Camp at the USS Midway, which includes a tour of the USS Midway.
Sabbath entailed fellowship with Chula Vista SDA church, followed by students choosing their own adventure on Sunday. Monday involved a Whale Watching Cruise and the La Jolla Tide Pools to search for Mollusks, and a Mammals activity. Tuesday, we spent time at the Living Coast Discovery Center, and on Wednesday, April 19th, we returned home to HIS.
When was the last time the school went to San Diego?
We went to San Diego in 2017.
Any unique or interesting details/happenings surrounding the student planning process for this year?
Students helped plan the trip, including the menu, travel routes, and packing lists. This year, they researched interesting activities relating to our MAPS theme (we want students to gain Mental, Academic/artistic, Physical, and Spiritual wholeness). Students wrote letters to staff members, asking them to chaperone activities and to fellow students inviting them to participate.
Slade’s Outdoor School Perspective
Slade celebrated a birthday during the Outdoor School trip.
Public transportation - For the choose your own activity, my group decided to go to the beach on Sunday with about 15 other students and three staff. As part fo the activity, we had to plan and navigate how we were going to get there. We had supervision, but we had to navigate the transit system independently. We rode a city bus to a transfer point and then transferred to a trolley. Riding the trolley was a different experience feeling the speed along the rail, and then feeling it coming to a stop. I am used to riding buses, but not an urban rail system. My family also does not own a car, so we barely go anywhere, so navigating a big city was new.
USS Midway - I have family members who are in the military/Navy on my dad’s side. My grandfather was in WWII, so it was cool for me to experience the USS Midway. They gave us a guided tour through the headset. You can aim your device at any particular console and learn about the fighter pilot. Something interesting that I learned about life on board aircraft carriers was that sailors would get disoriented due to being down in the bowels of the ship for weeks at a time. The ship had a red light to signify daytime, and the green light would signify that it was nighttime, and that red light prepares the eyes for daylight.
“The campsite this year was like a big family together around the campfire. Campsite was very misty every morning.”
Zoo - The zoo was huge! We spent a long time there and only covered about half of that one section where our group went to. There was an area that had a hot air balloon in the middle of the zoo, you could go up and get a higher view of the park. There were also safari rides to tour various areas of the park.
Whale watching - Everybody was excited to see the dolphins, but I was excited to see the sea lions diving and playing in the water in the distance. When you go to the aquarium, you see sea lions and other animals in there, but seeing them out in the wild is a whole different experience.