L.A. County Outdoor Science School

07/17/2022

Thank you for your interest In the Los Angeles County Outdoor Science School! For updates and information about our outstanding programs, please contact Shaun Hawke, Project Director, at: [email protected].

04/26/2019

Spectacular Wildflowers
Have you had a chance to view wildflowers away from the city this year? Many urban wildflowers also provide an excellent phenomena for study. Check out these resources from NSTA! Hooray for NSTA!
https://contentsharing.net/actions/email_web_version.cfm?ep=sjpkIkzmQLZhUjBWHCOW3ius9f2iPeamnUhpawgZ_m15fW3yB9psB1Af5dgCeOlrC6ZBFZmyj2cMk9pTxv8oqO3R6h3rUJwXb2DxADQcuIpF6q2XJsNQu4RFrolEWA4P

11/15/2018

Another network news link.

Camp Hess Kramer and Camp Hilltop in the Malibu Hills were largely destroyed by the Woolsey Fire. Joel Grover reports for NBC4 News Nov. 11, 2018.

11/15/2018

Link to archived network news coverage.

Camp Hess Kramer and Gindling Hilltop Camp in Malibu were heavily damaged by the Woolsey Fire.

11/15/2018

Many have asked how they can help support the OSS. An independent Go Fund Me site has been established to support the losses of the Malibu OSS staff. As your interest and capacity permit, please consider supporting the staff.

This gofundme page has been set up to provide immediate financial aid to the nine teachers/naturalists who have been impacted by the devastating fires at Outdoor Science School Malibu. Our children are the recipients of these teacher's selflessness and kindness. They were caring for our student...

11/14/2018

Thank you so much for your wonderful expressions of concern and condolences. You have been so kind and that kindness has mattered. Staff have not been able to enter the devastated OSS site yet - things are unsettled, but we are making progress toward an interim site where we can resume conducting the Outdoor Science School program! Stay tuned. Good news is coming!

11/14/2018

Thank you so much for your well wishes, memories, and the outpouring of kindness. We are in conversations seeking to arrange an alternative opportunity for those schools that are still scheduled to attend Outdoor Science School this school year. Please be patient another day as we continue to consider options. We will pass along news as soon as it is specific enough to share.
Some have wondered if they can reschedule to attend Wrightwood. Reservations are on hold while we work on a coordinated plan for accommodating schools. It is a lot to sort out. Your patience and flexibility is very much appreciated.
You are awesome. The thoughts you have shared lift our spirits when it seems nothing could do so.

11/12/2018

Malibu Outdoor Science School Update

Thursday afternoon, two fires broke out in areas north of the Malibu Outdoor Science School. Although the fires were near the 101 Freeway, many miles away, the OSS was evacuated at about 11:00 PM. All of the students and staff were evacuated safely, which is a significant blessing. At that time, we were holding on to hope that the fire would not reach the area.

The fire continued to grow and expand at an incredible rate, eventually reaching the area around the camp. Fire officials indicated that they had never seen anything like the speed of this fire progress. The Ventura County Emergency website showed a new fire perimeter that included the OSS campus, but we continued optimistic, knowing that even though the camp was inside the burn perimeter line, much of the camp may have been spared.

As time has progressed, reports came in indicating that much of the main campus has burned. We received a report from a friend of ours who is a fire captain. He was able to visit the property in our behalf. Baruh Hall is a total loss. The Outdoor Science School offices are part of Baruh Hall. This is the beautiful building at the amphitheater and near the pool. Gildred Hall has burned, including the associated residential spaces. The student cabins are a total loss as well. The Steve Breuer Conference center may be OK, as well as the infirmary and nearby offices and residential spaces. Gindling Hilltop Camp was almost entirely destroyed as well.

Thank you for your expressions of concern, condolences and well wishes - I have been passed along to the OSS staff and to camp staff and the Wilshire Boulevard Temple team. This is extremely hard to take and affects thousands associated with Outdoor Science School and the two camps.

We will meet and assess the situation and our options as soon as we are able. Stay tuned for more information as it become available. Everyone is safe.

Again, I cannot express enough how awesome Shaun Hawke and the OSS staff, and the Camp staff, have been. Our sincere appreciation to all the firefighters and emergency services professionals who have faced and overwhelming task.

11/11/2018

Malibu OSS Affected by Woolsey Fire
Thursday night we evacuated the schools, after which the staff also evacuated. Everyone was safely evacuated. At that time, we were holding on to hope that the fire would not reach the area.
Subsequent to that time, the fire continued to grow and expand at an incredible rate, eventually reaching the area around the camp. Although we do not have a specific report of conditions on campus at the Malibu Outdoor Science School, the Ventura County Emergency website shows a new fire perimeter that includes the OSS campus. Facebook posts report that at least one of the buildings, the home of the camp manager, has been lost.
It appears possible that some of the camp may be lost. However! Just because it is inside the burn perimeter line does not mean all is lost. You have noticed the capricious nature of the fire - it is possible that spaces may be undamaged.

