Environmental Education
The Outdoor Leadership program at Southern Adventist University offers an experience
in education that not only conveys information, but creates a lasting impression through
hands-on interactive programs. Trained facilitators guide students through the world’s
largest classroom, the outdoors. Our programs allow students to experience the world
around them, not just read about it.
Public and private school groups and homeschool groups have benefited from classes offered on our 1,000-acre campus. We can also travel to your school or other selected sites across the United States. Each program is easily customized from single-day classes to five-day learning adventures.
Our outdoor school programs offer a quality educational experience for students of all grades. Whether you are seeking an academic or adventure experience, we offer a wide selection of classes to reflect the goals and needs of your students. If you are interested in other outdoor programming, please see our Adventure Programming and Challenge Course pages. We invite you to browse our website to learn more about us and our facilities.
We are happy to work with you to develop an experience that is tailored to the needs of your students and adapted to their grade level!
In addition to our most popular programs described below, we also offer these programs on our campus:
Public and private school groups and homeschool groups have benefited from classes offered on our 1,000-acre campus. We can also travel to your school or other selected sites across the United States. Each program is easily customized from single-day classes to five-day learning adventures.
Our outdoor school programs offer a quality educational experience for students of all grades. Whether you are seeking an academic or adventure experience, we offer a wide selection of classes to reflect the goals and needs of your students. If you are interested in other outdoor programming, please see our Adventure Programming and Challenge Course pages. We invite you to browse our website to learn more about us and our facilities.
We are happy to work with you to develop an experience that is tailored to the needs of your students and adapted to their grade level!
In addition to our most popular programs described below, we also offer these programs on our campus:
- Cave Rocks (learn about the formation and properties of rocks while touring the cave on our campus)
- Wet Ecosystems (explore the diversity of a local ecosystem from the perspective of a canoe!)
- Measure Me (methods of measurement)
- Papermaking (tree conservation)
- Potato Math (speed calculation)
- Shoe Keys (scientific classification)
- Taster's Choice (edible plants)
- Team Building (team initiatives)
- Who Goes Where? (animal tracks)
- Animal Adaptations
- Earthquakes and Volcanoes
- Weathering and Erosion
- Solar system
- Magnets
- Light
- Sound
- and many more depending on your facility!
INSPECT an INSECT
Grades K-2
In this close-up look at insects, budding entomologists will discover some amazing insect adaptations as they examine real insects, study unique specimens, and make their own insect craft. The best part of all, of course, is chasing hard-to-catch bugs for up-close observation.
Grades K-2
In this close-up look at insects, budding entomologists will discover some amazing insect adaptations as they examine real insects, study unique specimens, and make their own insect craft. The best part of all, of course, is chasing hard-to-catch bugs for up-close observation.
The FOREST HABITAT
Grades K-3
Students might be surprised at the many different forest houses that animals call home. In this forest exploration, students will become detectives as they search out and identify animal dwellings and “hangouts” while determining what factors make a forest such a great place.
Grades K-3
Students might be surprised at the many different forest houses that animals call home. In this forest exploration, students will become detectives as they search out and identify animal dwellings and “hangouts” while determining what factors make a forest such a great place.
BOTANY for BEGINNERS
Grades 2-4
On this adventure, young botanists create their own take-home field guide as they learn how specific shapes, textures, colors, smells, and sometimes taste (yes, taste) help identify different plants. They learn the inner workings of a tree and how plants play a part in their everyday lives.
Grades 2-4
On this adventure, young botanists create their own take-home field guide as they learn how specific shapes, textures, colors, smells, and sometimes taste (yes, taste) help identify different plants. They learn the inner workings of a tree and how plants play a part in their everyday lives.
WATER SCIENCE
Grades 3-5
There’s nothing dry about this adventure! Students learn about the water cycle, pollution problems, and get their feet wet scouting the creek for natural water quality indicators, such as mayflies and crayfish.
Grades 3-5
There’s nothing dry about this adventure! Students learn about the water cycle, pollution problems, and get their feet wet scouting the creek for natural water quality indicators, such as mayflies and crayfish.
FOSSIL HUNT
Grades 4-8
This creation-based class has been thousands of years in the making! Budding geologists first become acquainted with the fossilization process by making their own fossils. Then they go on a search for real fossils, identifying and classifying their treasures like experienced geologists.
Grades 4-8
This creation-based class has been thousands of years in the making! Budding geologists first become acquainted with the fossilization process by making their own fossils. Then they go on a search for real fossils, identifying and classifying their treasures like experienced geologists.
ORIENTEERING
Grades 4-8
Get ready for a day to remember! First students will learn to use a compass to navigate their way through the forest. Then chaperoned groups will be left at a drop-off point and given a map, compass, and directions to find their way back to camp, where they will be met with a mouth-watering meal cooked over a campfire. Orienteering is typically a full-day program.
Grades 4-8
Get ready for a day to remember! First students will learn to use a compass to navigate their way through the forest. Then chaperoned groups will be left at a drop-off point and given a map, compass, and directions to find their way back to camp, where they will be met with a mouth-watering meal cooked over a campfire. Orienteering is typically a full-day program.