Middle School Outdoor Days

These full-day adventures are designed to help students try out new outdoor and experiential activities, make new friends, visit new areas around Victoria, spend time outdoors in nature, and develop activity specific skills (hiking, paddleboarding, etc...).

Working with our professional outdoor guides and instructors, the students will also be challenged to work on their time management, organization, tolerance for adversity/uncertainty, equipment care, risk assessment/management and communication skills. Activities will endeavour to draw connections to what students are learning in their classes.

The Outdoor Days take place in the heart of Straits Salish territory, a living culture with its own rites, ceremonies, and unfolding history. We honour the Esquimalt, Songhees, and W̱SÁNEĆ peoples – whose homelands we share and whom we recognize as our neighbours.

Upcoming 2024 DATES

Grade 8 - Monday, September 23

Grade 7 - Wednesday, September 25

Grade 6 - Thursday, September 26

Activities:

Students will be sorted into activities based on several factors, including but not limited to activity availability, guide-to-student ratios, swimming ability, and, for returning students, previous Outdoor Day activities. Every effort will be made for students to rotate through many different activities throughout the year. Students do not choose what activities they are participating on for Outdoor Days.

  • Paddleboarding

  • Hiking/Wilderness Skills

  • Ecovillage Adventure

Itinerary for OUTDOOR DAYS

8:20AM - Arrival and go to morning TAG

8:35AM - Students meet on the field outside the Middle School

8:45AM - Depart for activity

3:15PM - Students return from activity and pickup at Middle School

SWIMMING Prerequisite:

Water-based activities have a minimum swimming level requirement. Students must be able to swim at least 25 meters to participate in Paddleboarding/Sailing/Sea Kayaking.

What to bring on Outdoor Days?

Students do not need to wear school uniform on Outdoor Days. Running shoes and regular clothes they can be active in are great. Students should dress for the weather (e.g. rain gear on days when it might rain, warm layers for cooler days, and sunscreen, hat, and sunglasses for sunny days*). Students should arrive at the activity with a small backpack (the student's regular school backpack is perfect) for all of their things. Wetsuits, booties, and PFDs are provided for Paddleboarding/Sea Kayaking, but students may bring personal equipment if they wish.

*Sunglasses and a hat are always necessary for water-based activities (Paddleboarding/Sailing/Sea Kayaking).

All Activities

  • Rain jacket and fleece jacket/sweater

  • Rain pants

  • Sun hat

  • Sunglasses and sunscreen

  • Closed-toe shoes (Running shoes or hiking boots)

  • A hearty lunch and snacks (Boarding students will have lunch provided)

  • A full water bottle

ADDITIONAL ITEMS FOR Water-Based activities (e.g. Paddleboarding/SAILing/Sea Kayaking)

  • Bathing suit (Students can change into their bathing suits at the Outdoor Education building when they receive their wetsuits)

  • Towel

  • Wetsuit for paddleboarding (provided by OED)

  • Sunglasses strap (or tape and string) to prevent them from falling and sinking in the water