day trips & outdoor education
Outdoor education is an invaluable part of the educational experience for young students. Building social skills, independence, and self-reliance are but a few of the positive outcomes achieved when kids get away from their everyday surroundings and are exposed to new, and often challenging, environments. These opportunities deepen relationships and extend student learning beyond the borders of Malibu.
CATALINA ISLAND
Spring 2022
After having to cancel outdoor education trips for several years during quarantine, our 5th graders returned to the wild with a memorable trip to our local island. Students learned about marine biology, microplastics, sustainability, nocturnal instincts, and much more. We had a blast snorkeling, kayaking, hiking, and doing archery.
YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK
Fall 2019
We joined our middle school students for this unbelievable week-long adventure in Yosemite National Park. We spent our days in the valley, surrounded by some of the world's most impressive and awe-inspiring natural monuments.
EL CAPITAN STATE BEACH
Spring 2019
The Spring 2019 trip took us up the coast to El Capitan State Beach, with the Santa Barbara Adventure Company, where our students challenged themselves in the high ropes course, played cooperative games, went on a night hike, and spent a day on the water. This floating classroom experience helped us learn about the local islands, marine biology, and even gave us a chance to kayak with a few dolphins.
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO
Spring 2018
Our students joined the Ocean Institute's "California Time Capsule" overnight trip. Students explored a rich variety of engaging learning experiences at one of California's missions, while building lasting social bonds.
A key component to Sycamore education is getting kids out into the world. Field trips are not something that only happen once per year or serve as the ‘treat’ at the end of a project. We feel it is vitally important for kids to connect their learning to real-world experiences. Here are just a few of Sycamore's powerful excursions:
modeling surgical procedures, students used high-tech medical equipment to extract figurines from the flesh of a pumpkin
MALIBU COAST
ANIMAL HOSPITAL
working with the Surfrider Foundation & Heal the Bay, Sycamore students conducted several beach clean-ups
LOCAL BEACHES
after extensive research on a specific animal, students became docents for their group on the zoo trip and later used the information to design their own enclosures
LA ZOO
setting goals, challenging ourselves, developing perseverance, and overcoming fears were only a few of the many benefits of a morning on the high ropes course