THURSTON MIDDLE SCHOOL
OUTDOOR
SCIENCE
CAMP
6TH GRADE PARENT INFORMATION
PRESENTATION LINK AND CONTACT INFO
JKIM@LBUSD.ORG
JVIDAL@LBUSD.ORG
GHARWOOD@LBUSD.ORG
6th Grade Science Camp Parent Information Meeting
Please do not hesitate to reach out to us regarding any questions about Science Camp.
https://bit.ly/6thGradeScienceCamp25
Who
What
When
Why
& Camp preparation
I
N
F
O
WHO
All 6th-grade science students enrolled at Thurston are invited to join the exciting Outdoor Science Camp at Pali Institute!
WHEN
October 8 - October 10
Students will leave the Thurston campus on the morning of Wednesday, October 8th, and return in the afternoon on October 10th.
Cost
Location
Health and Safety
NGSS Aligned
Excitement and Parent Communication
Staffing Resources and Facilities
CAMP EVALUATION
RUNNING SPRINGS, CA
We are taking our classrooms outdoors in the beautiful San Bernardino National Forest!
PALI INSTITUTE
ACCOMODATIONS
In September, students will be selecting their camp groups during class. This group will be their cabin group and activity group.
INSTRUCTOR-LED LESSONS
Pali's staff is highly trained in outdoor education and provides around the clock supervision and instruction. All Pali counselors have Bachelor's degrees and a wide variety of science and teaching credentials
DAY AND NIGHT ACTIVITIES
Students will engage in NGSS-aligned science lessons and leadership activities that will teach them skills they will remember forever!
https://www.paliinstitute.com
WHAT TO PACK
PLEASE PACK CONSERVATIVELY ACCORDING TO THE LIST TO THE LEFT. WE HAVE FOUND THAT GENERALLY, STUDENTS DO NOT NEED ADDITIONAL ITEMS. PLEASE SEE BELOW FOR A LIST OF ITEMS THAT ARE NOT PERMITTED.
6th Grade Camp Parent Information
Students learn about biological systems as they dissect a squid, locate appendages, examine organs and gain an understanding of the squid’s physiological design. Pali instructors guide students through the dissection step-by-step and explain the importance of why we dissect in science.
KRAKEN SQUID OPEN
Pali Institute Lesson Examples
Students get their fill of experiential science methods – testing the chemical composition of our pond water and assessing its health by ponding for various macro and micro invertebrates. Students then apply their observations and knowledge to the real world and gain an understanding of the importance of water conservation.
FRESHWATER BIOLOGY
Reptiles have been around for quite a long time, some longer than others. Students will visit live animals in our nature center and learn about the fascinating adaptations of these modern-day animals that have allowed generations to survive over long periods of times.
LIVING FOSSILS
Students build confidence in themselves and each other as they encounter an array of challenges. They finish with a guided debrief of their successes and challenges, learning how the lessons learned on the ropes course can be applied to their everyday lives.
LEADERSHIP HIGH ROPES COURSE
HEALTH AND SAFETY
DIETARY NEEDS AND MEDICATION
Parents will fill out a digital camp form in September that informs Pali of any dietary restrictions or medications needed.
PALI INSTITUTE WELLNESS CENTER
Pali Institute’s Wellness Center has a licensed nurse on duty from 7:00am – 10:00pm while students are on site. They carry a supply of basic over-the-counter medications (cough medicine, Pepto Bismol, cough drops) and healthcare products like sunscreen and lip balm – all free for any kids who need them, with nurse and parent approval.
SAFETY
Pali Institute staff is chosen for their superior qualifications and experience. Staff undergo reference checks and background checks prior to their employment. The site is gated with access restricted to known persons and all staff are CPR and First aid trained
Total Fee: $350 (reduced from $515)
Pay in full by Sept 5th, 2025 or
Huge thank you to SchoolPower for their unwavering support and their recent donation of $30,000, the overall cost of each child was lowered to $350!
FEES AND HOW TO CONTRIBUTE
Click the link below to contribution and register your child for camp!
No student will be denied a camp experience solely because of their inability to pay. So, if you need support for the trip, please do not hesitate to contact us directly.
Nonrefundable after September 11
Sept. 5th, 2025
1ST PAYMENT AND PERMISSION SLIP DUE
IMPORTANT DEADLINES AND LINKS
Sept. 11, 2025
PAYMENTS ARE NONREFUNDABLE
Sept. 29, 2025
2ND AND FINAL PAYMENT DUE
Oct. 1st 2025
PALI CAMP DOC
and LBUSD HEALTH FORM DUE
Oct. 8th - Oct. 10th 2025
OFF TO CAMP!
PAYMENT LINK
PERMISSION SLIP
WILL BE SENT OUT THROUGH
PARENT SQUARE
STUDENTS SELECT CABIN MATES
Week of Sept 15
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!
STAY CONNECTED
Jennifer Kim, 6th Grade STEAM teacher, Science camp coordinator
jkim@lbusd.org
Joe Vidal, Principal
jvidal@lbusd.org
Gloria Harwood, Coordinator of Environmental Literacy
gharwood@lbusd.org
Back-to-School-Night Q & A !
Ms. Harwood will be available to answer your questions about Science camp on Thursday, September 4th from
5:00 - 5:30 PM in the Black Box.