Outside School Handbook

Outdoors through all seasons, small, mixed-age programs foster relationships that develop at a natural pace, connecting everyone with each other and the natural world, encouraging empathetic, leadership, and problem-solving skills.

Enrollment is limited to no more than eight school-age children (kindergarten through 12th. grade- elementary school, middle school, and high school students, 5-18 years old).

We are 100% outdoors in the East Bay within beautiful Alvarado Park and Wildcat Canyon, at the hub of El Cerrito, San Pablo, El Sobrante, and Richmond, in California’s beautiful East Bay. Some families have travelled further, from Oakland, Berkeley, Lafayette, and even San Ramon.

We explore and adventure, making discoveries and observations, and experiment with newfound knowledge while being immersed in the environment and being a part of the earth’s and life’s cycles.

We embody democratic ideals such as discussion and voting every day.

We strive to be light on the land. We rotate our locations throughout the park. Our materials use is minimal and may include nature journals and pencils, maps, knives, and rope. I read and tell stories each day. The books usually have social justice messages and we discuss complex topics.

We work to leave sites better than we found them by regularly participating in volunteering projects such as litter removal and invasive plant abatement.

Daily Schedule

Each day begins with arrivals and hanging out near the parking lot 9:00-9:15 as everyone arrives. We then have a discussion and voting about where we should go for the day. During the school year on Tuesdays and Wednesdays we’ll typically spend somewhere in Alvarado Park proper, whereas we’ll usually go hiking around Wildcat Canyon on Thursdays. We’ll head to whatever the chosen places may be, then have a morning meeting and snack by 10:00. At noon we have lunch, and after I’m done eating I read aloud, which facilitates a good period for eating, resting, and digesting for everyone in the group. In the middle of the afternoon we have another little afternoon snack and break time, to ensure we’re getting enough nutrients and staying hydrated. Whenever it works best for each particular group, we practice mindful minutes and reflection. Then, we head back to the parking lot for 2:45-3:00 pick up time.

Curriculum

Each day unfolds as it needs to, and we never know what might happen! Aside from the sketch of our daily schedule above, there are no lesson plans nor a set curriculum. Each day is spent freely when we’re not otherwise occupied with hiking, volunteering, eating, or practicing mindfulness. I pay constant, close attention to group and individual needs as everyone interacts with each other and the environment, and am always ready to provide whatever supports my students need or to step in when necessary. Each child and the group as a whole balance as they need to in the academic, social, emotional, and physical developmental realms. Over time, children can develop a deep knowledge of our local environment and conditions, resilience and persistence, self care skills, physical strength and stamina, descriptive vocabulary, and lasting friendships. For some examples of what this can look like, along with highlighted activities, please check out my blog linked above, and social media, linked below.

Mixed Groups

Uncertainty, exploration, and discovery are the biggest part of Outside School. Our groups are tiny in comparison with other programs, and every one of my groups is different. It is virtually impossible that you will find another person here that is “just like you,” and I will keep it that way (I beg you, parents, to stop asking the number, ages, and genders of my current groups; I will not answer you. Every group is different in every possible way and that’s just the way it is- even for me!). Hatred and injustice are everywhere. Beyond tolerance, we have acceptance. To join Outside School you must acknowledge that if you have a school-age child and they’ve gone through the application process, they are welcome no matter who they are or what they’re like, as are all the rest of my students!

If you would like to learn more about the benefits of diversified groupings, I urge you to read Free to Learn, by Peter Gray.

Documentation

Documenting our time together is important to me. I use photos, videos, voice recordings, written notes, and the like. Every day I upload photos and videos to a private google folder so you can see what we’ve gotten up to. Sometimes the children use the school camera to create their own stories and documentation, too! I also send a daily email with photos and stories of our time together (weekly email for summer camp). I post our activities on social media without revealing children’s identities. I may also include our documentation in books, articles, lesson plans, training sessions, or other resources for those interested in outdoor education, since mentoring and consulting are an important part of my work.

Parent-Teacher Conferences

I do not hold parent-teacher conferences. Rather, I keep everyone posted on group activities via the daily email. I prefer open, honest, continual, informal communication, and discuss any issues on an as-needed basis. We can always share a few words at drop-off or pick-up time or you can schedule a few extra minutes at those times, too.

Reports and Certificates

If you require a certificate or diploma toward the end of enrollment, I would be happy to provide one. Some schools require a report card of some type. Typically, I will either provide the documentation on the school’s form or will write a narrative in the form of attesting to the child’s cognitive, social-emotional, and physical development. I’m happy to adapt to your individual needs.

