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:

    • Project WILD_pillars

The Curriculum

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

List of 2 items.

  • 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.

List of 14 items.

  • Three Sisters Backpacking

    Late 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.
    Registration opens: May 15
    Trip cost: $350
    Max participants: 9
    Grades: Rising 9-12
     

  • Family Rogue Adventure

    August 13-16

    This trip was made for the St. Mary's Community and includes a 10% discount. Spend 3 days paddling, exploring, and camping in the Wild and Scenic section of the Rogue River. Professionally guided by Project WILD Director Laura Carver and Northwest Rafting Company. 
    Register for the August 13 trip through Northwest Rafting Company. Call the company to activate St. Mary's 10% discount. 

    Max participation - 22
    Parents must accompany students unless 16+

  • Rogue River Paddling & Camping

    Aug 29-30

    Rogue River Paddling Trip: Join Project WILD on a summer camping trip. 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.

     
    Registration is open - click the link to register and for full info
    Trip Cost - $80
    Max Participation - 12 students

  • Lassen Camping & Day Hikes

    Oct 3 - 4

    Experience the beauty of fall with Project WILD on an overnight camping trip to Lassen National Forest. 8th through 12th grade students will spend the night under the stars and explore volcanic landscapes, alpine lakes, and scenic trails on guided day hikes.
    Registration Open
    Registration Closes - until full
    Trip Cost - TBD
    Max Participation - 15
    Participation Grades - 8-12

    Click the link above for more information. 

  • Oregon Caves Spooktacular!

    Oct 30 

    We are headed to the Oregon National Caves Monument for a spooktacular time! Go through the caves by candlelight and hear the ghost stories and death-defying escapes from the Cave's history. 
    Registration Opens - TBD
    Registration Closes - until full
    Trip Cost - T$30
    Max Participation - 10
    Participation Grades - All

  • Lava Beds Nat'l Monument Caving

    November 14

    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 - TBD
    Registration Closes - November 8
    Trip Cost - $40
    Max Participation - TBD students
    Participation Grades - 5-12

  • National Park Snowshoeing

    December 13

    Enjoy a snowshoeing adventure around Crater Lake. We will go on a short hike (1-2 miles) with a ranger who will give an interpretive talk about the natural history of the park. The stunning vistas make this trip unforgettable! Parent chaperones are very welcome!
     
    Registration Opens - TBD
    Trip Cost - $20
    Max Participation - 8 students
    Participation Grades - 8-12


    *Winter trips are weather-dependent. Because this trip requires decent road conditions, we have a backup date planned.
     

  • Mt. Ashland Skiing and Snowboarding Nights

    January 2027

    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.
    Registration Open - Early December
    Cost - $186 (less if student owns gear and/or has a season pass)
    Max Participants - Unlimited
    Participation Grades - 5-12 

    *Winter trips are weather-dependent.
     

  • Cascades Winter Camping

    March 3-7

    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 at lunch on Friday, March 6th. 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.
     
     
     
    Registration Opens: TBD
    Cost - $TBD
    Max Participation - 9 students
    Participation Grades - 9-12
    Difficulty level of trip: Medium (intermediate). Hiking in the snow is more difficult than normal hiking. Elevation gain, 4-mile hike. 
    Goals of trip: Physical & Mental Health, Environmental Education
     
    *Winter trips are weather-dependent.
     


     

  • Mountain Biking in Jacksonville

    April 10
     
    Coaching and Training provided by DEVO Ashland
     
    Registration: TBD
    Trip Cost - $40 cost includes professional, certified instructors
    Max Participation - 12 riders
    Participation Grades - 5-9

  • 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

  • Multiday Backpacking Adventure

    OAEL Class: Mod 6 
     

    This Project WILD trip is exclusive to students taking the Outdoor Adventure and Expedition Leadership (OAEL) class during Mod 6 (C bin). It includes a multi-day backpacking trip through an iconic location that the students in the class will choose. Once chosen, students will learn the skills and leadership traits to fully plan and execute their multiday backcountry adventure. Students must be able to attend the trip from May 1 to May 3. If students are unable to attend the trip, they should not register for the class.
    For more information on joining the OAEL class and excursion, contact Holly Jensen.
     

  • North Umpqua White Water Trip

    May 22-23

    Join Project WILD on a spring rafting and camping trip while the water's running high on the North Umpqua. You'll get to paddle through rapids, hang out on scenic beaches, cook and eat delicious meals, and camp under the stars... or in a tent.
    Registration Opens - TBD
    Trip Cost - $TBD
    Max Participation - 12 students
    Grades 7-12

  • Crater Lake Family Hike

    June 5

    The St. Mary's Community is invited to join Project WILD on a day hike. Locations considered for this hike include: Mt. Bailey, Wagner Butte, Pilot Rock, and Mt. Thielson. 
     
    Registration Open - TBD
    Trip Cost - No Cost
    Max Participation - No max
    Participation Grades - 5-12 & families

    • project wild dates flyer (2)

ST. MARY'S SCHOOL