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 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.

At Catlin Gabel, the outdoors becomes an active classroom. By taking classroom themes into the real world through local day trips and regional overnights, children build foundational life skills rooted in three core areas: stewardship, team behavior, and personal growth.

Stewardship focuses on caring about nature. Our youngest learners develop a connection to the outdoors and learn how their choices impact the environment. By practicing low-impact principles like Leave No Trace, students understand how to respect and protect the natural spaces they explore.

Positive expedition behavior is all about caring for the community. On the trail and at camp, students practice everyday values like kindness, integrity, and inclusion. They learn to speak up for their own physical and emotional health while balancing their personal needs with the goals of the group.

Finally, students grow as resilient learners and leaders during overnight expeditions. Starting in third grade, students have the opportunity to be with classmates in new settings. This gives children the space to navigate uncertainty, learn through trial and error, and find strength in mistakes. By practicing how to be both supportive teammates and capable peer leaders, our students build a lifelong commitment to caring for self while caring for one another.