Attendance

School is held rain or shine.

I will keep electronic attendance records. I will share a secure link with children’s concurrent schools if they require it.

Only persons named on your application form may sign children out from school. You must notify me if someone else will be picking your child up, providing their full name and phone number. It’s advisable to add other school attendees’ families to your list so you can carpool, or in case you are running late so someone can help you. I will provide a list of contacts within the private Google folder.

If your child will be late or absent, please notify me.

The program is for the days and hours listed. I view tardiness issues as disrespectful to your child, myself, and the group in sum. Everyone has a personal issue now and then (please communicate this with me), but frequent tardiness will be grounds for dismissal. I will provide each program’s families with one another’s contact information so you can facilitate carpooling, play dates, or anything else you can imagine.

Parking

Alvarado Park/Wildcat Canyon is in the East Bay hills, seconds away from I-80, San Pablo Avenue, and San Pablo Dam Road. Many families come from Berkeley and Oakland, and safe carpooling is encouraged! Please be advised that families are to park in the main parking lot (past the “Staging Area” sign) on the left side of Park Avenue. If no spaces are available near the picnic tables, please park farther up the hill or in the parallel parking spaces closer to the lot’s entrance; do not use the handicapped parking space unless you are legally permitted to use it, and do not park in the spot next to it, as rangers drive through it or park there.

Perhaps you would like to bike to school instead! There’s a bike rack at the parking lot for the children’s bikes. Alternatively, our site is about a 15 minute walk from the 72 AC Transit route on San Pablo Avenue at McBryde, and the 684 line stops nearby. The park’s official address is: 5755 McBryde Ave, Richmond, CA 94805 (please note that Outside School’s mailing address is P.O. Box 6490, Albany, CA 94706).

We will remain near the parking lot from 9:00-9:15 and from 2:45-3:00. If you need to arrive between those times on any given day, we will have proceeded to our group’s chosen area for the day and you can text me to find out the group’s current location so you can walk in and find us.

Illness

Teachers and children alike are subject to the same standards.

If there has been a fever, vomiting, diarrhea, off-color mucus production, and/or constant cough within 24 hours, do not come to school. If symptoms develop at school, you will be called to pick up your child within 30 minutes from the time of the call. If you cannot be reached, I will be contacting your designated emergency contacts. See below for the COVID-19 addendum, as the signs and symptoms list exceeds and supersedes this general plan.

Please inform me immediately if your child has any communicable disease. Some require notifications to all enrolled families, which I will do in as anonymous a fashion as possible given our small school size.

School Cancellation

Cancellations are duly considered with group health and safety in mind. Events such as major earthquake, fire, poor air quality, predicted lightning, high wind advisory, and teacher illness or injury may cause school to be 1/2 day, moved to another location, and/or canceled. Local conditions will be considered on predicted high wind and/or creek or urban flooding days. No substitute days or refunds will be offered if the program is canceled that day. The number of canceled days is unpredictable and can be substantial.

I’ll send cancellation or 1/2 day notifications via email and/or text, and will notify park staff via email before 7:30 AM. Resources I use regularly include: Bay Area Air Quality Management District, East Bay Regional Parks, state COVID-19 dashboard, Cal Fire, and state drought.

Or, if the above weather station is unavailable:

In the event the Alvarado Park closes for any reason, but Point Pinole remains open, that will be our contingency site. Drop-off and pick-up would be at the Giant Highway Staging Area, 5551 Giant Highway, Richmond, CA 94806. (I notify the park supervisor if this is the case.) If you see a play structure, you’re in the wrong lot. I’ll park my car at the far side of the lot so kids can play in the open spaces while waiting for others. (https://www.ebparks.org/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=24393)

In the event that Alvarado Park/Wildcat Canyon and Point Pinole Regional Shoreline are closed, but conditions are safe enough and the City of El Cerrito has not closed Canyon Trail Park, that will be our tertiary location. The drop-off and pick-up point will be at the bottom of the park on Conlon Avenue to avoid traffic at the nearby school and/or clubhouse.

Park Safety

In case of emergency, including any moderate/severe injuries or medical incidents, we call East Bay Regional Parks dispatch (not 9-1-1) at: 510-881-1121. Non-emergency and observational calls are directed either to East Bay Regional Parks non-emergency line at: 510-881-1833, or to Wildcat Canyon Operations at: 510-544-3092, whichever is most appropriate for the situation.

