Outdoor Programs

A group of students wearing yellow helmets and life jackets paddle a red raft down a river canyon.

Outdoor Program

 

The hands-on experience of spending time outside with peers and trusted faculty leaders is a crucial part of our students’ education.

Developing an appreciation for the beauty and tranquility of the Southwest is also key to understanding a sense of place. The challenges of camping make our students more resilient and adaptable in all aspects of their lives.

Annual Outdoor Education Experiences

Middle School
Two backpackers pose together with arms around each other atop a scenic mountain ridge overlooking a forested valley.
  • 7th grade- 100 Elk residential trip
  • 8th grade- El Rito camping
  • 7th + 8th grade- Winter Wonder days: Ice Skating and Alpine Skiing/Snowboarding
  • 7th grade- Ghost Ranch camping trip
  • 8th grade- Rio Grande camping rafting trip


The 7th grade starts off the fall semester with a three-day orientation trip to 100 Elk, an outdoor education center in Buena Vista, Colorado. The 8th grade heads to El Rito, NM for water craft play and swimming on Abique lake, top rope climbing, and camping along a scenic creek. These orientation trips focus on students working together in teams, self-care in changing environmental conditions, personal goal-setting, and setting the tone for the Middle School as a whole.

In late January, the Middle School participates in Winter Wonder Days, spending three Fridays snowboarding, skiing, snowshoeing, or ice skating.  Offered through Ski Santa Fe, students take morning lessons from experienced instructors and gain confidence to ski or ride with peers and/or faculty during the afternoons.

At the end of the school year, the 7th grade takes an overnight trip to Ghost Ranch, for some of them sleeping in a tent for the first time. The 8th grade embarks on the annual rafting trip on the Rio Grande River, near Cumbres, New Mexico, riding in a guiding raft and even get the opportunity to pilot their own stand up paddle board or kayak on a tranquil section of river.

Upper School
A skier in a yellow jacket, helmet, and goggles glides down a snow-covered slope lined with pine trees.
  • 9th grade- Agua Piedra camping trip
  • 10th grade- Santa Barbara camping trip
  • 11th grade- Challenge by choice small group camping trips
  • 9th-12th grades- Winter Festival:  Ice Skating and Alpine Skiing/Snowboarding
  • 12th grade- Five day Green River Utah Rafting trip


The 9th, 10th, and 11th grades embark on orientation camping trips at the start of the school year.  The 9th grade heads to Agua Piedra campground to enjoy some great day hikes and a cool river. Students help out in numerous aspects of the group camping experience, from cooking to cleaning to making s’mores. The 10th grade heads out to Santa Barbara Campground in the Carson National Forest, where they are able to take more ownership over the group experience.

Activities on this trip might include hiking, swimming, games, and astronomy. The 11th grade splits into smaller camping groups around various interest areas: fly fishing; exploring the artistic inspirations of Ansel Adams and Georgia O’Keeffe at Ghost Ranch; backpacking in the Pecos Wilderness, taking a deep dive into the archeology and unique cultural history at Bandelier, or learning about numerous religions and their impact on Northern New Mexico.

In late February, the entire upper school heads off campus for a day of skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, or indoor climbing through the Winter Festival.

The seniors’ main event is the five-day rafting trip on the Green River in southern Utah. This trip down Desolation Canyon is incredibly beautiful both in scenery and in the opportunity for the seniors to slowly say goodbye to each other, with graduation right on the heels of the trip.

Optional Upper School experiences
Short Alt Text Three people row a green canoe across a calm lake backed by tall mountains and a cloudy sky.
  • Fall Backing Trip
  • Fall Outdoor Climbing Trip
  • Winter Camping and Introduction to Avalanche Awareness
  • Spring Backpacking Trip


The 9th, 10th, and 11th grades embark on orientation camping trips at the start of the school year.  The 9th grade heads to Agua Piedra campground to enjoy some great day hikes and a cool river. Students help out in numerous aspects of the group camping experience, from cooking to cleaning to making s’mores. The 10th grade heads out to Santa Barbara Campground in the Carson National Forest, where they are able to take more ownership over the group experience.

Activities on this trip might include hiking, swimming, games, and astronomy. The 11th grade splits into smaller camping groups around various interest areas: fly fishing; exploring the artistic inspirations of Ansel Adams and Georgia O’Keeffe at Ghost Ranch; backpacking in the Pecos Wilderness, taking a deep dive into the archeology and unique cultural history at Bandelier, or learning about numerous religions and their impact on Northern New Mexico.

In late February, the entire upper school heads off campus for a day of skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, or indoor climbing through the Winter Festival.

The seniors’ main event is the five-day rafting trip on the Green River in southern Utah. This trip down Desolation Canyon is incredibly beautiful both in scenery and in the opportunity for the seniors to slowly say goodbye to each other, with graduation right on the heels of the trip.

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