The Outdoors

beginning school students sitting on large blue dog campus art and looking at viewer
wide shot of fir grove after light snow fall students playing in snow wearing winter hats and jackets upper school library in background
lower school student and staff member crouched down getting ready to plant seedlings in the garden
beginning school students splashing in puddle in the upper school quad
two lower school students climbing a tree in the fir grove
lower school students playing on the pull up bars in the fir grove
lower school students running in the fir grove lower school in background

The natural world is part of our learning laboratory in every grade, whether it is exploring the 67-acre Catlin Gabel campus or the landscapes of Portland and Oregon.

Each day, students embark on adventures outside – whether it is part of a class or recess. They have access to wooded forests, playgrounds, grassy areas, gardens, and an orchard.

Beginning School: Preschool and Kindergarten

In Preschool and Kindergarten, students build a relationship and sense of identity with the natural world through experiences on campus that inspire curiosity and care. They have built-in time for exploring the outdoors—engaging in imaginative play in the Fir Grove, wandering the forest trails, and picking apples in the orchard—developing a deep connection to their environment.

Our Preschoolers and Kindergarteners also explore off campus to strengthen this bond, visiting places like the Jackson Bottom Wetland Preserve, a working farm, and the Sauvie Island bird-watching area. In the classroom, they learn to value studying natural materials such as shells, rocks, and sticks, carefully observing and collecting these treasures. These experiences often inspire them to create art, using the textures, shapes, and colors they find as a foundation for sculpture, drawing, and design—blending exploration with creative expression and fostering a lasting respect for the natural world.

Through these meaningful experiences, young children are nurtured as stewards of the Earth and the future, developing a sense of responsibility and care that will guide their actions and choices for years to come.

Lower School: 1st-5th Grades

Students continue to have extensive time outside each day. The Fir Grove is alive with children inventing games, building with sticks and logs, and climbing trees. Students learn about the natural world through explorations to our wooded trails, pond, and tiny forest. They travel off campus to explore local parks, rivers, reservoirs, and farms. Beginning in 3rd grade, students embark on class overnight trips to such sites as the Oregon Coast where they deepen their understanding of how ecosystems change and life forms adapt.