Outdoor Education at Poly

Go Beyond Your Borders

Through exploration, adventure, and physical challenge, Poly’s Outdoor Education program for Middle School and Upper School students develop their self-confidence, sense of personal responsibility, understanding of community, and appreciation for the natural world.

Students participate in school-sponsored trips, exploring a variety of environments including alpine, desert camping, and water-based expeditions.

Middle School Outdoor Education

Outdoor Education is an integral part of the Middle School experience. Students participate in one trip per school year to prepare them with a basic foundation in outdoor knowledge and skills. Sixth-graders travel to Big Bear in the San Bernardino Mountains, seventh-graders backpack in Joshua Tree and eighth-graders make an incredible 40-mile trip down the lower Colorado River. Students reflect that friendships and memories made during their Outdoor Ed experiences last throughout their Middle School years and beyond.

Upper School Outdoor Education

Each fall, all ninth- through 11th-graders choose from a variety of outdoor adventures throughout the southwestern United States. Experiences include sailing and marine science on Catalina Island, mountain biking in Mammoth, hiking in Escalante National Monument in Utah, and surfing at San Elijo State Beach. Seniors journey to the Kern River to camp, raft, hike, climb, and ride horses. These experiences allow students and faculty to build connections with one another and as a community.

Polytechnic School, 1030 E. California Blvd., Pasadena, (626) 396-6300 or visit www.polytechnic.org.