School FAQs
Thank you for choosing the Irvine Ranch Outdoor Education Center as your event location. Before you arrive please look over this section. We have put together helpful pieces of information so you can be familiar with our property and have a successful event.
Is the Outdoor Science School program shared with other schools on site?
When multiple schools are on site there is a likelihood of bunkhouses being shared by schools (separated by gender). However, activities run during OSS are separate from other schools (excluding pool).
What time does Outdoor Science School begin and end?
Arrival time is between 10:00am-10:30am on the first day and departure time on the last day is between 10:00am-10:30am
Can parents select their student’s activities?
No. All activities as well as trail group assignments and bunkhouse assignments for the school are chosen by the teachers.
Can students have cell phone during their trip?
We do not allow students to have cell phone during their trip so they can be fully immersed in the experience of being outdoors.
Should we pack snacks for our students?
Packing snacks is not necessary. In addition to the three meals that are served each day at camp, each day the students receive a snack in the Dining Hall before lights out.
Can parents visit their students or call them?
We do not permit parents/guardians visiting and we strongly advise against check-in phone calls. We want to ensure each student can experience the program and the independence that comes with it!
What medical services are available to the students?
We have our LVN on site from 8:30am-5:30pm and our EMT from 5:30pm-8:30am. Parents/guardians will receive information for our secure online health system called Camp Doc. Parents/guardians can input medical information in their student’s online health profile so any information needing to be communicated to our health staff is streamlined to them.
What if we need to pick up our student early or I don’t want them to stay overnight?
Our program does not allow students to be day campers. If you would like to end program for your student early, arrangements will need to be made through the school in advance.
Who will be watching my student?
Each student will always be placed into a trail group and watched over by trained staff members. Schools are required to provide at least one school representative for every 30 students to attend camp. They must be on site to provide care and guidance for each student.
What safety precautions do you have in place?
All staff are certified in Adult and Pediatric First Aid, CPR and AED. We have staff members that live on site and have the regional park rangers available if needed. Our site is considered private property and anyone entering must have the gate code provided for their event in advance.
Each bunkhouse where the students will be staying have alarms and locks on them. Staff members sleep in separate rooms from the students in case students need anything during the night.
