WHAT IS A STUDENT LEADER
A student leader is a role model and mentor to 5th and 6th grade students attending Pacifica’s Outdoor School (PODS). Student leaders are responsible for supporting Pacifica staff and younger students through three-days and two-nights of learning adventures and activities in the great outdoors. Being a Student Leader is a great way to build confidence, enhance your resume, expand your skill set and have fun!
PODS Student Leadership Program gets high school students outside and, at Outdoor School, mentoring fifth and sixth graders. We designed the program to cultivate leadership skills, ecological knowledge, and social intelligence. Through learning to support or lead nature explorations, hikes, and games, students develop skills in communication, time management, problem-solving, and teamwork, and enhance self-awareness and social skills. Pacifica is especially excited about the impact this program has on high school students’ confidence, sense of purpose, and connection to community.
This program is free to all students and funded through Oregon State University’s Extension Outdoor School Program.
INFORMATION FOR
FOR STUDENTS
If you are interested in becoming a Student Leader it is important that you carefully consider the following criteria for yourself:
- Do you want more real-life learning opportunities?
- Are you inspired to learn outside of the box?
- Would you like to work with fifth and sixth grade students?
- Are you trustworthy and able to respect others?
- Do you have an interest in nature?
- Do you want to have fun?
If you answered yes to these questions, click the button below to register for one of the funnest, memorable, and most meaningful adventures of your High School experience. View this video from MESD Outdoor School for more about the Student Leader experience.
4 Reasons to Become a Student Leader
- It’s a ton of fun. If you were able to attend Outdoor School as a 5th or 6th grader you probably remember what a great time you had. Being a student leader is an opportunity to create that experience again yourself and for the middle school kids you’ll be leading! As a student leader you get to explore outside in nature, play games and many other enjoyable activities.
- You gain leadership skills. By becoming a student leader you will learn leadership skills that will help you throughout your life. You will gain skills in communication, problem solving, teamwork, time management, scientific inquiry, observation, data collection and much more.
- You learn awesome things. Have you ever wondered what bird call you have been hearing? Or how to identify a mushroom? At outdoor school you will become a nature guide and a scientist, investigating the world around you and beginning to learn the tools needed to know how to identify many different species of animals, plants, and get familiar with some microorganisms (some people believe they are going to help us reverse climate change and clean up our planet!)
- You get to know yourself. New experiences, challenges, learning, fun and a break from our routine lives create incredible opportunities to get to know ourselves better. By giving yourself the gift of self awareness you can better navigate your thoughts, feelings and the world around you to live a happier and healthier life. According to modern neuroscience, having an understanding of our feelings, motivations, thinking patterns and tendencies can give us a stable sense of self-worth and a secure grip on our values and motivations (Niia Nikolova). Imagine the confidence you will have when you get to know yourself better!
Requirements & Responsibilities of a Student Leader
- Be at least 15-19 years old and currently attending high school.
- Assume responsibility for the health and welfare for fifth or sixth grade students.
- Lead students in outdoor and team-building activities.
- Set an example by being enthusiastic and engaged.
- Assist instructors in a field study area.
- Organize and care for instructional materials and equipment.
- Listen and follow instructions.
- Supervise your group at all times. For example, keep track of students with frequent student counts and make sure student water bottles are full and with students.
- Keep students in-sight, safe, and on-task.
- Use appropriate language and subject matter at all times.
- Set and maintain boundaries for students.
- Create a positive community. Interact in a friendly, cheerful, and supportive manner.
- Communicate openly with staff, peers, and ask for help when you need it.
Are you ready to become a Student Leader? Apply here!
The Student Leader Program is completely free to all students. We encourage all students to apply and attend a training session to see if the Student Leader Program is something they are interested in.
Once students complete training and demonstrate their ability to be student leaders they will be scheduled to assist in ONE Outdoor School session for that season. Students can participate in training and Outdoor School in each fall and spring; twice a year. Outdoor School sessions will be scheduled upon completion of a training.
Our next training dates are April 18th and 19th, 2025.
Spring 2025 Outdoor School Dates
- April 29-May 1: Orchard Hill Elementary School
- May 6-9: Phoenix Elementary School
- May 13-16: Patrick Elementary School
- May 27-29: Talent Elementary School
- June 4-6: Rogue River Elementary School
View our sample itinerary here to better understand what to expect.
Complete our application below and we will be in touch!
Attending training is required all new student leaders and highly recommended for returning student leader for each outdoor school season, fall and spring. In special circumstances exceptions can be made for returning students that have already received training. Returning Student Leaders can assist leading training if they express interest.
Spring 2025 Training:
- Friday, April 18th, 9:30am-4:00pm
- Saturday, April 19th, from 9:30am-4:00pm
We design our student leader training to be fun and educational. During training we introduce you to our curriculum, games and activities. You will also learn tools for supporting younger students during their Outdoor School experience and receive clear expectations of your roles and responsibilities. Each student leader will be given the knowledge and opportunity to lead specific aspects of field studies. See a sample training schedule below.
All trainings are conducted at Pacifica: A Garden in the Siskiyous, 14615 Water Gap Rd, Williams, OR 97544. You will meet at the Skylodge located behind the Cedar Center. View map here.
