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For Cupertino Site ParentsPlease click the Saratoga Site link if your child is attending the Saratoga site. Dear parents: Your child's school has chosen to participate in what will probably be the most memorable experience of his/her education. While your child is at Walden West Outdoor School he/she will be immersed in an exciting, activity filled week. Santa Clara County Office of Education has been operating an outdoor school for fifth and sixth grade students since 1950, first as Redwood Glen and now as Walden West. Your child will be enjoying this unique educational experience at Via West in Cupertino. The facility is situated on 55 acres of beautiful oak woodland and is adjacent to Stevens Creek Park in the Cupertino foothills. The property is located at the intersection of Mt. Eden and Stevens Canyon Road near the Stevens Creek reservoir. During their stay, students will enjoy learning about the forest, meadow, and stream communities through the use of games and other activities. Qualified naturalists will use their expertise to help children see the interrelationships between plants and animals, as well as the effect we have on the environment. This experience is social as well as academic. Living 24 hours a day with other students requires your child to cooperate and work together with others toward common goals. Friendships that are made during this week may last a lifetime. Throughout the week, classroom teachers will be available to help students adjust to being away from home and resolve problems that may surface. The facility includes a dining hall, infirmary, heated cabins with bathrooms and showers, and a swimming pool. Each cabin is furnished with beds and mattresses. All facilities meet health and fire marshal standards. While involved in our program, your child will be eating nutritional and tasty food. Children serve themselves during family style meals and are encouraged to eat as much as they would like. Our cooks are experienced in preparing and serving balanced meals and help make sure your child's needs are met. Our secondary insurance coverage includes $3,500 for accident and medical expenses. If an emergency arises or your child is hurt while at camp, you will be notified immediately. Walden West staff is First Aid and CPR certified. Emergency services are minutes away. We continue to make every effort to lower the cost of outdoor science school. Leasing our Saratoga site, operating a summer day camp, and support from the Walden West Outdoor School Foundation help to lower fees. If you would like more information about additional programs or would like to donate to Walden West please call. We at Walden West can't stress the importance of outdoor science school enough. If you have any questions please speak to your child's teacher or call us at Walden West. This may be your child's first time away from home for this length of time. Cheerful letters from home are always appreciated by the students. Please mail your letters early in order to insure their arrival by Wednesday or Thursday. Write the name of your child's school in the lower left corner of the envelope. ADDRESS MAIL AS FOLLOWS:
Please direct phone calls to the Cupertino office at (408) 867-1120 and fax to (408) 867-4817 while camp is in session. Otherwise call our main office at the Saratoga site at (408) 573-3050. All checks written to finance your child's trip should be made payable to the school that he/she attends and given to the classroom teacher. NO REFUNDS WILL BE ISSUED. All checks that are written to purchase store items should be made payable to Walden West Outdoor School and given to the classroom teacher. PLEASE PROVIDE YOUR CHILD WITH A DRINK AND AN ENVIRONMENTALLY PACKAGED LUNCH ON THE FIRST DAY OF OUTDOOR SCHOOL. THIS MEANS EVERYTHING SHOULD BE RECYCLABLE OR REUSABLE. PAPER BAGS AND REUSEABLE LUNCH BAGS WITH REUSEABLE CONTAINERS ARE BEST. PLEASE AVOID LUNCHABLES OR OTHER HEAVILY PACKAGED LUNCHES. No snacks should be sent with your child unless there is a medical reason for doing so. Don't forget to check the attached Walden West store order form for items you and your child may like to buy. Do not send additional cash with your child. Here is a schedule of what your child will be doing while at outdoor school. If your child attends the four day program, day three will not be a part of their schedule. For detailed information about Walden West, click here. For more information call Walden West Science Center at (408) 573-3060 or email us at waldenwest@sccoe.org. |
