Jones Gulch, nestled in the Redwoods of the Santa Cruz Mountains in La Honda, California, serves as home to San Mateo Outdoor Education. For more than 40 years, 5th and 6th grade students have enjoyed weeklong residential programs designed to emphasize experiential and environmental education.

A week at Outdoor Education provides students with a unique opportunity to engage with the natural world, explore forest and beach ecosystems, and live in a community with their fellow students and environments. Each year nearly 5,000 students along with hundreds of teachers and cabin leaders join our dynamic, well educated, and passionate staff to enjoy the wonder of the outdoors.

The San Mateo County Office of Education, in cooperation with local schools and the San Francisco YMCA Camp at Jones Gulch, conduct an award-winning environmental education program. Both the academic program and the camp are certified, Resident Outdoor Science Schools (ROSS) by California Outdoor School Administrators (COSA). The camp also maintains American Camping Association (ACA) accreditation.

Students live in heated cabins with bunks and mattresses and bring their own sleeping bag and bedding. The students enjoy well-balanced meals prepared by the YMCA and served family style by the students.

Cost:

***$254.00 for each student Make checks to Clifford School

****T-shirts are $13 and checks need to be made out to county school service fund

If for some reason you cannot afford this amount, please talk with the office and they will try and work with your budget and give you a scholarship.

First Day Lunch

Your child should bring a sack lunch for the first day. Bring only food that can be eaten during this meal, as the program will provide all meals and snacks for the rest of your stay. Gum and candy are not permitted. We challenge your child to bring a waste-free lunch, containing only items that can be reused or recycled.

Essential Items:

Older but serviceable clothing is best. We urge that you NOT buy new clothing or equipment. Space is limited – please bring only one duffle bag or suitcase and a sleeping bag. Mark luggage and each item of clothing with your child's name.

Sleeping bag (or blanket/bedroll and sheets) and pillow
Two pairs of shoes (tennis shoes are fine)
Five pairs of socks
Five changes of underwear
Three t-shirts
Two heavy cotton/flannel or wool shirts
Three pairs pants (jeans, cords, or heavy trousers)
One heavy jacket or coat (regardless of the weather)
Water bottle, day-pack
Flashlight and batteries
Rain gear (no matter how sunny)
One hat or cap
One or two pairs of pajamas
One bathing suit

Toilet Kit Containing:

One bath size towel
Soap and shampoo
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Sunscreen
One washcloth
Comb or hairbrush
Shower slippers or flip-flops
Letter writing materials (pencils, stationery, stamps)
Laundry bag or plastic garbage bag

Optional items:

Single-use or inexpensive digital camera 
Bathrobe
Gloves or mittens
Shorts (for warmer weather)
Binoculars

What will the kids be eating:

Monday

Lunch: Students bring their own waste-free lunches
Dinner: Pizza, salad, fresh fruit, milk, and water.

Tuesday

Breakfast: Pancakes, sausage, cereal, fresh fruit, apple/orange juice, and milk.
Lunch: Tacos, refried beans, salsa, salad, fruit cocktail, fresh fruit, milk, and water.
Dinner: Chicken, corn, rice, salad, rolls, fresh fruit, milk, and water.

Wednesday

Breakfast: Scrambled eggs, country potatoes, biscuits, cereal, apple/orange juice, and milk.
Lunch: Grilled cheese, tomato soup, salad, peaches, fresh fruit, milk, and water.
Dinner: Spaghetti, meat sauce, salad, garlic bread, broccoli, fresh fruit, milk, and water.

Thursday

Breakfast: French toast, ham, cereal, fresh fruit, apple/orange juice, and milk.
Lunch: Chicken nuggets, French fries, salad, pears, fresh fruit, milk, and water.
Dinner: Teriyaki chicken, mixed vegetables, rice, salad, fresh fruit, chocolate cake, milk, and water.

Friday

Breakfast: Pancakes, sausage, cereal, fresh fruit, apple juice, and milk.
Lunch: Crackers, cheese, apples, carrot sticks, cookies, and milk.

The lunch lists refer to meals served each day in the dining hall. When weather and scheduling allow, lunches may be served on-trail or at the beach.

The ocean field trip menu includes: peanut butter and jelly, cheese or lunchmeat sandwiches for students with peanut allergies, trail mix, carrots, pickles, soup, cookies, milk, and water.

The day hike menu includes: bagels, cream cheese, cheese or lunchmeat sandwiches, granola bars, cheese crackers, and water.

 Driving Directions to San Mateo Outdoor Education

(at YMCA Camp Jones Gulch)

Visits at Outdoor Education are by appointment only. Please call the Outdoor Education administrative assistant at (650) 802-5360 to arrange for your visit in advance. We encourage parents and family who wish to tour our site to do so prior to their student's arrival at Outdoor Education. Outdoor Education hours are Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. We do not allow family visits during the time students are attending the program.

