Each year in the fall, Silver Oak’s fifth graders are offered the opportunity to spend one week at YMCA Camp Campbell , located at 16275 Highway 9, Boulder Creek, CA, 95006.
As the most unique branch of YMCA of Silicon Valley, YMCA Camp Campbell is located in the beautiful Redwoods in Boulder Creek. Their various camps help people develop the skills and relationships they need to be healthy, confident and connected to others.
Education comes to life at our Camp Campbell Outdoor Science School (CCOSS) where 5th and 6th grade students experience the thrills of nature through hands-on lessons and activities. We foster a love for nature and the outdoors, and the development of attitudes and practices that build character and awareness for the environment—all amidst the fun of campfires, songs, and meaningful relationships.
While lessons vary according to individual field teachers, weather conditions, specific class needs, and inspiration of the moment, these core concepts are common to the experience of all students:
- Adaptation
- Interdependence
- Cycles/Changes
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- Community
- Ecological Responsibility
- Conservation
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Functioning ecosystems investigated:
- Riparian and lotic aspects of the San Lorenzo River, and the unique characteristics of the redwood forest, mixed evergreen forest, chaparral and meadow communities.
- Experiential strategies and activities like observation, measurement, sampling, sensory experience and interpretation, and comparative investigations.
- Fundamental ecology and resource management concepts in ever field study.
The experience is social, as well as academic. Living 24 hours a day with other students requires your child to cooperate and work together with others toward common goals. Throughout the week, classroom teachers will be available to help students adjust to being away from home. In the end, however, friendships and memories are made that last a lifetime. What greater way to learn than to be immersed in real-life science for one week!
For more information on Camp Campbell please click on this link