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For all of our educational offerings, check out the OMSI Education Programs 2009–2010 Catalog

Outdoor Science School

Enjoy the great outdoors while expanding your understanding of the environment. Skilled instructors lead hands-on investigations in biology, ecology, geology, and more, all aligned with Oregonís content standards and benchmarks. Weíll work with you to tailor a program to suit your needs. 

• Grades 1–12, college students, adults, families (12-person minimum)
• 2 night / 3 day program, range from $135–$160/person
• 4 night / 5 day program,range from $225–$270/person
• Other options available.
• Cost includes one OMSI educator for every 15 students, program coordination, lodging, meals, pre-and post-materials, and field equipment. Groups provide transportation, chaperones at a 1:8 ratio, and lunch on the first day.

Customize Your Experience

One great feature of Outdoor Science School is the amount of choice you have in designing an outdoor experience that works for your particular interests and styles. For example, for each day of your visit, you choose field study topics, including cultural history, ecological mapping techniques, and many others. You also select from a long list of interest groups, which are short classes that meet after field study. Topics include paleontology field techniques, spiders and insects, and aquatic study. Evening programs occur between dinner and campfire and run the gamut from a slide show about bats to Eco-Jeopardy. 

Locations

Hancock Field Station 

Located in Central Oregon's John Day River Valley, an area world renowned for its fossil-rich rock formations. Owned and operated by OMSI for more than 60 years, this is the perfect location for the study of paleontology, geology, botany, archaeology, astronomy, and ornithology. Available spring and fall. Capacity: 100

Camp Kiwanilong

Situated next to Fort Stevens State Park on the northern Oregon coast with miles of trails, a freshwater lake, small ponds, and a nature center. A perfect location to study the wonders of marine life, make comparisons of fresh and saltwater ecosystems, and discover the cultural history of the Northwest coast. Historical and natural field trip destinations are easily accessible. Available spring and fall. Capacity: 100

Camp Magruder

Located on the northern Oregon coast between Smith Lake and the Pacific Ocean. Easy access to both fresh and saltwater ecosystems enables students to compare diverse organisms in these two habitats. The camp has 150 acres of wetlands, beaches, dunes, forests, and tide pools within walking distance, where students can study a variety of live creatures. Available spring and fall. Capacity: 120

Cascade Science School 

Based at Skyliners Lodge, located 10 miles west of Bend in the Deschutes National Forest, this site is optimal for exploring aquatic ecosystems and studying the effects of fire in a forest ecosystem. Students can count the rings of old-growth ponderosa pines, hike up the valley to Tumalo Falls and visit nearby rock art sites used by early Native Americans. Schools with transportation can visit nearby volcanic fields. Available year-round. Capacity: 50