Highway 280 North/South:

Take the Woodside Road/Hwy 84 exit and head west toward Woodside. Stay on Woodside Road/Hwy 84 through the towns of Woodside and Sky Londa. Go approximately 1 mile past the town of La Honda and take a left at Pescadero Road; about 1 mile up the road, take a slight right to stay on Pescadero Road and follow signs to YMCA Camp Jones Gulch. The camp will be on your left, about 4 miles down Pescadero Road. Turn left onto Jones Gulch Road and follow it into the camp.

Highway 1 South:

Approximately 10 miles south of Half Moon Bay, turn left on Highway 84 east, towards San Gregorio. Follow Hwy 84 approximately 8 miles then turn right onto Pescadero Road; about 1 mile up the road, take a slight right to stay on Pescadero Road and follow signs to YMCA Camp Jones Gulch. The camp will be on your left, about 4 miles down Pescadero Road. Turn left onto Jones Gulch Road and follow it into the camp.

Highway 1 North:

Take a right on Pescadero Road. Follow this road for approximately 11 miles, then turn right onto Jones Gulch Road and follow it into camp.

****All this information was taken from the San Mateo Outdoor Education Website. If you would like more information, please click on the link below.

http://www.smcoe.k12.ca.us/outdoored/index.html

Spanish:

La quebrada de Jones, nestled en las secoyas de las montañas de Santa Cruz en el La Honda, California, sirve como a casa a la educación al aire libre de San Mateo. Por más de 40 años, los 5tos y 6tos estudiantes del grado han disfrutado de los programas residenciales de una semana diseñados para acentuar la educación experimental y ambiental.

Una semana en la educación al aire libre provee de estudiantes una oportunidad única de enganchar con el mundo natural, de explorar ecosistemas del bosque y de la playa, y de vivir en una comunidad con sus estudiantes y ambientes compañeros. Cada año casi 5.000 estudiantes junto con centenares de profesores y de líderes de la cabina ensamblan a nuestro personal dinámico, instruído, y apasionado para disfrutar de la maravilla del aire libre.

La oficina de condado de San Mateo de la educación, en cooperación con las escuelas locales y el campo de San Francisco YMCA en la quebrada de Jones, conducta un programa educativo ambiental premiado. El programa académico y el campo son certificados, las escuelas al aire libre residentes de la ciencia (ROSS) por los administradores de escuela al aire libre de California (COSA). El campo también mantiene la acreditación americana de la asociación que acampa (ACA).

Los estudiantes viven en cabinas heated con las cuchetas y los colchones y traen su propio saco de dormir y lecho. Los estudiantes disfrutan de las comidas bien equilibradas preparadas por el YMCA y el estilo de familia servido de los estudiantes.

Este sitio le presenta al programa y a sus metas, tan bien como la información necesaria para prepararse para su semana en la educación al aire libre.

Coste

$250.00

Las becas están disponibles. Pida por favor la oficina más información.

Cuando: 

April 15-19 Toda la licencia en un autobús el la mañana de lunes alrededor de 9:30 y volveremos a la escuela viernes sobre 12:00. Cerciórese de por favor estar en la escuela el viernes para coger a su niño. No volverán de nuevo a clase cuando llegamos detrás a la escuela.

Artículos esenciales:

Una ropa más vieja pero útil es la mejor. Impulsamos que usted NO compra la nueva ropa o equipo. El espacio es limitado - traiga por favor solamente una bolso de duffle o maleta y un saco de dormir. Marque el equipaje y cada artículo del vestir con el nombre de su niño.

Saco de dormir (o manta/bedroll y hojas) y almohadilla
Dos pares de zapatos (las zapatos tenis están muy bien)
Cinco pares de calcetines
Cinco cambios de ropa interior
Tres camisetas
Dos camisas pesadas del algodón/de la franela o de las lanas
Tres pantalones de los pares (pantalones vaqueros, cuerdas, o pantalones pesados)
Una chaqueta o capa pesada (sin importar el tiempo)
La botella de agua, día-embala
Linterna y baterías
Engranaje de la lluvia (no importa cómo es asoleado)
Un sombrero o casquillo
Uno o dos pares de pijamas
Un bañador

El contener del kit de tocador:

Una toalla del tamaño del baño
Jabón y champú
Cepillo de dientes y crema dental
Protección solar
Un washcloth
Peine o cepillo para el pelo
Deslizadores o flip-flop de la ducha
Materiales de escritura de la letra (los lápices, efectos de escritorio, estampan)
Bolso del lavadero o bolso de basura del plástico

Artículos opcionales:

Cámaras digitales Single-use o baratas 
Albornoz
Guantes o manoplas
Cortocircuitos (para un tiempo más caliente)
Prismáticos
Bocados (un cierto espacio del refrigerador está disponible)

Artículos prohibidos:

Ningunos objetos de valor, dinero, o joyería
Ningún alimento, a excepción del almuerzo para el primer día
Ningún caramelo o goma
Ningunos dispositivos electrónicos tales como mp3 o reproductores multimedia, juegos, ordenadores portátiles, o teléfonos celulares
Ningunos cuchillos o destrales
Ningunos hierros que se encrespan, secadores de pelo, o aerosoles
Ningún cologne o perfume