Beginning next school year, we will offer a calibrated science day (field trip) program for students in 4th, 5th and 6th grades. The plan for implementation of this program will be a phased process, with full lessons designed to integrate with current curriculum content. All 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students will have an articulated experience visiting local environments on Bainbridge Island—including local parks, outdoor education spaces, beaches, farms, streams, preserves, and wetlands.
I know our overnight Outdoor Education program has long been a valued tradition, offering students memorable and enriching experiences. However, our commitment to ensuring equity, access, and fiscal responsibility required us to evaluate how we offer these experiences moving forward. Several key factors have led to this decision:
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Equity of Experience: The three camps currently accessed by our neighborhood schools are vastly different. This creates disparities in student experiences and makes it difficult to ensure all children receive the same learning opportunities.
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Access for All Students: We are committed to providing inclusive educational experiences all students can participate in comfortably and safely. The overnight format has increasingly presented barriers for some families—whether it is an individualized special education need, for personal reasons, or comfort level with extended overnight stays.
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Budgetary Impact: The costs associated with Outdoor Education (transportation, staffing, and lodging) for overnight programs is substantial. Funding we received from Outdoor Ed Washington which helped to offset costs was completely cut in the last legislative session, so they are no longer able to support our overnight Outdoor Education experience.
While we will no longer continue the overnight portion, we are actively exploring ways to reimagine Outdoor Education in a format that is day-based, equitable, and impactful. Our goal is to preserve the spirit of outdoor learning and environmental education in a way that is sustainable and inclusive of all BISD students.
I know this change may bring disappointment for those who have cherished this tradition, and I share in that sentiment. I am grateful to our staff members, PTOs, and family members who made the overnight Outdoor Education program so special. I also know we believe deeply in equity, access and inclusive education in the BISD, and it is our collective responsibility to evolve and reevaluate programs that may no longer adhere to the values we hold dear.
Next fall, we will work as a collective team including staff members, administrators, and our community in order to develop a new tradition to honor our 4th grade students as they graduate elementary school. Please look for participation information opportunities in building and district newsletters next fall!
Thank you for your understanding, your continued support, and your unwavering dedication to all BISD students!
Take Care,
Amii Thompson
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