About Science Camp  

What is Science Camp?
Since 1957, more than 360,000 elementary students have participated in SJCOE’s Outdoor Education program, formerly known as Science Camp. More than 6,000 fifth- and sixth-graders, and nearly 700 high school cabin leaders attend Outdoor School each year, spending five days and four nights exploring and learning in nature.

Fully certified by the California Outdoor School Administrators, this valuable hands-on learning experience for fifth and sixth grade students has received Commendations of Excellence from the State Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Academic instruction is a result of the California Science Content Standards, and integrated to as possible with Language Arts and Mathematics Standards. Profound learning takes place during the weeks spent on the trails and at the beach.

Nestled in an old growth redwood forest in the Santa Cruz Mountains, Camp Jones Gulch and Redwood Glen provide a unique setting to study forest and riparian ecology. The tide pools, brackish marsh and Pacific Ocean also provide an ultimate experience for children in outdoor education.

To learn more about Outdoor Education visit: http://www.sjcoe.org/outdooreducation
Where do the students go to Science Camp?
Manteca Unified pariticpates in the Outdoor Education Program sponsored by the San Joaquin County Office of Education.  The San Joaquin Outdoor School rents two beautiful camps located in the Santa Cruz Mountains about 2 miles apart from each other. In addition to hikes in the coastal redwoods near the camps, all students spend a day at the Pescadero Marsh Preserve, Pebble Beach and tidepools (tidepools depending on the moon and tide availability). To see photos of both camps, please see the camps’ websites (note: you will be leaving the MUST/MUSD website to view those pages).







Camp Jones Gulch

http://www.campjonesgulch.org
Our contact info for Jones Gulch:
San Joaquin Outdoor School
11000 Pescadero Road
La Honda, CA 94020
(650)747-0139
fax: (650)747-1523

Redwood Glen
http://www.redwoodglen.com
Our contact info for Redwood Glen:
San Joaquin Outdoor School
75 Wright Drive
Loma Mar, CA 94021
(650)879-0299
fax (650)879-1490
Why should children go to Science Camp?
The American Institute for Research conducted an evaluation to measure the impacts of week-long residential outdoor education programs on sixth graders in California as called for by the Claifornia Assembly Bill (AB) 1330, Chapter 663.  This study focused on 225 sixth-grade students from four elementary schools who attended three COSA certified residential Outdoor Science Schools in Tulare, Los Angeles, and San Diego counties.  Highlights of the study findings are listed:

- Children who attended outdoor school significantly raised their science scores by 27 percent as measured by a pre- and post survey administered at their school.

- The increase in science knowledge was maintained when assessed six to ten weeks following program participation.

- Six to ten weeks after the experience at the outdoor school, children who attended the program showed gains in cooperation and conflict resolution that were significantly higher than the control group.

- According to teacher ratings of each student, those children who attended outdoor science school showed statistically significant gains on all eight constructs on which they were rated.  In contrast, the control group showed losses on seven of the eight constructs.  These gains were observed in self-esteem, conflict resolution, relationship with peers. problem solving, motivation to learn, and behavior in class. 

- According to parent reports, students who participated in the program had significantly larger gains in environmental behaviors, compared to children who did not attend the program.

-58 percent of the students studied were identified by teachers as English Learner (EL) students.  According to teacher reports, among those students who attended the program, EL students demonstrated gains in cooperation, leadership, relationship with peers and motivation to learn.

- 56 percent of the students in the treatment group reported that the outdoor school represented the first time they had spent time in a natural stting.

The complete study is available through the California Department of Education (CDE) Environmental Education Program by calling (916) 322-9503 or visit the web site at www.sdcoe.net/outdoored/1330.asp .