Middle School Trips 2025-2026

• In Winthrop, Washington, students will take introductory Nordic skiing lessons (skate and/or classic) with professional instructors. After an initial lesson, they’ll ski alongside staff at several locations within the renowned Methow Valley Nordic Trail System, known as North America’s largest cross country ski area. As they develop ski skills, including V1 and V2 poling techniques, taking turns, and going up and down hills, students will also build confidence and learn about outdoor leadership and risk mitigation. Trip participants will stay at the Bush School’s Methow Valley Campus.

• Current 6th-8th grade students

• 8-12 students

Trip Prerequisites:

No nordic / cross-country skiing experience required! Students will need to be able to gain elevations of up to 500 feet using human-powered movement (e.g., hiking, running, walking, biking) within a one to two hour period of time.

Sign Up Forms:

1. Complete the 2025-2026 Trip Registration Form - Must be completed by Parents/Guardians

• At SAAS’s Puerto Rico trip, students will learn about how the climate crisis is impacting the country. Their learning will be immersive and actionable—including field experiments and explorations of Puerto Rico’s diverse microclimates, endemic species, and incredible marine life. While scientific learning is the main focus of the trip, students will also experience traditional Puerto Rican food, music, and culture through day trips across the island.

• Current 7th-8th grade students

• 12-15 students

• Passport required (must be up to date).

Trip Prerequisites:

Spanish is not a pre-requisite, but students in Spanish class at SAAS and heritage Spanish speakers will have priority for this trip.

Sign Up Forms:

1. Complete the 2025-2026 Trip Registration Form - Must be completed by Parents/Guardians

• Join us for a climbing adventure! Trip participants will travel by van to Smith Rock State Park near Bend, Oregon. There, we will spend five days camping, climbing, and exploring the high desert area, including four days on the rock. Open to both new and experienced climbers, this trip will challenge students physically and mentally as they safely try something challenging and expand their comfort zones. They’ll get to build deep connections with their peers as they practice communicating, leading, and trusting one another. ​​​​​​

• Current 7th - 8th grade students

• 9-12 Students 

• No climbing experience required.

Sign Up Forms:

1. Complete the 2025-2026 Trip Registration Form - Must be completed by Parents/Guardians

• On this Puget Sound sailing trip—a partnership between SAAS’s Outdoor & Travel Program and the nonprofit Sound Experience—6th and 7th graders can explore the Sound’s waterways aboard a 133’ schooner vessel, the Adventuress. Over the five-day trip, students will be active crew members, taking part in all aspects of the sailing experience, 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. In addition, students will have the opportunity to learn about what makes the Puget Sound area so unique.

• Current 6th-8th grade students

• 15-21 students

Sign Up Forms:

1. Complete the 2025-2026 Trip Registration Form - Must be completed by Parents/Guardians

• The San Juan Kayak Camping trip is a multi-day expedition through the stunning San Juan Islands designed just for 7th and 8th grade students! Starting in Anacortes, we'll paddle our way across the Salish Sea, setting up camp each night at a new site within the San Juan Islands. We will get to sleep in unique places and uninhabited islands only accessible to kayakers. Along the way, students will build kayaking skills, work as a team, learn outdoor camping basics, and experience the thrill of island-hopping by sea, filled with gorgeous sunsets and abundant marine wildlife. This is a unique opportunity for students to connect with nature, make new friends, and challenge themselves in a fun and supportive environment. Get ready to experience the San Juans like you never have before! 

• Current 7th-8th grade students

• 10-20 students

Trip Prerequisites:

• Be comfortable in/around water 
• Be able to paddle ~5 miles/day (students don’t need to have ever done this much before, but need to have the endurance to be able to paddle for multiple hours in a row)

Sign Up Forms:

1. Complete the 2025-2026 Trip Registration Form - Must be completed by Parents/Guardians

• On this beloved SAAS trip, students will spend a week in the Tongass National Forest, exploring the area around Petersburg, Alaska. We will camp on a backcountry beach, visit the LeConte Glacier up close, hike through the forest, and take a backpacking trip to a backwoods cabin. Students on this adventure learn outdoor essentials while building leadership skills in a safe, fun environment.

• Current 6th grade students 

• 11 - 14 students

Trip Prerequisites:

Ability to hike at least 3 miles with some elevation.

Sign Up Forms:

1. Complete the 2025-2026 Trip Registration Form - Must be completed by Parents/Guardians

• On the Middle School Yukon Trip, 7th and 8th grade students grow, bond, and practice leadership as they canoe and camp on the shores of Lake Laberge and the Yukon River. The group will canoe roughly 150 miles and camp at about eight 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 the Middle School journey.

• Current 7th-8th grade students

• 12-14 students

Trip Prerequisites:

• Passport required (must be up to date)
• No prior experience or skill is necessary to enjoy this trip
• We will have three 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 2025-2026 Trip Registration Form - Must be completed by Parents/Guardians

• On this beloved SAAS trip, students will spend a week in the Tongass National Forest, exploring the area around Petersburg, Alaska. We will camp on a backcountry beach, visit the LeConte Glacier up close, hike through the forest, and take a backpacking trip to a backwoods cabin. Students on this adventure learn outdoor essentials while building leadership skills in a safe, fun environment.

• Current 6th grade students 

• 11 - 14 students

Trip Prerequisites:

Ability to hike at least 3 miles with some elevation.

Sign Up Forms:

1. Complete the 2025-2026 Trip Registration Form - Must be completed by Parents/Guardians