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	Midland’s Outdoor Programs


	Midland is in its third year of a more structured Outdoor Program under the direction of a Director of Outdoor Programs, Derek Harwell '88. Students are exposed to the Oak Woodland, Grassland, and Chaparral ecosystems of the Midland property and adjoining San Rafael Wilderness, the coastal environment including the Channel Islands, and other environs of California such as the Coastal Redwoods, the Western and Eastern Slopes of the Sierra Nevada, and the Mojave Desert, through academic courses, grade level programs, the Outdoor Leadership program, and through trips for fun and explorations during free time. • Outdoor Leadership: Outdoor Leadership runs during the sports seasons in the fall and spring. Students hike the property, learn trip skills like tent/stove maintenance and repair, knots, route finding, and first aid, and practice active leadership roles. The group takes two trips lasting 3-4 days, one of which they are responsible for planning. After participating in the Outdoor Leadership program students can become eligible to lead their own trips. • Academic Classes: More and more academic classes are utilizing the property as not just a backdrop to our academic setting, but as a part of the curriculum. Classes such as Midland 101, 102, Geology, Chemistry, Water in the West, Conservation Agriculture, Foundations of Art, Writing and a Sense of Place, Foal Training, and the potential of a Midland 401 course, utilize interactions with the property as a significant part of the course. • Grade Level Programs: All 9th and 10th graders get out on at least two wilderness trips per year. The 9th graders head to the 10 acre Midland inholding in the San Rafael Wilderness and out to the Channel Islands on a Tall Ship. The 10th graders take an overnight trip in the fall to perform water quality testing and head out to the San Rafael Wilderness during Experiential Week. The juniors have an overnight on the property as a part of their leadership retreat and the seniors have their self-planned senior trip. • Turning Toward the West: We have made some concerted efforts this year to connect with the marine environment. The addition of the Tall Ship trip with the 9th graders, Lise and Jeff Goddard's Marine Biology class, and the acquisition of more surfing gear have all opened up our awareness and understanding of our local marine environment. • Just for Fun: With all of this structure, there are still plenty of opportunities for trips that are just for fun. We’ve had backpacking trips, hard luck trips, biking and hiking on the property, and of course any one of Cory Cramer’s more than 15 trips up Grass Mountain this year! • The Midland School Outdoor Program (MSOP) office (formerly the Museum space attached to the side of the Lumber Yard) and the Trips Gear Shed (directly behind the Lumber Yard) have both seen some significant renovations in the past two years. Having these two structures located in the center of campus, both with simple, clean, and clear organization, helps to provide students and faculty with the space and resources to plan and implement trips in ways which emphasize safety, learning and fun.

Midland 101 Backpacking Trip

Midland freshmen went on a backpacking-camping trip to the back part of Midland's property on the Manzana River with Derek Harwell '88. Other faculty members who joined for part of the trip were Hayley Anson, Cory Cramer, Ben Munger '79 and art instructors Johnny and Ashleigh Ninos. It was the first-ever backpacking trip for all but 2 students. The students learned interdisciplinary skills as they hiked, backpacked, camped, and made art in nature using stones, leaves, sticks and other "found" objects. The assignment was to create site-specific outdoor installations, using the work of Andy Goldsworthy as inspiration.

Joshua Tree Camping Trip

In early November, sixteen members of the Cross Country team and the Outdoor Leadership program along with faculty members Derek Harwell, Cory Cramer, Don Redl, Jill Redl and Johnny Ninos camped at Joshua Tree National Park for three nights. Highlights included a 6.2 mile run in the desert (originally planned for 3 miles, but they took a wrong turn), a serious scramble through the Chasm of Doom--a tunnel and cave system through a mountain, trail restoration with the park's trail crew in the Cholla Garden and White Tank Campground, a nighttime game of Bocce Ball using lighted balls, and a morning run up Ryan Mountain (1,000 foot elevation gain in two miles) for the Cross Country runners while the Outdoor Leaders scrambled on rocks near the mountain. The Cross Country team used the trip to prepare for their races in the State Prelims this Saturday while the trip was the culmination of the season for the Outdoor Leaders. The Cross Country was very appreciative of all the work the Outdoor Leaders, Derek Harwell, and Cory Cramer put into the planning of the trip. Click here to view more photos.