Outdoor Environmental Education

The OEE program intentionally begins in 3rd grade with a fall and spring field trip during the school day. The focus at this grade level is how to arrive prepared with the things you need to be comfortable outdoors for an extended amount of time. Students are introduced to "Leave No Trace" principles and how to recreate responsibly and respectfully outdoors. Past field trips have taken place in Park City and the Wasatch Front Foothills, including hikes, picnics, and lots of play and discovery.

Connecting classroom studies to urban open spaces, 4th grade field trips take place monthly on local trails, parks, preserves, and wildlife refuges. Past field trips have taken place at Antelope Island, Bonneville Shoreline Trail, Miller Park, and other local locations. To complete the school year, students take part in a springtime overnight sleepover, historically taking place one mile from school at the Tracy Aviary.

As 5th grade students study watersheds, they are able to visit and see first hand where Salt Lake City’s water supply comes from. Hiking in the canyons surrounding Salt Lake provides a visual of our watershed, during fall, winter and spring. As the snow melts and springtime temperatures warm in Southern Utah, 5th-graders travel to the desert for a three-day, two-night camping trip where they learn overnight camping skills and gain independence. Past trips have included Moab and Goblin Valley.

In 6th grade, our students participate in OEE during the spring trimester after having the first two trimesters to adjust to life as a middle school student. To celebrate the year’s end, students go on a 3-day, 2-night springtime camping trip in Southern Utah. Students go into greater depth on the skills needed to camp and be good stewards of the places they visit. Previous trips have taken place at campgrounds and trails at Desert Peak and the San Rafael Swell. 

The 7th grade OEE experience is all about winter! During trimester two, students embark on a 3-day, 2-night winter yurt trip. Students travel in small groups with snowshoes on their feet and packs on their backs to their assigned yurts. Lessons focus on winter weather, snow science, and winter survival! Past trips have taken place in the Uintas and East Canyon. 

To culminate their OEE experiences, 8th-graders participate in a week-long backpacking trip, relying on the gear and food they bring in their packs. Learning wilderness skills to help them thrive in a backcountry setting, small groups of about 10 students and teachers navigate and live life “off the grid” for a 4-day, 3-night trip. Past trips have taken place in the San Rafael Swell and Coyote Gulch. 

Families will need to provide their own proper hiking footwear, water bottles, and warm, non-cotton layers for field trips. Sun protection including hats, sunscreen and sunglasses are a must! Camping trips require sleeping bags and sleeping pads, headlamps or flashlights, and a backpacking pack for 7th and 8th grade trips. Complete packing lists will be provided in advance of trips, including suggestions about how to find or rent the gear needed.

On camping trips, the school provides all food, water, tents, kitchen and cooking supplies, first aid, navigation, communication, and repair supplies. Snowshoes are provided by the school on the 7th grade trip, unless the student has a pair they prefer to bring. 

Yes, it is part of being a Magpie! Overnight trips are part of the program at McGillis and are designed for each grade level with their specific needs in mind. Shared experiences help the class grow together, and have provided memories of a lifetime that many McGillis alumni look back upon fondly. If a medical condition would make the trip unsafe for your child, we encourage that conversation with the Lower School or Middle School Director in advance. 

It’s good! Pancakes, fruit and yogurt, sandwiches, spaghetti, burritos, burgers, and don’t forget dessert. We always plan with kids' likes and nutrition in mind, and our amazing kitchen staff has plenty of ideas on how to accommodate various dietary needs. 

“There’s no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing.” ~Alfred Wainwright

We teach students how to prepare for any kind of weather. Snow, rain, wind, and cold are ok to be outside in! It’s also ok to be a little uncomfortable at times. Staff are attuned to how to keep kids safe in the elements, and manage risk on trips accordingly. However, if weather would make an activity unsafe to travel to or spend extended time in (winter weather advisories, unsafe roads, etc.), then we would provide an alternative experience with safety at the forefront. 

You are not alone. Many students experience their first camping trip with us. Trip information is relayed in emails and parent meetings. Students are prepped for their experience in advance so that they know what to expect. Students are taught in advance and on the trip the skills they need to be safe, happy, and successful. While you may not have all the gear, we encourage you to borrow from friends, and will point you in the right direction if you want to rent or purchase. The school also has a rental closet with some outdoor clothing that we can lend out at no charge if the right size is available. 

Everyone gets nervous --parents, students, and teachers! This is normal, and expected as part of the experience, even for those of us who have done it before. Ask questions! We’d encourage you to attend parent trip meetings, reach out to The School with questions, and read information so you know best how to prepare. It’s ok to be nervous, but if your student has specific concerns we can know about to make their experience better, please let us know so we can try to help.

The OEE Coordinator, classroom teachers and middle school teachers who work closest with that grade level lead the trips. We have a wealth of outdoor enthusiasts on staff with years of outdoor leadership experience and training under their belt. Parent volunteers are asked to sit these experiences out in order for students to build independence and self-reliance.

Locations can change year to year, and won’t always remain the same. Part of this is due to annual changes in trip dates on the school calendar, land agency regulations, or availability of that location! We visit some world renowned locations, and sometimes have to compete with others to secure reservations. Luckily, we live in a location abundant with incredible outdoor opportunities.