Congratulations! You’ve been selected to be a PODS Student Leader! You’ve attended training and got all your forms filled out and turned in! Now it’s time to put everything you’ve learned into action!
BEFORE YOU ARRIVE
- Review the Student Leader Handbook.
- Turn in your Attendance Slip to your school’s attendance office ten (10) days before your arrival.
- Pack your belongings. Use this Packing List to guide you.
- If you are planning to receive elective credits, complete your Learner Inventory.*
- Coordinate transportation. If you need assistance with transportation, contact Clair at [email protected] or text at (541) 414-6858.
- Pack one sack lunch for your first day. We will provide the rest of the meals!
You MUST submit your attendance slip signed by all your teachers, your parent/guardian, and a counselor/advisor ten (10) days prior to arriving to Outdoor School. If you do not do this, you will not be able to attend Outdoor School.
*Three Rivers School District is the only district offering school credits at this time.
We are striving to collaborate with schools to offer a variety of credits for student participation. At this time, Three Rivers School District students have .25 elective credit available for their participation. In order to receive credit, students need to attend both days of training on September 27th and 28th as well as all three days of Outdoor School, totaling 5 days.
In addition to attending all 5 days, students will need to complete the following three assignments:
FOR SCHOOLS & ADMINISTRATION
Leadership training is designed to cultivate students’ communication, time management, problem solving, team work, self awareness and social skills. Beyond the Leadership training, students will be educated to deliver Pacifica’s Outdoor School curriculum which will strengthen their familiarity with our local environment and build their scientific inquiry, observation and data collection competency. Take a look at our Student Leader Handbook to understand what their Outdoor School experience will be like.
During our pilot season in the spring of 2024, the SLP (Student Leadership Program) collaborated with Three Rivers School District. We hosted 36 students for the training and had 16 students attend as leaders during Outdoor School with 5th and 6th graders. Student Leaders were on site for 3-days and 2-nights. Students Leaders reported that they liked interacting with younger students and that they would recommend becoming a student leader! Read more about the program here.
We are excited to expand our reach to include more Rogue Valley High Schools! If you would like to learn more about getting your high school students involved in this opportunity, email our Student Leader Coordinator at [email protected] or call at (541) 414-6858 or schedule a meeting through the button below.
We would love to schedule a visit to your school to share this incredible opportunity with your students!
We offer this in three ways:
- Tabling during lunches
- Presentations in classrooms or auditoriums
- Classroom leadership activities
Book an introductory meeting with Clair to learn more about school visitations or email or call Clair directly at [email protected] or (541) 414-6858.
In order for students to participate in the Student Leader Program, they are required to complete an application, have parent approval, attend a training session, and submit a signed attendance slip to your school’s attendance office 2 school days before they attend Outdoor School.
Student Leaders will be missing 3-4 days of school in order to fulfill their leadership role. We encourage schools to document these as excused absences.*
We strive to include all students and remove any barriers to participation. We have planned course statements for school and hope to be able to offer credit for participation. Receiving credit for participation can enhance their learning, provide students a benefit for their services, creates equity and accessibility to our program and qualifies it as an excused absence.
*We can provide students time at Outdoor School to complete any mandatory school work or tasks.
Providing students credit is a great way to help make this program equitable, diverse, accessible, and inclusive. Creating pathways for students to receive credit adds value to their experience, incentivizes them to attend the program, and compensates them for their time.
Currently, Three Rivers School District has approved .25 elective credit for participation in training, outdoor school and completing the additional requirements of a Learner Inventory, Daily Evaluations and Learner Final Reflection. Please review our elective credit planned course statement here.
We are hopeful to continue to partner and collaborate with schools and districts to offer more credits in a variety of subjects to students attending schools throughout the Rogue Valley. We have designed planned course statements for career credits and science credits, please reach out to [email protected] to further discuss this initiative.
FOR PARENTS
At Pacifica’s Outdoor school, we invite students to BECOME leaders. This is an opportunity for students to develop leadership and life skills while having fun and enjoying time outside. Student Leader responsibilities can range from instructing a field study to being a positive role model by creating a supportive atmosphere. Once your student has submitted their application, we need the parent waiver signed in order for students to attend training and outdoor school.
LOCATION: Pacifica’s Outdoor School Student Leadership Program training and Outdoor School are conducted on site at 14615 Water Gap Road, Williams, OR 97544.
ACCOMMODATIONS: Student Leaders typically stay 3-4 days and overnight for 2-nights, they sleep in a wall tent with students and an adult chaperone.
FOOD: Student leaders need to bring one sack lunch on the first day and every other meal will be provided.
TRANSPORTATION: If needed, we can provide students’ transportation for training and outdoor school. Students must notify Student Leader Coordinator if they will provide their own transportation.
COMMUNICATION: Student leaders are asked to keep their phones out of sight and out of mind. If needed, communications will be allowed between 4:30pm-7:00pm. Emergency contacts will be provided.
DATES: Each student must attend at least one training session. Dates are located in the For Students section.
We encourage parents to review each section of this page for more details.