FIELD TRIPS

Totem Outdoor School Field Trips

Totem Outdoor School offers school groups an opportunity to explore our 34 acres of old-growth & managed timber forest, an 8-acre seasonal wetland & vernal ponds, sustainable & urban gardens, greenhouse, and with a 310’ elevation, our lower trails encompass 1800’ feet of tolt river frontage. Totem offers a wide range of learning opportunities and activities for ages 3+. Tours encourage the usage of all senses and hands-on exploration. Through observing, diagnosing evidence and using investigative skills, students are guided to conclude/estimate or guestimate; cause-effect and historical events.

Each of our “themes”/activities will be tailored to the age of the group (ages 3-12). All groups begin with a physical-team building group activity, followed by an age-appropriate wildlife/safety lesson. Following the groups themed excursion, each student will have an opportunity to “zip” across the vernal pond and work their balance on the tight-rope/suspension boards.

School group chooses a theme

  • Trees/old growth vs. Managed forest
    • hiking through both managed forest and old growth forest.
    • importance of trees to our earth/industry of forestry
    • deciduous vs conifer: leaves-needles-scales and photosynthesis
  • Tree structure
    • Thinning of a tree
    • Examining the tree round, tree round to take back to school comparison/contrast
    • Natural vs human effect
  • Hike, hike, hike-trail hikes with lots of flora/fauna id
    • Tree, plant identification, child-directed exploration.
    • Hike includes old-growth forest, managed forest, wetland, and creek trail.
  • Horticulture offered March-June
    • Plant structure: seed starters to take back to school
    • Fruit vs vegetable
    • Natural pest control: garden companions
  • Soils -what is soil?
    • Organic vs inorganic
    • Decomposing, erosion
    • Wetland, creek (15’ cravat creek to observe soil layers -clay /earth pigment project to take back to school.
    • Greenhouse, kid's gardens, wetland and creek hike

School, groups, excursion fee schedule

Fee: $300/session 2 1/2 hour block -our program is 120 minutes in length with 30 minutes of use of our covered area for recap, meeting, eating or greeting following the hike.

Session to accommodate up to 15 students. Ratio of 1 adult per 10 students must accompany/chaperone each group

  • Fees are due “in-full” 60 days prior to scheduled date. (checks payable to: Totem Outdoor School) or online here when we have it available. There are no refunds/transfers or credits. Weather will not impede the schedule.

Note: with multiple groups attending, back-to-back excursions are available. The school/group organizer is responsible for carrying each student’s emergency contact information as well as allergy/medical information.

TESTIMONIALS

Highly recommend – great preschool!
Mackie N.

My son absolutely LOVED his Totem time and misses the staff a lot now that he is in Kindergarten.

Becky G.

I highly recommend Totem Preschool. The teachers are fantastic and so is the program. There is a lot of focus on socio-emotional development.

Miss Bobbi is bundle of positive energy and clearly loves the kids. She’s very knowledgeable and is a great resource.

Heidi W.

“I couldn’t be happier with our 3 years at Totem. My son made the transition to Kindergarten seamlessly, though he definitely misses his old teachers and school! Miss Bobbi is as good as they come. My son is a busy body, and the programming was such that he could get out those 4-year-old wiggles while building the skills to excel at the next level. We look forward to sending our daughter to Totem next year, and joke regularly that we’d send them to Totem through High School if it were an option.”

Keenan S.

“My daughter has been attending this school for the 2016-2017 school year. It also includes free gymnastics and the tuition is beyond reasonable. Many families have children in the gymnastics next door and find this place to be a wonderful place to attend. Miss Bobbi is patient with my somewhat hyper child and I personally have had noting but great experiences here. Not sure why the crummy reviews from others but the complaints seem petty. And I know petty, I’m a school teacher myself, lol.

If you want a quality school with teachers with years of experience and a fun friendly preschool approach, totem preschool is the place :)”

Kathy R.

“We have our son at the school for the past year and it’s been fantastic. Miss Bobbi is incredible with her energy. It’s a great facility – having the kids run around in the gym each time is awesome. Thanks”

David B.

“Awesome and knowledgeable staff. Huge recommendation!”

Marina Žarić

“Both of my kids attend Totem and we are so happy. Great teachers and fun activities. I’m so glad we found Totem.”

Courtney Kroymann

“Our son loves Totem preschool and went 2 days a week the first year, then 3 days a week the 2nd. The teachers are all great and he has grown so much physically (strength and agility), socially and academically. He told me he didn’t want to go to kindergarten, He wants to stay at Totem forever! Recommend Totem to anyone looking for a great preschool!”

Katie Dujenski

“This school is a wonderful school. The teachers are amazing and really care about the kids. My son has been attending since he was 2 1/2 years old. Sadly this is his last year, but excited that in about a year his sister will definitely be attending this school. I highly recommend Totem Preschool to anyone!!”

Elyssa Bush