SELS Middle School Backpacking & Outdoor Leadership Program

Moderation state
funded
Grant Applicant
Lindsay Hall
Grant Co-applicants
Melanie Cooke
School Site
Sierra Expeditionary Learning School
Grant Category
Misc.
Grant Date
2026-06-09T12:00:00
Description

The Backpacking & Outdoor Leadership Program is a new experiential learning initiative at Sierra Expeditionary Learning School as an overnight backpacking trip progression of skills for our 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students. Rooted in Excellence in Education’s belief that powerful learning extends beyond the classroom, this program aligns directly with the mission “to enhance public education within TTUSD to strengthen the learning experiences for students.” Our goal is to provide students with transformative outdoor experiences that foster resilience, teamwork, leadership, and a deeper connection to the natural environment surrounding our community (in particular, the NGSS standards around Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics). 

Benefits of Program

Program Overview

The outdoor education program within TTUSD (TAHOE LAB at Rideout) does not meet the needs of our new program vision. SELS programming runs independently of the larger TTUSD infrastructure, and we prioritize integrating fieldwork with science and social studies standards and real-world experiences. Additionally, this program is intended to be a multi-day backpacking trip, modeled after the educational principles of Outward Bound and National Outdoor Leadership School. Our program will offer a series of single-day and multi-day backpacking experiences (structured on a developmentally appropriate scale) in the Sierra Nevada. Our school expands the social emotional learning aspects of advisory-programming to incorporate something we call “Crew” by combining community-building with personal development (around both academics and character). A backpacking experience would enhance the social emotional learning and leadership opportunities of all our middle school students, in addition to students learning essential backcountry skills such as route planning, navigation, Leave No Trace ethics, wilderness cooking, campsite management. Each backpacking trip will connect directly with NGSS science standards, but also address essential social-emotional learning standards, such as self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills and responsible decision-making. Each trip will be intentionally designed to build confidence, promote collaboration, and cultivate a sense of responsibility for both self and group.

Educational Benefits & Impact

This program enhances public education by offering authentic, hands-on learning opportunities that integrate social-emotional growth with academic content. Students will:

  • Connect classroom learning in middle school science and social studies academic standards to the natural world
    • 6th grade: geology, earth forms (science); creation myths & astronomy-related folklore (social studies) 
    • 7th grade: navigation (social studies); ecosystems, taxonomy, etc. (life science) 
    • 8th grade: climate science, environmental stewardship (science), indigenous people, land access (social studies).
  • Strengthen resilience, perseverance, and problem-solving skills through real-world challenges.
  • Develop collaboration and communication abilities, learning how to support and depend on peers in unfamiliar environments.
  • Build leadership capacity, rotating responsibilities such as navigation, meal preparation, character education, and group facilitation.
  • Experience equity-focused outdoor access, ensuring that all students, regardless of background, have the opportunity to explore and feel ownership of the public lands that surround our community.

These experiences support the development of well-rounded, confident learners who return to school more engaged and better equipped for academic success.

Success of Program

Success & Evaluation

The success of the Backpacking & Outdoor Leadership Program will be measured through a combination of quantitative data, qualitative feedback, and performance-based assessments. Because the program is designed to support both academic learning and social-emotional growth, evaluation methods will reflect this dual focus.

Anticipated Outcomes

  1. Increased Student Engagement and Connection to Learning: Students will demonstrate stronger connections between classroom content and real-world applications, particularly in science and social studies.
    1. Outcome Indicator: Students will report increased interest in science, social studies, or outdoor learning as measured by pre- and post-trip surveys.
  2. Growth in Social-Emotional Skills: Students will show measurable growth in key competencies including resilience, self-management, collaboration, and leadership.
    1. Outcome Indicator: Students will demonstrate growth in one or more SEL competencies based on student self-assessments, teacher observations, and Crew reflections.
  3. Development of Outdoor Skills and Environmental Stewardship: Students will acquire and apply foundational backcountry skills and demonstrate responsible environmental practices.
    1. Outcome Indicator: Students will successfully demonstrate core skills (e.g., campsite setup, basic navigation, Leave No Trace principles) through performance-based assessments during trips.
  4. Increased Equity and Access to Outdoor Experiences: All students, regardless of background or financial means, will have access to high-quality outdoor learning experiences.
    1. Outcome Indicator: 100% participation in grade-level trips, with no student excluded due to lack of equipment or financial barriers.
  5. Strengthened Peer Relationships and School Community: Students will build stronger relationships and a sense of belonging through shared challenges and collaborative experiences.
    1. Outcome Indicator: Students will report an increased sense of belonging and connection to peers in post-trip reflections and surveys.
Implementation

The Backpacking & Outdoor Leadership Program will be implemented over the course of the academic year through a combination of in-school preparation, skill-building experiences, and progressively challenging field trips.

