Every year, it’s a Ridgefield School District tradition for fifth graders to pack their sleeping bags, lace up their hiking boots, and head to CISPUS Outdoor Learning Center for an overnight adventure filled with hands-on learning and connection.

In previous years, Ridgefield’s CISPUS experience was supported by a state outdoor education grant administered by OSPI. ESD 112 helped school districts across the region, including Ridgefield, access these funds. When state funding for the program was discontinued this year, local voter-approved EP&O levy dollars and community donations supported continuation of the program in Ridgefield School District.

This year, all ten fifth grade classrooms from Sunset Ridge Intermediate School attended CISPUS at the same time.

“Outdoor school has been part of Ridgefield’s DNA for decades,” said Todd Graves, Principal at Sunset Ridge Intermediate School. “These experiences build confidence, teamwork, and curiosity.”

Ridgefield 5th Graders Explore Hands-On Nature & Science

Each morning, students rotated through a series of outdoor field studies that brought science to life. The students hiked to Angel Falls to collect soil samples, tested water quality, studied macroinvertebrates along the Cispus River, and explored Yellow Jacket Creek to observe the ecosystem in action.

In the afternoons, students chose from a variety of sessions ranging from geology, nature writing, and astronomy to survival shelter building and team-building games.

“These activities push students to think differently,” said Amanda Burgess, fifth-grade teacher at Sunset Ridge. “They’re collecting samples, making observations, and working through challenges together. You can actually see their confidence grow throughout the week.”

More Than a Field Trip

Beyond science and exploration, the experience also nurtures connection and community. Students learn to support one another through hiking challenges, mealtime routines, and evening campfire traditions.

“When our students come back from CISPUS, they bring that sense of wonder with them. It reminds all of us why hands-on learning matters,” said Burgess.

Learn More

Across the region, ESD 112 partners with school districts to make outdoor learning accessible for all students, whether through on-campus projects or off-site programs like CISPUS. ESD 112 partners with the Taking Learning Outside initiative to offer professional development opportunities that support outdoor learning. New offerings for 2025-26 will be announced at the Fall Gathering on November 20, 2025, 5:30-7:30 pm at the Battle Ground Community Center.