Again, I cannot express enough how awesome Shaun Hawke and the OSS staff and the Camp staff have been.
Thank you all for your well wishes.

06/05/2018

A Message from Outdoor Science School to our Participating Teachers!

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all of the schools who attended Los Angeles County Outdoor Science School in 2017-18! We know you worked very hard to prepare your students, parents, and cabin leaders for a life-changing week full of NGSS-aligned scientific inquiry, nature exploration, and community building. We hope your week at Outdoor Science School was a highlight of your school year. It was a pleasure to work with you to provide this amazing opportunity for your students.

This has been another great year for the Outdoor Science School, serving about 5,000 students! 2017-2018 saw several changes as we do our best to meet the needs of everyone in the OSS family. We had a successful trial of a fourth grade field study opportunity that focused on Native Californians and their use of plant resources. This program would make an excellent two-day, one-night opportunity for students to participate at OSS as fourth grades, but also works as a day program. We were able to welcome and support a number of new schools from several new districts. New schools are a great addition and currently participating schools are our best ambassadors – please help us recruit new schools! The website continues to improve. The Instagram account is a great way to keep in touch, and other social media will be improved over the summer.

Excellent Outdoor Science Field Study
Looking back at the year, and back at almost 60 years of service, we are excited about the quality of our educational program. We were very pleased to receive these comments from a participating teacher.

"After looking into various [outdoor science school] programs, we knew that LACOSS was the perfect place for our students to have an immersive experience in science education. Because it is a program affiliated with Los Angeles County Office of Education, we were confident that the curriculum would be aligned with NGSS, and that the experience would build upon the collaboration and inquiry-based learning that takes place in the classroom. P.S. It was an experience that we all can't stop sharing about!!" --Michelle Kibic, 5th grade teacher, Sanchez Elem., Norwalk/ La Mirada Unified School District, 1st year participating teacher

Support for Next Year
Here in Wrightwood, as in your classrooms, we are already busy planning for your next visit to OSS. We know that parents, teachers, and administrators want to know as much as they can about Outdoor Science School before they agree to send their students to an overnight program. LACOSS is here to support you to recruit cabin leaders and to address parent concerns so as many of your students as possible can experience Outdoor Science School! There are a variety of resources to help you:

● Earn a Scholarship to OSS by recruiting a new school! Many students and teachers leave their week at OSS hoping they can share the experience with others. Help us identify schools that might be interested in participating and you can earn scholarships for your own school! Ask us how!
● Sign up for a 4th grade 1 or 2 day program! Our new 4th grade program focuses on Native Californians and their use of plant resources. We are happy to offer this program as a day program or an overnight. This is a great introduction to Outdoor Science School and will prepare your students and parents for the 5-day program in 5th or 6th grade.
● Book a School Visit for Fall 2018! We are often able to send staff to visit your school and to support your preparations. Experienced LACOSS Naturalists come to your school for an information session. Sample lessons, PowerPoint presentations, and a Q&A session help students, parents, and school administrators understand what to expect from their week at outdoor science school. These visits are available as scheduling permits. Contact the Outdoor Science School office early if this would be a valuable resource for your school.
● Book a Site Visit! Bring parents and school administrators for a tour of the Wrightwood Outdoor School site. Meet the OSS staff, see the cabins where students will stay, the dining hall where they eat, and the forest where the students will learn. Contact the Outdoor Science School office.
● Explore resources on our website! Be sure to check the Teacher Resources section of the website. These resources include PowerPoint presentations for your parent meetings, lists, planning tools, and a variety of recommendations.
These are just a few of our offerings.

Keep in touch - we would like to hear from you:

How can we help your school prepare more effectively for your week at OSS?
What challenges did you face this year, and how might OSS be able to support your school?

Staying in Touch
We hope you have a wonderful summer break. Our naturalist staff will be traveling all around the world, pursuing their passions for learning and exploring in nature. Stay in touch with our program and naturalists during the summer!

Website: http://www.outdoorscienceschool.org/
Instagram:
Facebook: L.A. County Outdoor Science School

Sign-ups for the 2018-19 school year are OPEN and there are still a number of great weeks available. Click here to learn more about how to book your week. Spread the word, recruit a new school, and earn scholarships for your school to attend OSS.

Thank you for your continued dedication to high-quality, immersive science education for your students, and for your support of the Outdoor Science School.

Have a great summer!
All your friends at the Outdoor Science School

06/05/2018

05/21/2018

Seed Dispersal
These seed pods "pop" open when they are sufficiently dry, sometimes with an audible sound, spreading the seeds in the area. This simple mechanism is an example of one of so many amazing things to observe and notice in the world around us!
At the Outdoor Science School, we head outdoors to observe, ask questions, share ideas, and develop understanding through inquiry! You come too!
By the way, can you name the classic California flower that produces these seed pods?