About
San Mateo Outdoor Education includes activities such as making their beds, caring for their clothes, keeping themselves clean, setting up meals, cleaning the dining hall, and creating their cabin skit performance. The program also includes learning about the natural world, exploring the forest ecosystems, exploring the beach ecosystems, and working together as a community during a week at Outdoor Education, including a week-long summer school adventure.
• Ages: 11–12 years old
• Schedule: Week-long sessions, including a week at Outdoor Education and a week-long summer school adventure
• Price: It costs more than $500 to provide food, lodging, instructors, equipment, and supplies for a student to attend a week of Outdoor Education.
Prior to attending San Mateo Outdoor Education, a naturalist visits the child’s school and provides a presentation to help prepare them for the experience. Students are supervised at all times by their cabin leader, naturalist, or teacher, and a Healthcare Specialist is responsible for dispensing any necessary medication and will contact parents if the child experiences health problems. The site is a closed campus and parent visits during attendance are not allowed, except pre-arranged tours under specific circumstances. Students live in heated cabins with bunk beds, and well-balanced meals are prepared by YMCA staff and served family-style. Families are asked to follow a clothing checklist, send older but serviceable clothing, limit luggage to one duffle bag or suitcase and a sleeping bag, and note any special medical diets on the registration form and discuss them with the Site Director at least one week before attendance.
The Outdoor Education program dates back to the summer of 1965, with a district-wide program for San Bruno Park Schools started in 1966 and a pilot program in 1968 that began with 650 pupils. More than 225,000 children have attended Outdoor Education since its inception in 1968. The San Mateo County Office of Education conducts the Outdoor Education program in cooperation with local schools and the San Francisco YMCA Camp at Jones Gulch, and district teachers are an active part of the experience. High school students have volunteered as counselors, now called cabin leaders, and the YMCA staff has provided food service and facility maintenance. Donations help support San Mateo County students attend Outdoor Education and provide scholarships for families who need financial support. Outdoor Education’s stated mission is to awaken in students an appreciation of the environment and the interdependence of all living and non-living things. The program is described as an award-winning Outdoor Education program, and both the academic program and the camp are certified Resident Outdoor Science Schools (ROSS) by California Outdoor School Administrators (COSA) and maintain American Camping Association (ACA) accreditation. Jonathan Harris is listed as the contact for tours, and Allison Collins is listed as the contact for donations.
Last updated May 13, 2026.
• Ages: 11–12 years old
• Schedule: Week-long sessions, including a week at Outdoor Education and a week-long summer school adventure
• Price: It costs more than $500 to provide food, lodging, instructors, equipment, and supplies for a student to attend a week of Outdoor Education.
Prior to attending San Mateo Outdoor Education, a naturalist visits the child’s school and provides a presentation to help prepare them for the experience. Students are supervised at all times by their cabin leader, naturalist, or teacher, and a Healthcare Specialist is responsible for dispensing any necessary medication and will contact parents if the child experiences health problems. The site is a closed campus and parent visits during attendance are not allowed, except pre-arranged tours under specific circumstances. Students live in heated cabins with bunk beds, and well-balanced meals are prepared by YMCA staff and served family-style. Families are asked to follow a clothing checklist, send older but serviceable clothing, limit luggage to one duffle bag or suitcase and a sleeping bag, and note any special medical diets on the registration form and discuss them with the Site Director at least one week before attendance.
The Outdoor Education program dates back to the summer of 1965, with a district-wide program for San Bruno Park Schools started in 1966 and a pilot program in 1968 that began with 650 pupils. More than 225,000 children have attended Outdoor Education since its inception in 1968. The San Mateo County Office of Education conducts the Outdoor Education program in cooperation with local schools and the San Francisco YMCA Camp at Jones Gulch, and district teachers are an active part of the experience. High school students have volunteered as counselors, now called cabin leaders, and the YMCA staff has provided food service and facility maintenance. Donations help support San Mateo County students attend Outdoor Education and provide scholarships for families who need financial support. Outdoor Education’s stated mission is to awaken in students an appreciation of the environment and the interdependence of all living and non-living things. The program is described as an award-winning Outdoor Education program, and both the academic program and the camp are certified Resident Outdoor Science Schools (ROSS) by California Outdoor School Administrators (COSA) and maintain American Camping Association (ACA) accreditation. Jonathan Harris is listed as the contact for tours, and Allison Collins is listed as the contact for donations.
Last updated May 13, 2026.
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