Each year Mound School fifth graders embark on an exciting outdoor education experience. Traditionally, this experience has been a trip to the Catalina Island Marine Institute at Fox Landing where they are busy for three days exploring the outdoors. Exploring outdoors exposes children to new creatures and habitats, leads children to fun and challenging activities, develops problem solving, critical thinking and team work skills, builds self-awareness and confidence, and builds new connections among peers. At Fox Landing, they learn about different animals local to the area, their habitats and ecosystems. They hike, kayak, dissect squid, snorkel, have fun around the campfire and so much more. Not only do they learn a ton, but they also connect with each other and build memories that last a lifetime, before starting a new adventure... middle school. Outdoor education can have huge benefits on student mental health and academic performance. 

Typically, the cost for each child to have such an experience is $400 each. The total cost for the entire fifth grade to have such an experience is roughly $40,000. The Outdoor Education Committee is responsible for fundraising to cover the cost of every student's trip!

For more information about CIMI at Fox Landing, visit https://cimi.org/fox-landing.

To connect with our Outdoor Ed Committee, email outdoored@moundpto.org 

To meet our fundraising goal of $40,000 per year, the Outdoor Education Committee hosts a number of fundraisers throughout the year. Events in the past have included:

• Back to School Night Dinner & Activities

• Mound Student Movie Nights

• Fall Festival

• Mound Adult Socials / Mixers

• Silent Auction

• Sponsorship Drives

• See's Candy Sales

• Cookie Dough Sales

• Christmas Tree Sales