Outdoor School

OUTDOOR SCHOOL 2025 DETAILS

Dates: Wednesday, Sept. 10-Friday, Sept. 12
Location: Birchwood Camp
Transportation: Students will bus from Chugach to Birchwood Camp Wednesday morning and return to Chugach via bus Friday morning.
Cost: Cost is $125/student. This is approximately half of what the per-student cost of the camp will actually be. We understand this is a big ask, particularly at this time of year. If you need financial assistance, please check the box on the bottom of the permission slip or speak directly with your teacher. There is also an opportunity to pay what you can (if it is less than the $125 cost) or to sponsor an additional student.  Click here to submit payment. 

If you missed the mandatory meeting on Friday. Aug. 22, you can view the slideshow and audio from the meeting here.

PERMISSION SLIPS, INFORMATION & GEAR LIST

The documents linked below are all included as hard copies in the packet provided to parents during the mandatory meeting on Aug. 22. If you have any questions, please reach out to your Upper teacher. Please review, sign, and return all permission forms and agreements to your Upper teacher by Wednesday, Aug. 27. 

• ASD Parent Field Trip Permission Form

• ASD Community Walking Trips Liability Release

• Birchwood Camp Liability Release Agreement

• Outdoor School Gear List (does not need to be returned to teachers)

• Outdoor School Payment and Sponsorship Flyer (does not need to be returned to teachers)

• ASD Archery Permission Slip (coming soon!)

• Any parent planning to be onsite at any time is required to complete ASD’s online volunteer form ASAP!

PARENT VOLUNTEER NEEDS

Outdoor School’s success hinges on parent participation. It’s Chugach – you know the drill! Main volunteer roles are identified below. Some of these require more significant commitment than others. If you have questions or have a volunteer idea not listed here, please reach out to your Upper teacher. Please click here to sign up.

• Cabin Leaders: This is a full-time job! Parents need to commit to the full three days and two nights. Cabin Leaders will work in pairs and be assigned to a group of 8-10 students to chaperone during the day and sleep in a cabin at night. During the day, groups will be doubled up with four chaperones per group, allowing for breaks.  

• Learning Session Helpers: If you can only come during the day, this is a great role for you! You can help Learning Session Leads work with students at the various camp learning stations. Please note, if you are signing up to be a Cabin Leader, you cannot be a Learning Session Lead or a Learning Session Helper. 

• Meal & Snack Support/Camp Cook Helpers: Can you help us feed our hungry campers? We have a range of needs to support meals and snacks:

  • • Wednesday Night: We need one or a few families to help sponsor dinner on Wednesday night. We are planning to order pizza from Pizza Man in Eagle River. Can you help order, and/or pick up and deliver the pizza? Or do you want to help sponsor the meal? 

    • Thursday Night: We need families to help cook dinner Thursday night. We will grill hotdogs, sides (fruits and veggies), and s'mores! Can you provide any food and/or bring your grill and/or help cook?

    • Camp Snacks: We need a lot of snacks to feed our hungry campers! Can you shop for individually wrapped Costco snacks?

• Equipment Loaner: Can you lend us a canopy tent, cooler, or even drive a grill to camp? 

• Camp Clean Up: We are responsible for cleaning up camp and packing out our trash on Friday morning. Can you help (and do you have a truck)?