Project WILD

St. Mary’s Project WILD strives to care for and cultivate our students’ personal development through nature-based learning, environmental stewardship, and leadership education. 
St. Mary’s School is situated in a truly remarkable natural environment. Surrounded by the Cascade Range and Siskiyou Mountains, we are a stone’s throw from the Rogue and Klamath Rivers. Opportunities abound for engagement with nature and adventure. Beyond the obvious scenic splendor and abundant access to exciting outdoor activities, our setting in Southern Oregon provides students with the possibility to nurture their sense of place, connect with and serve the community, and grow their whole person.
Project WILD is rooted in three pillars:

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The Curriculum

Project wild is about more than just playing in the dirt. Check out our curriculum by grade level below.

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  • Middle School

    Every school year, each middle school student will have one mod that features a daily outdoor education class. Their outdoor education classes will provide a scaffolded learning progression, where they will continually build upon the concepts and skills they developed in the previous year. Outdoor education curriculum in the middle school will combine Leave-No-Trace outdoor ethics, campcraft and outdoor living skills, team building and leadership activities, and environmental science activities. Through their participation in Project WILD’s outdoor education classes, students will cultivate a sense of place, engender an outdoor ethic, foster a learning environment of fun and play, nurture their emotional intelligence, and develop leadership and teamwork competencies.

  • High School

    Students in the high school will have the opportunity to participate in several different elective courses offered through Project WILD. These courses encourage students to explore more deeply into much of the outdoor education curriculum. Below are the current courses offered in the high school. More courses will be offered in future years, as Project WILD grows.
    Outdoor Living Skills
    Do you want to learn the skills you need to go camping or exploring the natural world? Whether you have never camped before or you have been camping since you were born, this course will help you develop your skills outdoors. This class will focus on helping students develop their aptitudes building shelters, navigating, tying useful knots, practicing Leave No Trace practices, and many other essential outdoor living skills.


    Backcountry Nutrition & Cooking
    This class will invite you to take a deep dive into all the aspects of backcountry cooking and nutrition. You will develop proficiency with common camping cooking equipment and how to keep it operating well. You will also learn the technical skills of pre-trip food preparation and cooking outdoors. Fundamental nutrition knowledge will be applied to plan delicious and nutritious meal plans for your own camping trips.


    Outdoor Adventure & Expedition Leadership
    Do you want to adventure in some of the most remarkable wild places in the Pacific Northwest? What are the key ingredients to rewarding and successful outdoor adventures? This class dives into building emotional intelligence and expedition behavior to help you develop your leadership and teamwork skills. Through the process of expedition planning, this class will help you learn more about yourself, your leadership style, and your personality traits. Together with your classmates, you will participate in personality assessments, planning sessions, and team-building initiatives to help prepare for an overnight camping adventure in Southern Oregon. 

    *Class requirement note: All students enrolled in this course will be required to join in a weekend camping trip during the second half of the mod. 

This Year's Expeditions

Project WILD’s expeditions and trips focus on getting our students immersed in the remarkable places in and around Southern Oregon. St. Mary’s students will learn activity specific technical skills while exploring nature and connecting with classmates.

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  • Hike Mt. McLoughlin

    September 27

    At 9,495 feet, is the lowest in Oregon's chain of six major Cascade Range volcanic peaks and the closest to home. We'll hike this giant guardian of the Rogue Valley during a dawn-to-dusk trek full of adventure! Depart campus at 6:00 am, return at approximately 5:00 pm!
     
    Registration Opens - Open
    Registration Closes - September 22
    Trip Cost - No Cost
    Max Participation - No Max 
    Participation Grades - 9-12

    Registration Form

    More Information & Permission Forms

  • Crater Lake Family Hike

    October 12

    Our middle school families are invited to take in the beauty of Garfield Peak at Oregon's only National Park this fall on a family hike! Depart school at 9:00 am, return at 4:00 pm. 

     
    Registration Opens - now
    Registration Closes - October 6
    Trip Cost - No Cost
    Max Participation - No max
    Participation Grades - 5-8 & families

    Registration Form

    More Information & Permission Forms

  • Lava Beds Nat'l Monument Caving

    November 15

    Explore the fascinating cave systems of the lava beds on Project WILD's annual caving trip. Middle school and high school students are invited to join for a day of subterranean exploration followed by a pizza feast.
     
