Sailing off the coast of Catalina Island, kayaking in the Channel Islands, or hiking through Escalante National Monument. Poly gives students a multitude of exciting opportunities for outdoor education, except freshmen. For ninth graders, the “choice” leads to one destination: Jameson Ranch Camp. In the past, freshmen were offered choices, but now, only students in other grades can choose an experience tailored to their interests and past experiences. To build stronger communities and better memories, ninth graders should have a say in where they spend their Outdoor Education experience.
One destination limits students’ ability to choose an experience that matches interests and comfort levels. While some students enjoy activities at Jameson Ranch, others might prefer the untapped benefits of other experiences. When students can choose, they are committing to an experience they feel passionate about. If they have a say in their experience, they are more likely to feel invested in their activities and eager to participate. Often, when students don’t enjoy the trip, they may struggle to connect in activities, making it harder for them to enjoy the trip. Choices mitigate this issue and allow students to explore and challenge themselves in new ways with enthusiasm and agency. Freshman Katie Truong shared, “I would like having more options for Outdoor Ed available. It would be better to have more opportunities to experience and choose from.” Increasing Outdoor Education’s engagement and variety considers student differences and creates a more comfortable atmosphere.
In addition, offering multiple destinations improves the overall quality of the trip by allowing for smaller groups. During Jameson Ranch, the sheer number of students (this freshmen class is 106 students) makes activities feel crowded even when students participate in smaller activity groups. Freshman Raine Beheshti noticed this during her time on Jameson Ranch: “I would enjoy having smaller groups of students on each outdoor trip. It felt crowded having the entire grade on the same trip.” Splitting students across separate trips could create a less overwhelming environment and allow for a more comfortable and manageable experience.
Beyond reducing crowding, smaller groups can also help freshmen build stronger relationships. A core goal of Poly’s Outdoor Education program is community building, especially in ninth grade, when new students are introduced. Senior Shayla Starr reflected, “Quality or quantity? If Poly wants quantity, we need options to be offered because the smaller groups you have, the more real connections you are able to make.” Offering more trip options would allow students to form smaller groups, creating more opportunities to build real relationships. While a large trip brings everyone together, smaller groups can make it easier to meet new people and form genuine connections. During communal times like evening campfires and games, pre-established friend groups take over, and students gravitate towards their social circles. This prevents students from branching out to those they don’t know, and can leave new students feeling isolated. By offering multiple destinations, Poly can create an environment where freshmen feel more comfortable stepping outside their social circles and forming meaningful connections.
These issues have not always existed. Polytechnic has offered ninth-grade options in the past, including backpacking, mountain biking, and rock climbing. However, many students had little experience with these outdoor skills after the COVID-19 pandemic, so the different options were replaced by Jameson Ranch.
Providing more choices won’t come without its logistical challenges. Upper School Librarian and Jameson Ranch trip leader Nora Murphy explained, “If we were to give them a choice about their trips, we would not be able to do so until August, which does not give us enough time to plan the trips.” She also noted that whole-grade trips enable teachers to connect with new students more easily. While logistical concerns are reasonable, Poly has been able to work around them in the past. Current seniors, for instance, were able to choose between the tall ship and camping on Catalina Island as freshmen.
Adding just a couple more options will not trade off with cultivating friendships and bonds, but it will empower students to take charge of their experience. Letting students have more time as a grade and including options throughout the trip makes it a more meaningful experience.
Giving freshmen a voice in their trips is a win-win situation: students will make long-lasting bonds while adventuring on their own terms.
