All Student Leader buses depart for sites on Mondays and return on Fridays with one exception during Fall Week 3, which will be operating on a Sunday - Thursday schedule. See below for details.

Fall 2025

Fall Week 1: Sept 29 - Oct 3 (Mon. - Fri.)

Fall Week 2: Oct 5 - 9 (Sun - Thurs)

Fall Week 3: Oct 13 - 17 (Mon - Fri)

Fall Week 4: Oct 20 - 24 (Mon-Fri)

Fall Week 5: Oct 27 - 31 (Mon-Fri)

Fall Week 6: Nov 3 - 7 (Mon-Fri)

 

Spring 2026

Spring Week 1: March 2 - 6 (Mon-Fri)

Spring Week 2: March 9 - 13 (Mon-Fri)

Spring Week 3: March 16 - 20 (Mon-Fri)

*Spring Break March 23 - 27 No School / No Outdoor School*

Spring Week 4: March 30 - April 3 (Mon-Fri)

Spring Week 5: April 6 - 10 (Mon-Fri)

Spring Week 6: April 13 - 17 (Mon-Fri)

Spring Week 7: April 20 - 24 (Mon-Fri)

Spring Week 8: April 27 - May 1 (Mon-Fri)

Spring Week 9: May 4 - 8 (Mon-Fri)

Spring Week 10: May 11 - 15 (Mon-Fri)

Spring Week 11: May 18 - 22 (Mon-Fri)

Spring Week 12: May 25 - 29 (Mon-Fri)

 

 

In order to be a Student Leader and receive an offer letter for a site location during a specific week, students new to the program will need to attend an in-person or virtual training. You'll select your training date during registration. If the date selected needs to change, please email us at ods@nwresd.org.

All the information discussed during trainings will be covered again on site during your first 24 hours before 6th graders arrive.

Training Options:

Overnight Student Leader Summit Training - DATE PAST, see you at the next one!
*Open to new and returning Student Leaders*
*For current high school students only*

The Student Leader Summit is an overnight sneak peek into the four-night Outdoor School experience. Training on-site gives you the opportunity to know your surroundings with the hands-on experience you need to lead with confidence. You’ll meet staff and both new and returning Student Leaders eager to give 5th/6th graders a memorable Outdoor School experience. This training will make you feel most prepped and ready for Outdoor School!

• February 21st - 22nd on Saturday from 9:00am to Sunday at 2:00pm on one of our site locations. 

Student Leader Training Dates, Time, and Locations

The below virtual and in-person training options are informational sessions to prepare students of their expectations of what it takes to be a Student Leader.

• March 31st (Tuesday) from 6:00pm to 8:45pm at McKay High School in the library.
• April 1st (Wednesday) from 5:00pm to 7:00pm virtually.
• April 7th (Tuesday) from 6:00pm to 8:45pm at Tigard High School in the commons.
• April 11th (Saturday) from 12:00pm to 2:45pm virtually.
• April 15th (Wednesday) from 5:00pm to 7:00pm virtually.
• April 23rd (Thursday) from 5:00pm to 7:00pm virtually. 

Not available for any of the trainings listed?

In your registration, using the training dropdown, please select "These trainings dates don't work for me" and we'll be in touch via email with alternative options when they've been confirmed.

-----

Training Topics:

• Who's on Site
• Student Leader's Role and Expectations
• Sample Schedule
• Field Study and Related Expectations
• Scenerios
• Mentorship and Goal Setting
• Packing Essentials
• Absolute No-Nos
• Site Locations
• Dual Credit with PCC

Considerations:

• Can I maintain patience when students are challenging?
• Can I be a positive and appropriate role model for 6th graders?
• Do I enjoy being around kids?
• Do I enjoy being outside in bad weather?
• Am I comfortable asking for help when I need it?

Following Training:

After accepting your placement, you'll receive the following information as PDF attachments. 

• Bus Schedule and Location
• Packing Essentials List
• Medical Form (needs to be signed and brought to site)
• Pre-Arranged Absence Form (tell us when it's complete)

Reminders:

This policy ensures safe and legal administration of all medication.

• Bring your physically signed Medical Form with you to your bus departure location.
  
  
• All vitamins and supplements need a doctor’s note for administration. Without a note our nurses cannot give the medication. These commonly include melatonin, lactaid, and any multivitamins. 
  
  
• All prescription medication must have a pharmacy label attached to its original container.

• Dose must match label
  The dosage instruction on the original pharmacy label must precisely match the dose the student is taking. If there is any difference (e.g., label says "1 tablet," but the student takes "1/2 tablet"), a new label or a signed, dated order from the prescribing provider with the updated instructions is required.

This recommended packing list will also be sent to you via email once you've accepted your Outdoor School week/site placement. 

When packing for your week please use the following information and suggestions to ensure you will be appropriately prepared. We understand that this sample list may not include all of the things you will need to be comfortable and prepared for your week on site.

