SECRETS In-School Lessons

Since 1997, Gorge Ecology Outdoors (GEO) has provided students in the Gorge with hands-on, place-based ecological education by partnering with local school districts. In 2024, GEO was officially folded into the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center & Museum. We are delivering the same great programming under our Educational Programs leadership. 

 

Fifth grade students in SECRETS spend seven weeks exploring ecological concepts through dynamic in-class lessons, engaging activities, creating lasting connections to the place they call home. SECRETS also includes a day-long field trip where students experience ecological principles in action. Importantly, the curriculum aligns with state academic benchmarks for science in Oregon and Washington. Weekly lessons are outlined by the SECRETS acronym: Survival • Ecosystems • Cycles • Relationships • Energy • Time=Change • Stewardship.

 

After-School Programs

Education doesn’t stop when the school bell rings, and neither do we. Our after-school programs bring hands-on, place-based enrichment to students across the Gorge, transforming classrooms into labs of discovery and schoolyards into spaces for exploration. Whether it’s cracking open fossilized shark teeth, dissecting owl pellets, or launching kites, we spark curiosity and connect kids to the natural world in fun, meaningful ways.

 

Outdoor School

Our residential outdoor school turns nature into the ultimate classroom, where students explore creeks, craft with natural materials, and journal under open skies. With songs around the campfire and adventures at every turn, it’s a joyful, confidence-building experience they’ll never forget.

 

Snow School

Snow School is an unforgettable winter adventure that turns the snowy landscape into a living classroom. Students strap on snowshoes and head into the wilderness to build fires, dig snow pits, and slide down snowy hills, all while uncovering the secrets of winter ecology and the vital role snowpack plays in our environment. It’s a day filled with wonder, discovery, and hands-on science that makes learning come alive in the great outdoors.

 

Career Connected Learning/Career Day Programs

We team up with federal, state, and nonprofit partners to give students a behind-the-scenes look at real-world careers. Through hands-on demos and expert-led activities, students explore exciting pathways in science, natural resources, public service, and more.

 

Custom-Built School Activities

Bring place-based learning to life with our custom-built school programs! Whether in your classroom, along a creek, or at a local trail, we create hands-on experiences that connect students to the unique ecology, geology, history, and culture of the Columbia River Gorge. Our programs are tailored to fit your curriculum and students’ interests. Let us turn your local landscape into an unforgettable learning adventure!

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To schedule an outing or to learn more about our youth programs, please email danny@gorgediscovery.org