Trackers Outdoor School (Fridays)
Nature Skills - Portland & Gresham

Trackers Outdoor School is a Friday outdoor immersion program for families who attend charter schools that run Monday to Thursday. We cultivate curiosity, creativity, and connection. Our expert Trackers Guides act as mentors to youth and teens learning in a small team of fellow outdoor explorers. Kids share epic adventures while learning fantastic outdoor skills.

Our Educational Philosophy

Our unique educational philosophy focuses on creating a deeper connection to community, nature, and social-emotional well-being.

• Friends & Community: Kids learn together in small teams, building social support within their cohort. We teach skills of independence to empower everyone to contribute to their community.
• Multi-Generational: Our mentors begin with a developmental curriculum for different age groups, adapting adventures to our cohorts' interests. We offer opportunities for leadership to encourage multi-generational learning.
• Natural World: We get outdoors to thoughtfully increase a child's comfort and adaptability. We learn skills of connection and caretaking for the natural world.
• Awareness: We practice being present with our peers and environment. We connect to how a child's unique gifts can inspire them to care for their community and nature.

Learn Trackers Skills

Adventuring outdoors entails learning with the seasons. During our journey, each seasonal term draws from the curriculum of our Four Guilds. Our Rangers Guild trains in archery and wilderness survival. Our Mariners Guild goes fishing and boating. Our Wilders Guild helps out with farm animals and gardens. Our Artisans Guild teaches natural arts & folk crafts.

Our Team

The Trackers Outdoor School team features some of our best Trackers staff. They are Mentors, guiding each day to help every cohort grow in their connection to each other, community, and nature.

• Expertise in mentoring and outdoor skills.
• Low student-to-guide ratio facilitating personal, team-based learning.
• Background checked with First Aid & CPR certification.
• Trained in outdoor safety and the Trackers Earth curriculum.

Our Place

Our Outdoor School uses buses or vans for transport from our in-town site or schools to wilderness locations. For Rangers skills like archery or wilderness survival, we go to our 351-acre Wilderness Camp in Sandy, Oregon. Wilders skills are taught at our farm with donkeys, goats, chickens, and more. Mariner skills involve exploring local waterways. When the weather calls for it, we might create hands-on nature and folk crafts indoors at our Artisans studio.