Outdoor Education
Overview
Our outdoor education program allows us to take advantage of our spectacular geographic location in the Wasatch Mountains of Utah, while connecting students to nature and authentic, real-world learning.
The Park City Day School Outdoor Education program follows a developmentally-appropriate progression from Preschool all the way through to Eighth Grade. Beginning with day hikes and local field trips, our students venture off on their first overnight camping trip in Third Grade. By Middle School, our students are spending up to a week away while engaging in adventurous activities such as whitewater rafting, rock climbing, canyoneering and backcountry snowshoeing. All trips are led by our qualified faculty & staff and/or vetted guide services.
Recent Lower School OE Trips
- Trail service projects, fly fishing, and camping at Wasatch State Park, Midway, UT.
- Hiking, camping, and hands-on indigenous activities, including atlatl throwing and rock art, in Fremont Indian State Park, Sevier, UT.
- Hiking, camping, fossil discovery, and whitewater rafting in Dinosaur National Monument, Jensen, UT.
Recent Middle School OE Trips
- Backcountry snowshoeing, snow science study and yurt camping in Green Canyon, Logan, UT.
- Desert land management and beaver restoration project in Escalante Grand Staircase National Park, UT.
- Rappelling, slot canyoneering, hiking and swimming in Goblin Valley State Park, Green River, UT.
All-School Outdoor Education Experiences
- Cross Country Skiing at Soldier Hollow Nordic Center, Midway, UT.
- Hatching, raising and releasing rainbow trout as part of the Trout in the Classroom program.
- Patriot Day hike to the flagpole atop Ecker Hill.
- Nature hikes on our campus "Infinity Trail" system.
- Work in the Greenhouse and campus gardens.