WALDEN WEST OUTDOOR SCIENCE SCHOOL INFORMATION

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1 WALDEN WEST OUTDOOR SCIENCE SCHOOL INFORMATION A Program of the Santa Clara County Office of Education Cupertino Site 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 950, 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.

2 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: Return Address Child s name Walden West Outdoor School 385 Stevens Canyon Road Child s School Cupertino, CA 9504 Please direct phone calls to the Cupertino office at (408) and fax to (408) while camp is in session. Otherwise call our main office at the Saratoga site at (408) 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. To the side is a schedule of what your child will be doing while at outdoor school. If your child attends the fiveday program, a day similar to day 2 and 3 will be added to the schedule. Visit our web site at:

3 WALDEN WEST OUTDOOR SCHOOL REGISTRATION AND HEALTH FORM (Give this form to your child s teacher) Child's Name M/F DOB Address City ZIP School Teachers Name Name of Parent(s) Home Phone: Area ( ) or Guardian Business Phone: Area ( ) Cell Phone: Area ( ) An Alternate Emergency Phone Number: Name: Home Phone: Area ( ) The person listed above has permission to authorize Business Phone: Area ( ) medical treatment and/or provide transportation in Cell Phone: Area ( ) the unlikely event of an emergency. HEALTH INFORMATION NECESSARY FOR CHILD'S CARE. Do you know of any health factor that makes it advisable for your child to follow a limited program of physical activity while attending Walden West School? If so, please describe. a. Recent surgery or illness? b. Are there any food allergies we should be aware of? c. List other conditions we should be aware of: 2. In accordance with the California Education Code, in order for your child to receive any medication while at Walden West Outdoor School: a. The attached Physician s Form or a written statement from a physician detailing method, amount, and schedule by which medication is to be taken must be completed and placed in the bag with the medication. b. The student s parent or guardian must sign the form, authorizing a Walden West or school representative to dispense medication while at Walden West. c. Medications must be packaged in the original container, labeled with directions for dispensing, and placed in a gallon-size plastic bag that has your child s name written on the outside. The signed Physician s Form should be placed inside the bag with the medications. If your child requires medications for asthma or bee allergies, for the safety of your child, please send it. List medications your child will have: If your child will need Tylenol, Actifed, Pepto Bismal, vitamins, fluoride, etc. while at Walden West Outdoor School, you must provide Walden West with the form requested above. 3. To protect your child from possible embarrassment, please answer the following: a. Does your child walk in his/her sleep? b. Bed Wet? If a serious emergency arises, it may be necessary for a physician to attend your child before Walden West staff contacts you. The AUTHORIZATION FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT AND TRANSPORTATION statement below must be signed if your child is to attend the Walden West Program. Walden West provides backup insurance for students who do not have their own. All others must provide insurance information. Subscriber Insurance Carrier Policy # If you do not want medical care given to your child, or there are any conditions that will limit medical treatment, please state reason on the back of this form. AUTHORIZATION FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT/ MEDIA RELEASE I hereby authorize the Walden West staff to provide medical care for any emergency that may occur while my child is in attendance at Walden West Outdoor School. In the event of an emergency, my child has my permission to be transported by Walden West staff, classroom teachers or an authorized parent from my school. I give permission for my child to be photographed, videotaped, and/or interviewed by representatives from the media, the Santa Clara County Office of Education, or education related groups for the purpose of publicizing Office of Education programs, development of educational materials, or reporting on events of community interest. I fully relinquish my right or interest in any film, tape, or photograph which may be used in relation to Walden West Programs. Signature of Parent or Guardian

4 PHYSICIAN S FORM FOR WALDEN WEST Fax: Saratoga Site (408) Fax: Cupertino Site (408) In order for your child to receive over the counter or prescription medications at Walden West, this form must be filled out and signed by your child s doctor and signed by you. This is in compliance with California Education Code. Student s Name: School: Birth Date: Teacher: Attach child s photo here. Medication Name Dosage ( Tab, 0 mg.) Route (Oral, Inhale,Topical) Times Taken (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Bedtime) Is this an asneeded medication (PRN)? Possible Reactions Condition(s) for Given Medication Physician Section Physician Name: Phone Number: Address:_ Signature: Date: _ Checklist All medications are in their original containers Medications are not expired Medications inside a gallon-sized zip lock bag PARENT & DOCTOR HAVE SIGNED THIS FORM Parent Authorization for Dispensing Medication I request that my child be dispensed medication in accordance with the above information by a member of the Walden West or school staff. I understand that medication must be sent in the original packaging. I must notify the school if the medication is to be changed or stopped. Medication will not be dispensed if it is not in the original container. I understand that the school is not legally obligated to dispense medication to my child; therefore I hold the school district and its employees free from any and all suits, which might arise out of these arrangements. The medication with this form must be turned in to your child s classroom teacher. Parent Name: Parent Signature: Date: Phone :