Things to Keep in mind:

• Pack clothing that will keep you comfortable in all weather conditions. Please take some time to look at the weather in the location you are going to
• The “Outdoor School Dress Code”: long pants, closed-toed shoes, school-appropriate clothing; please avoid clothing with any political statements, inappropriate words or images (swear words or nudity)
• Ensure you pack the things needed to meet your basic needs
• You are not required to purchase any new supplies in order to attend, if you are in need of supplies, (sleeping bags, rain coat, waterbottle ect.) please email us.
• Label your belongings with your Outdoor School name and high school
• You are welcome to bring a phone and snacks for your break time. Please note we can not share personal food with students and these will only be accessible during break times.

Do Not Bring

• Radios, Alarm Clocks, Video Games, Laptops, Ipads
• Inappropriate clothing; logos, pictures, words
• Pocket knives, lighters, matches

Email us at ODS@nwresd.k12.or.us if you:

• Need any gear like: rain jackets, rain boots, sleeping bags, pillows, rainboots. Outdoor School can provide these to you if you are unable to bring them
• Have questions about what to bring that are not addressed here
• Have specific accommodations you need when at site

PACKING LIST

BEDDING

•  Sleeping bag OR blanket and sheet
• Pillow and pillowcase
• Extra blanket

CLOTHING

Please pack plenty of layers to stay warm and dry all week

• Shirts
• Long pants
• Warm jacket
• Sweater or Sweatshirt
• Base layers (leggings, undershirt)
• (Extra) Socks
• Underwear
• Gloves
• Warm Hat
• Closed Toed Shoes

WATERPROOF LAYERS

• Boots
• Raincoat
• Rainpants

TOILETRIES

• Towel / Wash Cloth
• Soap (i.e body wash, face wash)
• Shampoo, Conditioner
• Comb / Brush
• Toothbrush & Toothpaste
• Lip balm & lotion
• Deodorant – roll-on only (some people are allergic to sprays)

USEFUL ITEMS

• Flashlights
• Daypack
• Watch
• Water bottle

OPTIONAL

• Cabin Decorations (fairy lights, streamers, cheap and easily removable)
• Beads*
• Musical instruments
• Sunscreen
• Handwarmers

*Special Note on our Bead Economy: Optional participation.
Beads are given out by staff and/or Student Leaders generally as a reward for completing something while at Outdoor School. Student Leaders commonly relate their bead to their Nature name. Most 6th graders really love participating in the collection of beads because they can display them on their name tag string, however we don't introduce personal beads until at least Wednesday because it can also cause distractions. If you would like to participate in the bead economy, this is a personal purchase choice. Student Leaders in the past recommend bringing about 20-30 beads. 

• Make new friends from other high schools
• Gain valuable volunteer experience that looks great on college, scholarship and job applications. For each week you volunteer, you earn 100 community service hours.*
• Earning 3 free transferable college credit (many high schools offer credit, too!)
• Impact the lives of elementary school students, often in ways that you'll never know.
• Graduation cords for High School Seniors

Student Leaders learn to:

• Be a good leader and teammate
• Communicate more effectively 
• Facilitate learning of younger students
• Build and support a positive, inclusive community and learning environment

 

*Individual schools and programs can limit the number of hours they accept

This unique opportunity allows you to earn 0.5 elective high school credits through ORVED and 3 college credits through Portland Community College (PCC), all at no cost to you. The course is hosted on Canvas.

Registration Process:

To enroll in the course, you will need to complete two separate registration processes:

1. PCC Registration: NOW CLOSED

Here is a link to PCC's student registration pages of the PCC Dual Credit Website. 

PCC recommends completing their registration process at least 2 weeks before the deadline.

Student Handbook: pcc.edu/dchandbook

Course CRN: TBD

Spring PCC Registration: April 13th - May 15th

*Please be aware that when you register you will receive a grade on your transcript no matter what. If you do not know if/when you will be completing a week of Outdoor Science School we suggest that you wait until the Fall to enroll. We cannot unenroll you if something comes up. 

       2. Canvas/ORVED Registration

Sign up at https://nwresd.instructure.com/register and use the following join code: qdhw5cwk 

If you encounter any issues during Canvas registration, follow the steps outlined in the attached document titled "Canvas - Failed Log in." Most commonly, students face hurdles due to existing accounts with their schools. To circumvent this, we recommend using a different browser than the one you use for school. For instance, if you use Chrome for school-related activities, try using Firefox or Safari for our course.

Open enrollment (no registration deadline).

Course Overview:

• Platform: Asynchronously on Canvas

• Assignments: 5 in total

• Deadline: All coursework is due by May 29th.
  We encourage you to complete assignments as soon as possible.

We believe this dual credit course will not only provide you with valuable insights and skills but also open doors for your academic and personal growth. 

Reminder -  If you register for this course you WILL receive a final grade on your transcript. This transfers to any/all colleges & universities. We cannot unenroll you if something comes up and/or you do not complete assignments. Therefore, if you sign-up but end up not attending a week of NOSS OR you do not complete your work within the course you WILL receive a F on your transcript. Additionally, if you’ve already received these PCC credits, you cannot enroll again - it’s a one-time course.

Questions?

Reach out to Bianca Jimenez (NOSS Vice Principal) at bjimenez@nwresd.k12.or.us for further assistance.

