Besant Hill School Outdoor Education Program

For over 30 years, Besant Hill School of Happy Valley has inspired, challenged, and taught students through its Outdoor Education Program.  This program is an integral part of the philosophy, mission, and the culture of the school.  The mission of the BHS OEP is to provide students with the opportunity to develop the intellectual, social, and personal skills, through challenge and adventure in a safe and supportive environment. It is from these experiences that students will become positive contributing members of their communities through a connection between the self and the world at large.

Fall Trips- Kings Canyon National Park

We begin every school year with our entire community participating in our Fall Trips to Kings Canyon National Park. The goal of Fall Trips is to explore the ideas and foundations of a community.  Students and faculty divide into small groups for a week-long trip in the backcountry where they learn what it means to be part of a community.  Through a variety of different activities and reflections, the students and faculty explore and develop these ideas.  The challenges that are faced, and the camaraderie that ensues, develop problem-solving skills and cultivate respect, which are necessary for a community.  At the end of the week the entire school community comes back together for our Closing Campfire Council at Cedar Grove, in which the different groups share their experiences and what they have learned.  The goal of this Closing Campfire Council is to offer reflection on how we can transfer the ideas of community learned in the backcountry to our daily lives back at school.  We often say that the school year doesn’t really begin until we’ve returned home to BHS after Fall Trips. 

Parent Information Letter

Fall Trip Equipment List

NEW! BHS parnters with Real Cheap Sports

New this year- Outdoor Education Weekend Trips! 

This year the Outdoor Education Program is excited to offer a new opportunity for students as part of our weekend trips program.  The program will consist of both outdoor adventure education and service-learning activities.  Besant Hill School will partner with different local and national organizations that are working to preserve different wilderness areas in California.  Students will have the opportunity to work with these organizations on different volunteer projects, in addition to participating in a variety of outdoor activities, including hiking, rock climbing, skiing, ocean kayaking, surfing, and snorkeling.  Students will be required to participate in one weekend trip by the completion of their sophomore year, and one weekend trip by the completion of their senior year.  Specific information about these trips will be available during orientation in September, at which time students will sign up for the trip of their choice.  The proposed dates and possible activities for these trips are as follows: