What the Outdoor Education Program Actually Covers
RHCDS describes its Outdoor Education Program as allowing children to learn outside the classroom in a natural outdoor setting, with every trip unique in its setting, environment, and challenges. What ties the program together across five years, rather than the specific destination, is a consistent focus on developing self-reliance and team-building skills as students get older. The program builds progressively: as students move from Grade 4 through Grade 8, the trips are designed to ask more of them in terms of independence and responsibility.
Why Start in 4th Grade?
Beginning Outdoor Education in Grade 4, rather than earlier, gives students a foundation of classroom experience and maturity before asking them to navigate an unfamiliar outdoor setting away from their regular routine, while still leaving four more years to build on that first experience.
The Grades 7 and 8 East Coast Tradition
One of the most consistent traditions in the Outdoor Education Program is the Grades 7 and 8 East Coast trip, taken annually over Spring Break. Students describe looking forward to this trip throughout their years at RHCDS, and it functions as a shared experience that spans two grade levels rather than being confined to a single year, giving 7th graders a preview of what 8th grade will bring and giving 8th graders one more milestone before graduation.
| Grade Range | Program Feature | Focus |
| Grades 4-6 | Progressive outdoor trips | Building self-reliance and teamwork in natural settings |
| Grades 7-8 | Annual East Coast trip (Spring Break) | A shared, cross-grade tradition and capstone experience |
How Outdoor Education Connects to Character Development
Families and the school alike describe Outdoor Education as connected to more than just a break from the classroom. Parent reviews highlight it alongside character education, team building, and public speaking as part of what distinguishes the Rolling Hills Country Day School experience, and the school frames the program explicitly around developing self-reliance and team-building skills rather than simply providing a fun trip. That framing is consistent with RHCDS’s broader stated mission of intellectual, moral, physical, and social development.
A Program Families Notice
Parent reviews specifically single out Outdoor Education as a highlight of the RHCDS experience, suggesting the program’s impact is felt well beyond the days spent away from campus.
Plan Your Child’s Outdoor Education Journey With Cardinal Education
RHCDS’s Outdoor Education Program is a transformative five-year commitment that fosters personal growth and independence, culminating in the memorable Grades 7-8 East Coast trip.
Because specific trip itineraries, costs, and logistics can vary each academic year, working with an experienced educational consultant can help you evaluate how these outdoor experiences fit into your child’s broader academic and character development. Cardinal Education guides families through every aspect of admissions, helping you prepare your child to thrive both inside and outside the classroom.
Speak with an Admissions Expert
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