We teach students the outdoor skills necessary to travel consciously, confidently, and safely through natural landscapes, while nurturing an ethical relationship with the Earth. Our program incorporates Leave No Trace principles and adheres to the highest standards of safety and risk management, led by trained instructors who bring expertise in wilderness travel and youth development.
Outdoor education at SMWS progresses across the grades, beginning with playful immersion in the early years and culminating in rigorous backcountry expeditions in high school. Each stage builds upon the last—layering skills, strengthening group dynamics, and deepening each student’s relationship with the natural world.
Early Childhood and Kindergarten: Our youngest students spend significant time outdoors each day, in all seasons and weather. They learn through rhythm, repetition, and imaginative play—developing their senses and bodies as they engage with the world around them. Rhythmic walks, nature exploration, and creative play with natural materials help students develop physical resilience, environmental awareness, and a sense of belonging in the landscape. These foundational experiences foster early environmental stewardship and curiosity. Classes go for regular walks on our beautiful campus in north Boulder and to nearby destinations like Wonderland Lake.
Class trips in Grades 1–5
As students grow, so too does their relationship with the outdoors. For field trips, classes begin venturing off campus to explore natural areas more intentionally. These excursions deepen their observational skills, build group cohesion, and introduce basic fieldcraft. Starting around Grade 3, class teachers organize overnight trips in May that align with the themes of the Waldorf curriculum. These trips often include camping, hiking, team-building activities, and nature-based challenges. They begin to mirror the goals of the middle school Outdoor Education program, introducing basic camping techniques, group cooperation, and responsibility in an outdoor setting.
Grades 6, 7, and 8
The Middle School Outdoor Education Program integrates age-appropriate outdoor skills with curricular studies in geography, geology, history, and the natural sciences. Each grade takes part in autumn overnight expeditions and winter day trips, which emphasize Leave No Trace ethics, teamwork, self-reliance, and challenge.
Autumn Overnight Trips
Winter Day Trips
Grades 9-12
In high school, students take on more responsibility for trip planning, risk assessment, and group leadership. Outdoor Education becomes a tool for deep personal growth and academic enrichment. High school students take advantage of the nearby Rocky Mountains, as well as natural attractions in Utah and New Mexico. Our high school program has incorporated backpacking, river trips, climbing, solos, and group camping.
All trips are guided by experienced faculty and outdoor professionals. Our program aligns with best practices in the field of outdoor education, risk management, and student led activities, ensuring that each experience is both adventurous and safe.
Through each stage of Outdoor Education at SMWS, our students don’t just learn how to be in nature—they learn how to belong in nature, to appreciate it, and to protect it.
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