    Registration Opens - now
    Registration Closes - November 8
    Trip Cost - $40
    Max Participation - TBD students
    Participation Grades - 5-12

    Registration Form

    Full Trip Details and Permission Forms

  • Snow Trek

    December 13

    Whether it's cross-country skies or snowshoes, we'll be criss-crossing the snowpack on this cold-weather adventure to Crater Lake or Mt. Shasta. 

    More information coming soon!
    Registration Opens - November
    Trip Cost - $TBD
    Max Participation - TBD students
    Participation Grades - 9-12

    *Winter trips are weather-dependent.

  • Skiing & Snowboarding Nights

    January 2025

    St. Mary's School has partnered with the local ski area for decades to send kids up to the slopes. The Mt. Ashland Youth Ski Program offers students skiing and snowboarding instruction. This opportunity is available to 5-12 graders. Transportation and rentals are included.

    MS - 1/9, 1/16, 1/23
    HS - 1/10, 1/17, 1/24
    Registration Opens - October
    Cost - $TBD
    Max Participants - Unlimited
    Participation Grades - 5-12 

    Details and Registration Form

    *Winter trips are weather-dependent.

  • National Park Snowshoeing

    February

    Both middle schoolers (February 8) and high schoolers (February 21) will enjoy a snowshoeing adventure around Crater Lake. The stunning vistas make this trip unforgettable!

    More information coming soon!

    Registration Opens - TBD
    Trip Cost - $TBD
    Max Participation - TBD students
    Participation Grades - 5-12

    *Winter trips are weather-dependent.

  • Cascades Winter Camping

    March 8 - 9

    Take a 4-mile snowshoe or cross-country ski trek to a rustic cabin at the base of Mt. Bailey. A pre-trip meeting will be required, and it is strongly recommended that you join us on another winter trip before this one if you don’t have prior snowshoe or cross-country ski experience.

    More information coming soon!
    Registration Opens - February 2026
    Cost - $TBD
    Max Participation - TBD students
    Participation Grades - 9-12

    *Winter trips are weather-dependent.

  • Redwoods Backpacking

    Mod 7

    This Project WILD trip is exclusive to students taking the Outdoor Adventure and Expedition Leadership class. It includes a multi-day backpacking trip through iconic locations.
    For more information on joining the OAEL class excursion contact Holly Jensen.

  • Mountain Biking in Jacksonville

    April 18

    Coaching and training will be provided. Some bikes are available to loan. Registration in March 2026

    More information coming soon!
    Registration Opens - March
    Trip Cost - $TBD
    Max Participation - TBD students
    Participation Grades - 5-12

  • Trinity Mountain Expedition

    May 16

    We're headed to Siskiyou County for a California adventure, where Project WILD will tackle Mount Eddy, the highest peak of the Trinity Mountains. This spring hike will sure to be full of flora and fauna!

    More information coming soon!
    Registration Opens - TBD
    Trip Cost - $TBD
    Max Participation - TBD students
    Participation Grades - 9-12

  • Rogue River Paddling & Camping

    May 30 - June 1

    Rogue River Paddling Trip: Join Project WILD on a spring camping trip while the water's running high. You'll get to paddle through rapids, hang out on scenic beaches, cook and eat delicious meals, and camp out on the banks of the Scenic Rogue River from Hog Creek to Grave Creek.

    More information coming soon!
    Registration Opens - TBD
    Trip Cost - $TBD
    Max Participation - TBD students
    Participation Grades - 9-12

    Full trip details

    Registration

  • Three Sisters Backpacking

    Early July

    This annual trip is a staple at the start of summer. It's an unforgettable opportunity to bond with peers and grow self-confidence. This trip is open to rising 9th-12th graders. 

    More information coming soon!
    Registration Opens - TBD
    Trip Cost - $TBD
    Max Participation - TBD students
    Participation Grades - 9-12 (rising grades)

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ST. MARY'S SCHOOL