I am:

-A professional educator, teaching since 2002 and outdoors-only since 2007,

-A California Child Development Master Teacher,

-A Nationally Registered Emergency Medical Technician,

-Cleared by and on file with the State of California Department of Justice,

-Fully immunized and and committed to receiving all boosters as they become available,

-Permitted to operate within East Bay Regional Parks,

I will:

-Carry first aid and emergency supplies at all times,

-Have a substantial first responder jump kit in my car in the parking lot. This kit includes all necessary supplies to support medical or traumatic emergencies until paramedics or parents arrive,

-Carry copies of all children’s emergency contact and medical information,

-Carry an electronic roster of which children are signed in and out each day,

-Carry a charged cell phone and provide my cell number to participants’ families. Cell service is available in almost all locations within Alvarado Park/Wildcat Canyon. In the event that it’s not during an emergency, we will obtain assistance from passersby, use a whistle, or any other method that makes the most sense in the moment,

-Remain on-site while children are present without parents,

-Communicate any known daily plans to families,

-Use a buddy system, with no person going out of sight of the group without a buddy going with them and/or with express permission. No buddies may go out of earshot. It is mandatory for children to stay with an agreed upon buddy and/or the group. If a child cannot or will not stay with the group and/or a buddy we will look for them and shout their name for 15 minutes before calling park dispatch for the police. That child will be expelled and any tuition remaining for the remainder of the program will be due within 30 calendar days,

-In the event of an extreme emergency such as fire, I will begin contacting families via text/phone if we need to evacuate. We will walk as a group and rendezvous with families at the Kern Playlot on Kern Street in Richmond between McBryde Avenue and Esmond Avenue. If the park is open on a Red Flag Warning Day, we will not hike into the hills in order to stay closer to the parking lot and our evacuation route.

backpack

Please outfit your child with a backpack that fits them. It should have a chest strap so that it remains comfortable when hiking. It should fit a lightweight set of spare clothes stored in a waterproof bag, a water bottle that hold one liter of water at minimum, hand sanitizer, sun block if you would like them to reapply it during the day (I set time aside before lunch for all of us to do this), and plenty of food.

Materials from Home

If it’s important for your child to bring a book, toy, or other material from home, then it is important to me, too! Here are the questions you and your child should be able to answer in the affirmative for the item(s) to be at school:

-Is it okay to share? (Please note that some families are strongly against using electronics.)

-Is it okay if it gets dirty or wet?

-Is it okay if it gets broken?

-Is it okay if it gets lost?

-Is it small/light enough to carry all day if we hike?

Wellness, Health, and Safety Guidelines

This is based on years of experience in human development, teaching outdoors, and life experience. In all cases refer to your physician’s advice and communicate any differences to me.

Food and Water

Please pack a clean bottle of fresh water, at least 1-liter.

There will be two snack times and a lunch time. Please pack plenty of food into containers placed directly into the backpack. A lunch box usually adds too much weight for hiking. Kids at Outside School typically eat far more than they do at home, so please plan accordingly.

-Nutritious meals include healthy proportions of the macronutrients: fats, carbohydrates, and proteins. 

-Avoid simple sugars such as honey, syrup, jam, dried fruit, juice, and yogurt with added sweeteners for meals during the day, as these frequently cause agitation that adds on to the work of learning how to live and learn along with others. Instead, pack fresh fruits and vegetables along with other complex carbohydrates and protein sources.

-If anyone has a nut or other allergy that requires everyone to avoid bringing those items for the school year, I will let you know.

-In cold weather it’s really nice to have some warm food and beverages. Some suggestions include warm tea or broth in a Thermos and/or a Thermos of oatmeal or leftovers. Check here for more tips:

Healthy eating for children guidelines from Kaiser Permanente:

Clothing, Weather, and Gear

We observe the Swedish saying, “There’s no bad weather, just bad clothes.” Dress in layers to ensure comfort in whatever weather the day may bring. Pack an extra outfit in your child’s backpack, along with a waterproof bag for dirty/wet clothes; this sends the message that it’s okay to have fun and be dirty and/or wet. In order to reduce backpack weight, the extra clothes can be as simple as leggings, a t-shirt, and socks.

Generally speaking, the only time it would be comfortable enough to skip wearing an outer layer would be a calm day where it’s sunny at drop-off time. We usually have a few of those days each year!

-Comfortable, well-fitting, closed-toe shoes are essential for running, jumping, climbing, and hiking, as well as supporting the developing body. Hiking shoes or boots, sneakers for dry days, and rain boots all can work well. Keep in mind that waterproof shoes get soaked the second a child goes deeper than the top of them.

-Long pants and long sleeves assist in reducing exposure to sun and bites, and can help prevent some bumps, scrapes, and cuts. Jeans and leggings promote ease of movement and climbing, too.

