Middle School Trips 2023-24

• The goal of this trip is to engage 7th grade students in our country’s history, particularly the essential question: How does history shape identity? This question, and the sites will visit, directly relate to the 6th and 7th grade history curriculum. Secondary goals include learning to navigate a new city in a small group of students, building relationships, and enjoying the sites of our Capitol. With the exception of our excursion to Charlottesville, all transportation will be done on the Washington Metro and by foot, providing an exciting opportunity for students to learn navigational skills.

• Current 7th grade students

• 15-22 students

Trip Prerequisites:

Attend 2-3 lunch meeting before trip. 

Sign Up Forms:

1. Complete the Washington DC Trip Application Form - Student submitted
2. Complete the 2023-2024 Trip Sign Up Form - Must be completed by Parents/Guardians

• Students will have the opportunity to explore one of the most beautiful natural landscapes on the continent. Gold River, located on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada, is a gateway to abundant forests, mountains, lakes, and rivers. SAAS will be partnering with the Vancouver Island West International Program, who will host our students and supply them with a unique experience that blends outdoor education and lessons about indigenous culture. Middle school students will get a chance to hike, camp, enjoy boating and other aquatic activities, and learn about the rich culture of the island’s native peoples. This trip offers a great opportunity for middle school students who are eager to explore the outdoors, but who may not be quite ready to jump into one of our more intense outdoor experiences or who want to try something similar first. 

• Passport required (must be up to date).

Sign Up Forms:

1. Complete the 2023-2024 Trip Sign Up Form - Must be completed by Parents/Guardians

• The group will travel by van to Smith Rock State Park, near Bend, Oregon. There, we will spend 5 days camping, climbing, and exploring the high desert area. Spend 4 days on the rock, challenging yourself physically and mentally. Open to both new and returning climbers. Enjoy building deep connections with your peers by learning to communicate and trust one another. Join us on this climbing adventure! No climbing experience necessary. 

• Current 8th -11th grade students

• 8-12 Students 

Sign Up Forms:

1. Complete the Smith Rock Climbing Trip 2024 Interest Form - Student submitted
2. Complete the 2023-2024 Trip Sign Up Form - Must be completed by Parents/Guardians

• The SAAS Outdoor/Travel Program, in partnership with Sound Experience, is excited to announce a Puget Sound summer sailing trip offered to current 6th - 8th grade students.

Students will explore the waterways of the Puget Sound while staying aboard the 133’ schooner vessel, the Adventuress. Over the 5 day trip, students will be active members of the crew, taking part in all aspects; from cooking to night watches. Participants will experience what it takes to keep the Adventuress in tip-top shape and the importance of working together to make it all work. In addition, students will have the opportunity to learn about what makes this area so unique - the Puget Sound.

• Current 6th - 8th grade students

• 15-21 students

Sign Up Forms:

1. Complete the 2023-2024 Trip Sign Up Form - Must be completed by Parents/Guardians

• The SAAS Outdoor/Travel Program is excited to once again lead a 6th grade trip to Alaska! Open to all current 6th graders, this trip will take us to Southeast Alaska, including Ketchikan and Petersburg. Come join us as we kayak, hike and camp in the Tongass National Forest, zipline through the treetops in Ketchikan, learn about Indigenous Alaskan heritage, and spend a night on the ferry between towns! 

• Current 6th grade students 

• 15 - 20 students

Sign Up Forms:

1. Complete the 2023-2024 Trip Sign Up Form - Must be completed by Parents/Guardians

• The Middle School Yukon Trip is an opportunity for 7th and 8th grade students to experience canoeing and camping on the shores of Lake Laberge and the Yukon River. The group will canoe roughly 150 miles and camp at about 8 different sites along the way. We will begin the trip with a couple of days at Fox Bay Lodge, outside of Whitehorse, to organize group gear and practice paddling in canoes. After we leave Fox Bay, students will be canoeing, setting up tents, cooking for themselves in small groups, and taking care of group gear each day as we journey from Lake Laberge to the Yukon River and make our way to Carmacks. In addition to canoeing, students will have the opportunity to explore historical sites, hike, play games, enjoy campfires, and reflect on their trip experience and middle school journey.

• Current 7th-8th grade students

• 12-16 students

Trip Prerequisites:

• Group will have 3 pre-trip meetings spaced throughout the year, including a gear check during the summer months.

• Passport required (must be up to date).

Trip Prerequisites:

• No prior experience or skill is necessary to enjoy this trip.
• We will have 3 pre-trip meetings spaced throughout the year, including Trip overview and introduction to gear needs (students and families)
• Initial gear check and trip to the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park in Seattle to learn about history of the Yukon territory (students)
• Final gear check during summer months before departure (students and families)

Sign Up Forms:

1. Complete the 2023-2024 Trip Sign Up Form - Must be completed by Parents/Guardians