5 WALDEN WEST OUTDOOR SCHOOL (Cupertino) These items are recommended for outdoor school. Please be sure all items are labeled. MEALS ITEMS For the first day bring a lunch in a reusable (no-waste) container and a drink. RECOMMENDED NUMBER (required) ACTUAL NUMBER CONVENIENCE ITEMS REQUIRED: Refillable Water Bottle Day Pack/Backpack BEDDING TOILET & SHOWER ARTICLES Sleeping bag or 2 blankets Toothbrush Toothpaste Soap/Shampoo Deodorant Brush/Comb Bath Towels Washcloth Bathing Suit (for showers) (required) 2 Pillow HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: Chapstick Camera & Film Stationary & stamps Sunscreen Shower Shoes Kleenex CLOTHING Poncho or Raincoat with hat Coat or Jacket Heavy Sweaters Winter Gloves (as needed) T-Shirt/Shirts Long Pants Shorts Underwear Pajamas Socks Shoes Slippers pair pair 6 pair 2 pair pair Required regardless of season SUGGESTED: Laundry Bag Binoculars THE FOLLOWING ITEMS MAY NOT BE BROUGHT TO WALDEN WEST Knives Electronic Devices Cell Phones (or the like) Blow Dryers Curling Irons Money Flashlights Magnifying Glass Candy, Gum, etc. PLEASE DO NOT BRING ANYTHING VALUABLE TO WALDEN WEST. WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR MISSING ITEMS.

6 Hello Walden West Families, Your child will soon be experiencing an unforgettable time as they meet new friends, are introduced to the beauty of nature, and learn interesting things about plants and animals. One critter we hope they won t experience is the bed bug. You may have heard that bed bugs have made a recent comeback in North America and have been found in hotels and other living areas. As the spread of bed bugs increases, it has become a bigger concern as we travel from place to place. Bed bugs travel easily in sleeping gear and clothes and because of this can be brought unknowingly to your home. We want to make sure that you are aware of the situation and steps to take to prevent their spread to and from outdoor school. Although the bugs are a nuisance, they do not transmit disease and there are simple steps to take that will ensure that students do not bring them to outdoor school or back to your home. PACKING FOR OUTDOOR SCHOOL Visually inspect items for bugs. Bugs are greyish and about /8 long. They do not hop or fly. Tumble dry all items in a clothes dryer set on a high heat setting for 30 minutes. Bugs and eggs die when exposed to 20 degrees or more for 5 minutes. Pack clothes in washable duffle bags lined with a plastic bag. After packing, knot the bag. Bedding should be placed in a separate bag. While children are attending outdoor school they should keep their clothes they are not wearing in the bag and keep the bag knotted. UNPACKING AFTER OUTDOOR SCHOOL As a precaution, you should clean all items returned from outdoor school before they are put away in the house. For items that can be laundered, use a hot water setting and tumble dry on high heat (20 degrees or higher) for at least 30 minutes. For items that cannot be laundered, such as suitcases, store outside in a plastic bag and when possible place in an area that will be heated to above 20 degrees for at least 30 minutes. To prevent the spread of bed bugs, we continually monitor the cabins and take aggressive action to keep our facility bed bug free. If you have any questions, please contact us at Walden West For more information go to:

7 Dear Parents: You may have attended science camp when you were young. If you grew up in the San Jose area, chances are you went to Redwood Glen. It is the same incredible program your child is about to attend, renamed Walden West Outdoor School. Perhaps you remember the impact the program had on your life and would like to support the outdoor school in its effort to provide environmental and science education to children of Santa Clara Valley. Walden West has embarked on a massive fund-raising effort to renovate the Walden West Center. Thanks to the Walden West Foundation s efforts and your generosity, the Abby Sobrato Science and Sustainability Center recently opened. The new Center will allow us to provide day-long science field trips for all students in K-6 th grade. Next in the renovation plan is to: Furnish the green constructed Sustainability Center with science equipment and supplies. Renovate the Walden West nature center. Keep this letter until your child returns from outdoor school. If Walden West had as big an impact on him/her as it does most children, consider donating to help Walden West provide better services to those who attend and bring science and environmental education to every child in the county. Walden West Outdoor School lasts a week, the impact lasts a lifetime WALDEN WEST OUTDOOR SCHOOL CAPITAL CAMPAIGN Sponsorship levels: Name: $25 Elderberry School: _ $40 Redwood Address: $75 Tan Oak $00 Bay Laurel $50 Douglas Fir (Buys 4x8 brick)* Phone: $250 Madrone Donated Amount: AN ORANGE GET OUTSIDE! BRACELET WILL BE SENT TO YOUR CHILD FOR EACH DONATION OF $40 OR MORE. * If purchasing a brick, write a 3 line message at the bottom of this page. Each line can be 20 spaces. The brick will be placed in the Walden West Sustainability Center walkway. Send checks and completed form to: Walden West Outdoor School Foundation, 5555 Sanborn Road, Saratoga, CA Federal Tax Exempt I.D. # Call (408) for more information.

8 Eco-Action Kids Club We re taking care of our future! To become a member of the Eco-Action Kids Club and earn an Eco-Action Kids Club recycled money pencil, complete activities from the two sections below. You must get your parent s initials on completed projects and use the margin to explain what you did for numbers 2, 4, 7, and the special project. You must complete 7 points. You can complete the paper now or save this to complete once you re home from outdoor school. Complete 2 points:. Make your street look great! Pick up 50 pieces of trash. (2 points) 2. Make a list of items that usually get left on when no one is in the room. Develop a way to help remind people to turn things off. (2 points ) 3. Decrease the amount of packaging you use. Talk to your parents about buying household items in bulk. (2 points) 4. Measure how much water flows out your showerhead in one minute. Time how long your showers last. Calculate how much water you use. Practice using less water. (2 points ) 5. Find out why it is bad for the environment to buy single-use plastic water bottles. Share what you learned with your family. (2 points ) 6. Create a reusable paper tray for your house. Put the tray next to the phone or computer! (2 points ) 7. Reuse common items like plastic bags, coat hangers, paper bags, milk / OJ jugs, etc and tell us what you did and how. (2 points ) 8. Walk or ride your bike instead of asking for rides to friend s houses, the library, etc. (2 points ) 9. Explain to a brother, sister or neighbor why it is important not to tag or do graffiti. (2 points ) Complete 5 points (write what you did on the side of this page):. Organize a neighborhood beautification day. (5 points ) 2. Organize a school beautification day. (5 points ) 3. Complete a project of your choice that helps the environment. (5 points) Your Name: Send this form to: Your School: Walden West Outdoor School Your Address: Apt. # Eco-Action Kids Club 5555 Sanborn Road Your Phone Number: Saratoga, CA 95070

9 WALDEN WEST OUTDOOR SCHOOL STORE ORDER FORM (Give this form to your child s teacher) Store Items Quantity Price Subtotal Gray colored T-Shirt 99% cotton x $6 = Gray Hooded Sweatshirt x $30 = 50% Cotton/50% Polyester Blend Stainless Steel Water Bottle x $0 = Baseball Cap x $0 = x $ 5 = Tote Bag (2 x 3 x 8 ) 00% Polypropylene Great for groceries! Walden West CD of favorite songs x $ 5 = Total No need to request size. Our staff will make sure that your child gets the size that they need. (Sizes range from children s large to adult x-large.) Please pre-order all items and turn in order and check to your classroom teacher. Name:_School: Address: Phone: City: _ ZIP: Please make checks payable to: WALDEN WEST Walden West Sun Viewers Each week, pictures of individual cabin groups will be taken. Once back at school, order forms will be given out and teachers will have sample viewers to show students. The viewers are $6.00 each. Once an order is placed, allow 2-3 weeks for delivery. PLEASE DO NOT ORDER OR PAY UNTIL YOU HAVE THE PROPER ORDER FORM