-Children need freedom of movement and to see their feet as they’re climbing and learning to navigate varied terrain. Skirts, dresses, and fancy shoes hobble these aspects of their physical development, and can get caught on rough surfaces and snags. Please do not allow your child to wear them to school unless they are a part of your specific cultural heritage.

-Wash clothing often, applying insect repellent and weather proofing as necessary.

-Parks are still wet for a day or two on sunny days following rainy days, so I highly recommend wearing rain gear.

-Of course if any of the above is not in alignment with your family’s personal or cultural beliefs, do what you need to do! Just let me know.

-Here is a link to my Health and Safety page that has some links about gear, gear care, and wet weather tips:

Wellness and Routine

School, growing, and life are hard work! We all thrive when we have consistent routines and firm, defined boundaries. Please be mindful that your child will be most prepared for school when they are feeling well, have had enough rest, and have eaten a nutritious meal. Learning takes place once basic needs are met.

-Our daily and weekly schedules are based on our need for rest, recuperation, and quiet after the physical, mental, and social activities of Outside School.

-Keep in mind that children in traditional, full-time schools are programs that are far less vigorous. Please ensure your family has the ability to get the right amount of rest each person needs to be their best selves. Sleep needs are based on 24-hour periods, and may include a nap in addition to sleep at night. If your child hasn’t had enough rest, it will show in their behavior; it’s helpful to send me a heads-up text in the morning.

Information on sleep from the Sleep Foundation:

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, reminding us how we can all be our best selves:

Sun

No matter the weather, if it’s daytime we are exposed to UVA and UVB rays from the sun, and the 18 hours/week we’re at Outside School is far from casual exposure. People with all skin tones can get melanoma.

-Wear a hat each day. Sun hats cover the face, ears, and the back of the neck. If a warm hat is worn in the morning, ensure a sun hat is packed in the backpack every day in case your child begins to feel warmer. Baseball hats can be useful on windy days if wide-brim hats don’t have a chin strap or on colder days where a hoodie or rain jacket’s hood can go over it. Otherwise, they only offer protection to the top of the head and eyes, leaving the ears and neck exposed to UV light.

-Wearing long sleeves and long pants helps reduce sun exposure.

-UV protecting sunglasses may be worn.

-Because the sun’s rays reflect off surfaces, even the areas covered by a hat need to be protected as well. Use sun block on all areas of exposed skin. Make sun block application a part of your morning routine before coming to school. This is important both to help prevent sunburn now and melanoma later.

-I announce before lunch that it’s time to reapply to remind everyone who’s packed more sunblock (please pack sunblock in your child’s backpack). As an example and to keep my own skin healthy, I reapply at this time along with the children. If your child will need me to help reapply it or you’d like them to apply it more frequently, please let me know.

Sun safety information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

The Environmental Working Group’s sunscreen information:

Plants and Fungi

Some plants and fungi we encounter may be harmful to the skin or poisonous if ingested. Types we avoid touching include much of the lily family (with the exception of edible wild onions, which have a strong onion odor), poison oak, poison hemlock, and all mushrooms. If unsure, check with a knowledgeable adult.

-Unless a plant is specifically food, it does not belong in the mouth. 

-Exploring mushrooms with sticks or the bottoms of shoes is acceptable if they are plentiful.

-If a mushroom or poisonous plant is touched by hand, scrub the skin thoroughly with soap for two full minutes and then rinse.  

-If poison oak or poison hemlock are touched with clothing, change clothes and wash with hot water and detergent, then dry on the hottest setting.

-If a mushroom or poisonous plant is put into the mouth, contact poison control.

-Add the Poison Control Hotline to the contact list on your phone:

Poison Control Hotline: 1-800-222-1222

Animals

It is unknown what animals we may encounter during school, including the possibility of large predators such as coyotes or mountain lions. Some animals we encounter may spread disease, including ticks, mosquitoes, some mammals, and all feces, human or otherwise. While most snakes we may encounter are harmless, there may be rattlesnakes present in our environment.

-Wearing long sleeves and long pants along with repellent products can reduce exposure to bites and stings from mosquitos, ticks, and the like. I recommend using tick and mosquito repellant as part of your before school routine, and is most easily accomplished at whatever time you're applying sun block as well. Do tick checks at the end of each day. Refer to the CDC and EPA sites below for more information.

-Be able to identify harmless and venomous snakes. Be aware that some harmless snakes shake their tails to imitate a rattle. Refer to a knowledgeable adult if you’re unsure. Snakes of all types will only strike when threatened. Stay still and move away slowly only when you’re sure it’s safe if you come near a rattlesnake.