During the fall, grant funds will be used to purchase and organize essential backpacking equipment, creating a shared gear library accessible to all students. Staff will finalize trip routes, secure necessary permits, and align each experience with grade-level science and social studies standards, as well as SELS Crew goals.

Throughout the year, students will participate in structured pre-trip lessons integrated into science, social studies, and Crew. These lessons will focus on foundational outdoor skills such as navigation, trip planning, wilderness safety, Leave No Trace principles, and group collaboration. Students will also engage in team-building activities to prepare for the social and emotional demands of backcountry travel.

Each grade level will participate in developmentally appropriate experiences:

  • 6th grade: Introductory day hikes and a one-night backpacking trip focused on basic skills and community building
  • 7th grade: Intermediate overnight trips emphasizing navigation, ecosystems study, and shared leadership responsibilities
  • 8th grade: Advanced multi-day backpacking experience with a focus on leadership, environmental stewardship, and increased student autonomy

During each trip, students will take on rotating leadership roles, including navigation, meal preparation, and group facilitation, allowing them to actively apply both academic knowledge and social-emotional skills in real-world contexts.

Following each experience, students will engage in structured reflection through Crew, written responses, and discussions to reinforce learning, assess growth, and strengthen connections between the field experience and classroom content.

This phased, year-long approach ensures that students build skills progressively, staff can implement the program safely and effectively, and all participants have meaningful, supported access to outdoor learning experiences.

Staff Expertise & Safety Preparedness

Our staff brings a high level of professional training and backcountry experience essential for a safe and meaningful program. Current staff members hold:

  • Wilderness First Aid and Wilderness First Responder certifications
  • Extensive personal and professional backpacking and trip-leading experience
  • Training in risk management, group facilitation, and youth leadership development
  • Familiarity with Outward Bound and NOLS educational frameworks

This expertise ensures that trips are implemented safely, thoughtfully, and in alignment with best practices in outdoor education.

Can you share this grant with your grade level or subject team?

Absolutely! The intent of this program is to be scaffolded across 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students to allow students to invest in their skill development across all three years of middle school. The long-term vision is to embed backcountry travel as a signature experience for students in 6th–8th grade.

Sustainability
With initial grant funding, the program will purchase high-quality, durable backpacking equipment, including backpacks, tents, stoves, water filtration systems, and first aid kits, all of which will be used for multiple seasons and for more than 75 students annually. This shared gear library will significantly reduce barriers to participation and allow the program to continue for many years with minimal ongoing costs.

By investing now in equipment SELS will establish a sustainable program that expands equitable access for all students to wilderness/backpacking experiences and strengthens learning opportunities for future generations. We have some families for whom access to reliable gear would be prohibitive to participation in this program. As a public school, we need to ensure that all students, regardless of family income, should be able to fully participate; we do not want cost or gear to be prohibitive to their success or participation. 
Amount Funded
$11473.00
Individual Budget Items(s)
$4851 - Backpacking Backpacks
$1620 - Backpacking Tents
$1503 - Bear Canisters
$533 - Water Filters
$450 - Garmin In-Reach
$347 - Cooking Pots
$320 - Backpacking Stoves
$629 - Sleeping Bags
$320 - Backpacking Stoves
Shipping
$150.00
Taxes
$750.00
Other funding sources

Where possible, we have listed the wholesale price, as we are able to utilize Outdoor Prolink to purchase many of these items. This grant could be partially funded, and we have ranked our items by priority. Additionally, we plan to ask families within our community to donate items to the program (rain jackets, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, etc.); we will balance the need to have high quality gear while also seeking opportunities to reduce the need to purchase all items new. Based on previous camping experience with our students, we realize that a majority of our students do not have personal backpacking backpacks, but many have sleeping bags; as such, our numbers reflect different quantities for specific items. We also plan to reach out directly to various outdoor retailers to solicit donations for the necessary equipment.

Supporting Links
Backpacking Program Grant
Notes

We really appreciate the time you take to carefully review grants and would love to see all the equipment necessary for our program to be fully funded. However, we also understand that funds are limited, so our grant could absolutely be partially funded. Thank you for your consideration!!