Outdoor School is a time-honored tradition for sixth graders in Portland Public Schools (PPS). Every PPS student older than thirteen remembers their week at Namanu, Kuratli or another campsite where they experienced a more unique version of school than they were accustomed to. From nature lessons to campfires, Outdoor School was one of the most cherished memories of middle school for many students. Years later, the same excitement still holds for high school students returning to Outdoor School as Student Leaders.
Ida B. Wells High School senior Ellen Murchison became a Student Leader at Outdoor School in fall of 2023 and 2024 even after not enjoying her time there as a middle schooler. “I did not like Outdoor School in sixth grade, but I love it as a Student Leader,” Murchison says. “And I think a big part of that is getting to make it enjoyable for the kids. I love getting to be the part of someone’s week that they have a positive experience with.”
As a Student Leader at Outdoor School, your experience is very different from what you see as a sixth grader. You have a lot of responsibility to preserve the well-being of dozens of middle schoolers, as well as the (sometimes difficult) task of teaching them science. Hands-on learning is more engaging than sitting in a classroom, but it’s also a lot of work for the Student Leader, such as memorizing specific scientific facts to recite multiple times a day.
“You’re basically with [kids] all day, every day,” Murchison says. “You’re with your cabin… you eat meals with other kids… it’s exhausting, but the staff is really good at helping you figure out when you need to take breaks.” As a Student Leader, you get short breaks every day, but you must stick to a rigorous schedule with minimal downtime.
“Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and try new things,” says Yulana Dvorsky, an IBW senior who was a Student Leader in fall of 2023. “[You’re] choosing to be there… and I feel like that makes it a [very] different environment than going as a sixth grader when maybe half of your class doesn’t actually want to be there.”
Another one of many students’ biggest worries about becoming a Student Leader is the amount of schoolwork missed during Outdoor School. “I was definitely behind for a little bit after Outdoor School, but it was still worth it,” Dvorsky says.
Although it comes with challenges, Outdoor School can be an incredible experience for high school students, as long as you fully commit to the experience. “What you put into it is what you’re going to get out of it,” Murchison says. “Just have as much fun as possible… because that’s what the kids are going to respond to, [and] what’s going to make everyone have a good time.”
