Outdoor Education is a highlight of the Middle School program at Sacramento Country Day School. Across three years, our community shares experiences in the lush coastal mountains near Santa Cruz, the splendor of the redwoods in Sequoia National Park, and the vibrant offshore ecosystems of Catalina Island.
Students learn about the natural and human history of each region through exploration and play. Beyond the curricular opportunities, outdoor trips provide a community-building experience that bridges connections between peers and between students and faculty. Learn more about each experience.
The River Day program is designed to challenge students to apply scientific concepts to real-world research. During the full day outing, science teachers mentor students through the process of conducting original research at a field site near their school. Students prepare for this trip in their science classes and then analyze their data upon their return. The exciting experience lets students walk in the shoes of professional scientists and aspire to better understand the natural world around them as well.
All year round, students are presented with chances to venture beyond campus boundaries, complementing their class curriculum. Whether they delve into historical fashion at the Crocker Art Museum as part of the Fashion Styling elective, engage in practical photography sessions at a nearby park for Digital Photography, or contribute fresh produce from the school garden during Farm to Fork to a local food bank, students actively embrace a holistic learning experience that transcends the confines of traditional classrooms.
Each year, our 8th graders take a day for community service in our local community. As an example of their hard work, in 2026, students at the Sacramento Food Bank packaged 6528 lbs of food. At St John's Program for Real Change, students completed several tasks to keep that shelter running smoothly, and at River City Food Bank, students distributed food to 566 families. The groups finished their day enthusiastically, working on no-sew blankets to give to the children who are living at St. John's.
This work centered not only on meeting real community needs, but on helping our students think critically about the challenges around them, act compassionately in service of others, and live creatively through meaningful, hands-on impact.
Hands-On Innovation: KidWind at Sacramento Country Day
The KidWind program gave our middle school students the opportunity to explore renewable energy through hands-on engineering, research, and competition. Students designed, built, and tested their own wind turbines while learning about energy systems, sustainability, and real-world problem solving.
Through this program, the Country Day team competes in regional KidWind competitions, where students present their designs, demonstrate their turbines’ energy output, and showcase their knowledge of renewable energy concepts. In 2026, our six-member team, Baby Blew, represented Sacramento Country Day with outstanding results at the KidWind Regional Competition, Sacramento’s first-ever regional event. They earned 1st Place- Energy Output, and their first-place finish qualified them for the 2026 World KidWind Challenge at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
The program encourages collaboration, creativity, and persistence, giving students the chance to apply scientific thinking in meaningful ways.