Self Care

• “Don’t get too in your head and stress yourself out about how you’re doing.”
  
  

• “You’re doing great! Ask for help when you need it and have fun with it.”

• “Don’t stress, especially if you need a break from the kids, it’s okay to ask for help. Remember, you can’t pour from an empty glass!”

• “Try to have some time for yourself, but also prepare to not have time for yourself.”

• “It’s okay to be stressed, the first couple days are the hardest but it gets better and easier.”

• “Take it easy, 6th graders can be hard to get used to. Everyone knows you are trying your best.”

• “Don’t be so hard on yourself if you make a mistake - we all adapt and evolve.”

• “It can be nerve wracking or stressful but take deep breaths and you’ll do great.”

What to Bring

• “Bring a rain jacket. A hoodie is not a rain layer.”

• “Come with beads, bead challenges, and games!”

• “Bring a watch.”

• "Make skits and learn songs earlier on to learn with your cabin. Then practice your cabin calls!"

• “Pack the amount of socks you think you need and then pack five more.”

• “It gets real cold at night, bring extra layers.”

• “Bring a thermos for coffee or tea on the go.”

• “It’s better to be overpacked than underpacked (ex: sleeping bag, pillow, etc.)”

Making Friends

• “Build connections with the other student leaders! You’ll have each other’s backs all week. The feeling of being alone goes away after the first day!”

• “You’ll definitely leave Outdoor School having made some new friends, potentially lifelong!”

• “Go without friends. You’ll make so many new ones. You get to be whoever you want without judgment.”

Strategies & Attitude 

• “Yolo!”
  
  
• "Making one-on-one connections early is a really good student management strategy."
  
  

• “Be confident and don't be afraid to use your voice!”

• "The first night is when everyone gets homesick, including you."

• “Think of yourself as ice cream. Start firm, soften over time. Be a leader before a friend when it comes to 6th graders.”

• “Rapport, warm clothing, schedules, and bathroom breaks are the most important.”

• “Don’t be afraid to ask questions during the training day.”

• “Meal times are the perfect time to bond with kids.”

• “Problems that may seem small to you can be a big deal for a 6th grader!”

• “You don’t need to be perfect for a kid to look up to you.”

• “Kids feed off your energy and vibes! Bring the fun and excited energy into every activity!”

• “When in doubt, play a game.”

• “Be extroverted as best you can.”

• “Pay attention to the time!”

• “Every time you go it gets easier and more fun. Stay on schedule!”

• “Get out of your comfort zone.”

• “Have patience, preserve your voice, give your kiddos motivation to listen.”

•  “Let your goofy side come out, have fun!”

• “Treat the students like people, not toddlers.”

• “Patience and kindness are everything.”

• “Fake it till you make it - even if you don’t feel like it, don’t let the kids know.”

• “Be a little silly! Have fun! The kids have more fun if you do.”

• “Lean into the chaos, it’s gonna happen.”

• “Be BOLD. Step out of your comfort zone and make memories for yourself and the kiddos.”

• “Be confident! The kids look up to you, whatever you do they’ll do too!”

• “Do your best to learn what works and what doesn’t work with your kids early on.”

• “Play into it even if the kids don’t bite at first! They will if you will!”

• “Everybody, even student leaders who have been there 3 or 6 times, won’t be perfect and that’s okay.”

• “The kids think you’re way cooler than you may think :)”

Here are some helpful words you'll see used most at Outdoor School:

• SL = Student Leader
• Cabin Group = Group of about 10 6th grade students you'll manage for the week
• Site Supervisor = Outdoor School site Principal
• Wood Cookie =  Name tag used on site displaying your Nature name
• Recreation = Student Leader break time
• Campfire = End of day performances such as skits and/or songs
• Fire watch = Student Leaders have free time with snacks, hanging out with Staff

*Special Note on our Bead Economy: Optional participation.
Beads are given out by staff and/or Student Leaders generally as a reward for completing something while at Outdoor School. Student Leaders commonly relate their bead to their Nature name. Most 6th graders really love participating in the collection of beads because they can display them on their name tag string, however we don't introduce personal beads until at least Wednesday because it can also cause distractions. If you would like to participate in the bead economy, this is a personal purchase choice. Student Leaders in the past recommend bringing about 20-30 beads. 

Volunteer experience is a great thing for high school students to have on their resumes. Here are a few sample resume bullet point for student leaders:

• Collaborated with diverse groups fostering teamwork and effective communication to achieve common goals within an unconventional outdoor setting.
• Demonstrated adaptability by problem-solving in nature, navigating unforeseen challenges, and adjusting plans to ensure a successful learning environment.
• Lead engaging, hands-on outdoor field study activities tailored for sixth graders during a week-long program while developing leadership and teamwork skills in fostering a supportive and inclusive environment.

For more examples and resume advise, see our Resume Building Guide.

Become a Student Leader Recruiter.

Student recruiting is about getting more of your peers at your school signed up to be Student Leaders at Outdoor School. Successful recruiters earn exclusive Northwest Outdoor Science School merchandise, only available to Student Leader recruiters. It's easy, fun and requires no minimum commitment.

Visit our Recruiting page for more information.