-All animals, dead or alive, and their feces can contain parasites.

-Nocturnal mammals found in the daytime may be injured or ill. Avoid contact.

Tick information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

United States Environmental Protection Agency’s “Find the Repellent that is Right for You”:

United States Environmental Protection Agency’s “Using Insect Repellents Safely and Effectively”:

There are many other health and safety resources on that page of my www.TeachOutside.org website:

*COVID-19 Addendum*

Vaccinations are required.

-Provide proof of vaccination with your application. Anyone enrolled on or after 1/1/24 must have had the updated vaccine that became available around 10/1/23. I am unable to work around those who are unvaccinated.

Boosters are highly recommended.

-Provide all immunization/booster updates for COVID and flu as you receive them.

-I have received all vaccinations and boosters, and will continue to stay updated every time I am eligible.

Masks are highly recommended.

-Keep in mind that we come in contact with each other, other park users, and go indoors to use restrooms and occasionally to be with the rangers.

-Pack an extra mask in the backpack in case it should become necessary for any reason.

-When COVID and/or flu rates are 5% and above, I will continue to wear a mask due to its effectiveness in disease prevention, reduction in exposures to allergies and UV rays, and in solidarity with all who are medically vulnerable or continuing to mask for any other reason. When COVID and/or flu rates are below 5% and any one or more children continue to mask, I will wear mine in solidarity with your/their choices.

-Masking will be mandatory whenever COVID positivity rates reach 10% or higher in California and will remain in place for two weeks following this positivity rate. I will notify families via email if this becomes necessary and again once masking becomes highly recommended again.

I urge you to keep yourself informed about COVID and flu rates, which are updated almost every week and are currently on this website:

Outside School relies on everyone’s vigilance, honesty, and open communication with me in order to keep ourselves, our families, and our community safe and healthy. Here’s the current COVID-19 plan:

-If anyone in your household has had any single sign or symptom of or tested positive for COVID-19 (or there have been any known contacts), do not have your child(ren) come until the appropriate quarantine period has been reached or a negative COVID test and/or a doctor’s note has been provided. For a list of signs and symptoms, please see here:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html

-We will wash hands with soap in the bathroom before snacks and lunch and after using the restroom when running water is availble.

-Pack hand sanitizer in your child’s backpack. Children will use their own sanitizer when we are not near running water.

-To assist with preventing disease transmission, please keep fingernails cut short.

-Families will ensure a snug fit on their child’s face covering so that it does not fall below the nose, and coach their children in its proper use. Have a second face mask in the backpack in case the other one gets too wet or dirty.

-We will maintain social distancing while eating and drinking, unless children are from the same household.

-No food sharing unless children are from the same household. If it’s a special day (e.g. child’s birthday or last day) and we are having a special treat, we may share only after checking in that the entire group of families feels safe enough to do so.

-If stay-at-home orders that affect the school are put back in place, we can negotiate refunds based on length of time spent in school vs. time expected to have been spent in school. This is the only condition in which refunds may be issued. Testing may be mandatory by all in order to return to school.

-If anyone in our group has a positive COVID test result I will notify East Bay Regional Parks and Contra Costa Public Health. Contra Costa Public Health will advise on next steps and I will communicate with you as appropriate.

-If anyone returns from travel outside California, they may return to school after ensuring they’ve followed the latest travel advisories available here: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/diseases/covid19?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Ftravelers%2Ftravel-during-covid19.html.

-Normal protocols for health and safety will otherwise remain in place. See the “Illness” section.

-I have additional information for those seeking further support regarding the COVID-19 pandemic:

If you need advice or support with any of this, I am happy to work with you as our collective relationships develop!

Tuition information is included in each “Next step” section above.

Some words regarding tuition:

-I know that tuition can be difficult, and I wish I didn’t need to charge anything. I’ve done my best with pricing to attempt to find a balance with supporting local families, including my own. I hope you appreciate my professional status as a teacher and the owner of this small, local, woman-owned business who follows proper business practices.

-I cannot afford to offer discounts or scholarships. If you know of a funding source, please feel free to put us in touch.

-Payments and deposits are your assurance that you intend for your child to participate in the program for which you applied. I hold that space for your child(ren) and all payments are nonrefundable. Your own child’s absences are not grounds for any discounts or refunds. If your child is unable to participate in a session for which you have obligated yourselves, you may choose to apply the payment toward another Outside School program that starts within one calendar year for that which you paid, provided space is available and you have notified me by the due date.