We Bring the Classroom Outdoors!
Curriculum & Instructional Areas
Camp GEORGE provides hands-on, high-quality learning experiences that immerse students in the natural environment. Our curriculum is designed to maximize engagement, allowing them to explore a variety of topics through interactive rotations.
Each academic rotation includes multiple focused activities, ensuring that students not only dive deep into each subject, but also experience a broad range of learning opportunities during their time at Outdoor School.
Camp GEORGE Outdoor School encourages students to learn with curiosity and excitement while investigating our diverse ecosystems, exploring natural resources, and connecting with their classroom outdoors.
Our instructional areas provide students with hands-on science and real-world applications, led by our trained High School Mentors, with the support of the classroom teacher(s) and/or Camp GEORGE staff. Students become field investigators while collecting, recording, analyzing, and sharing data as they explore the environment around them.
All Camp GEORGE curriculum is aligned with the Washington State K-12 Science Learning Standards (WSSLS), Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), Washington State SEL Standards and Benchmarks, and the ASCA: Mindsets & Behaviors for Student Success.
WILDLIFE INVESTIGATION
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In Wild Washington, students will investigate animal pelts, skulls, tracks, and scat exhibits to uncover unique facts about local wildlife. They will also explore the traditional ways Indigenous peoples used these animals for food, shelter, clothing, tools, and survival.
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Our Bird Identification rotation teaches students the basic fundamentals of birdwatching using binoculars and the Merlin Bird ID app. They will have the opportunity to observe local species, identify key traits and features, and listen for different bird calls and songs around Camp GEORGE.
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Wildlife Tracks allows students to explore the knowledge of how Indigenous peoples utilized tracks for hunting, gathering food, and ensuring survival. Students will also have the opportunity to make their own track to take home as a memorable souvenir.
FOREST INVESTIGATION
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Students will learn to identify native and invasive species around Camp GEORGE while investigating their ecological impact in Pacific Northwest Plants & Trees. They will also learn how Indigenous peoples of Washinton State have traditionally used plants and trees for food, medicine, and shelter.
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In The History of Nettle Tea, students will embark on a hands-on adventure through the woods, harvesting fresh stinging nettles to brew their own hot tea. As they explore, they will uncover the cultural history of how Indigenous peoples of Washington State used stinging nettles for nourishment and healing.
*Seasonal activity available during spring camp weeks only.
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Students will become hands-on scientists in our Soil Ecology rotation. They will conduct chemical tests on mystery soil samples to determine which provides the healthiest environment and essential nutrients for seedlings, a thriving ecosystem, and a community garden.
*Activity may not be available during all camp weeks.
WATER INVESTIGATION
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In What’s a Watershed?, students will design their own town using an exciting hands-on watershed model. They will explore how groundwater is filtered, how pollution from pesticides, fertilizers, and waste impacts our water systems, and what we can do to keep our water clean and sustainable.
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Students will work together to create a life-size diagram illustrating the four essential phases of The Water Cycle, while discovering its importance in sustaining life. Through hands-on activities, they’ll explore why water is our most precious resource and create a bracelet representing each stage of the cycle to take home.
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In Discovering Wetlands, students investigate the unique relationship between land and water by learning about Washington’s wetlands and the diverse wildlife that call them home. Through a hands-on food web activity, they’ll uncover how these ecosystems support a rich network of plants and animals.
*Activity may vary by camp week.
THE GREAT OUTDOORS
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In History by the Fire: The Long Walk of the Navajo Nation, students will gather around an intimate campfire for a quiet, reflective experience, learning about the Navajo Nation, the Long Walk of the 1800s, and the cultural significance of fry bread as a symbol of survival and resilience. They’ll also have the unique opportunity to make their own fry bread, deepening their understanding and respect of Navajo history and traditions through hands-on learning.
*Activity may not be available during all camp weeks.
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Sensory Challenge lets students safely step outside their comfort zone as they navigate a ground-level, blindfolded obstacle course, using critical thinking and teamwork to adapt their senses and experience the world in a whole new way.
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In Geocaching, students embark on a modern-day treasure hunt, using GPS technology, communication skills, and teamwork to navigate coordinates and uncover hidden geocaches around Camp GEORGE. Along the way, they’ll take a deeper dive into the importance of satellite communication and how it powers everyday tools like smart phones, navigation apps, and mapping technology worldwide.
NATURE’S CLASSROOM
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In Dear Tree…, students wander the woods in quiet reflection, allowing a tree to ‘call to them.’ Once they’ve found their tree, they adopt it—creating and narrating its story, taking a photo for lasting memories, and making a lifelong friend in nature. It’s an opportunity for storytelling, imagination, and connection all wrapped into one unforgettable experience.
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In this intimate rotation, students explore the history and significance of jewelry making in Native American culture through storytelling and hands-on creativity. One Small Blue Bead provides students with the opportunity to better understand the value of deep traditions and community while making unique bracelets to take home.
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Artist’s Corner is a space for creativity, mindful moments, and silent discovery. Whether students are sketching, journaling, or writing poetry, this rotation allows them to slow down and express their connection to nature in a meaningful and personal way.
HIKING & ACTIVITIES
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As students hike the trails at Camp GEORGE, they will search for nurse logs and nurse stumps - fallen trees that continue to give life even after they’ve died. We’ll explore how they provide shelter, nutrients, and moisture for new plants and trees, keeping Nature’s Circle of Life in motion. Through discovery and discussion, students will observe the power of forest regrowth and gain a deeper understanding for nature’s resilience.
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While discovering the trails at Camp GEORGE, students will play Oh, Deer!, an exciting and interactive game that demonstrates how animal populations can change based on the resources available. Through role-playing and movement, they’ll experience firsthand how water, food, and shelter impact survival and how nature naturally regulates populations. This fast-paced game makes learning about ecosystem cycles, population dynamics, and habitat interactions both fun and memorable.
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While hiking at Camp GEORGE, students will take a quiet moment to observe, reflect, and create through charcoal sketching. Using sketching paper and charcoal pencils, they’ll capture the fine details of towering trees, the deep textures of bark, or the delicate shapes of leaves. Whether they are a beginner or an expert, artistic skill doesn’t matter. It’s all about seeing nature through a different lens and bringing it to life through their interpretations. This activity encourages mindfulness, creativity, and a deeper appreciation for the outdoors.
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Out on the trails, students will become “nature detectives,” using their investigation skills to uncover the secrets of the forest. Whether testing their survival skills knowledge, identifying PNW plants and trees, or searching for signs of wildlife - like tracks, animal shelters, and scat - every hike offers a new and exciting challenge. With a mix of problem-solving, teamwork, and hands-on exploration, these fun activities make every hike at Camp GEORGE a true adventure!
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Students will put their communication and teamwork skills to the test in Rope Crafting, as they partner up on the trails to transform simple twine into a hand-crafted rope. Success depends on active listening, collaboration, and cooperation, resulting in a one-of-a-kind souvenir to take home.