Camp Tamarack
Camp Tamarack is nestled in the heart of Central Oregon, near the town of Sisters, amid the stunning natural beauty of the Deschutes National Forest. It’s surrounded by towering pine trees, pristine lakes, and majestic mountain peaks.
Camp Tamarack provides an emphasis on environmental education and sustainability, making it an ideal venue for Outdoor School. Students learn about the natural world through hands-on experiences and interactive lessons, fostering a deeper appreciation for the environment. It’s a special place where campers can learn and grow while creating memories to last a lifetime.
More About Tamarack
Student leaders get their first chance to be teachers, to be mentors, to have someone tell them that they are capable of teaching and being a leader. Sometimes high schoolers have never been told that.— Lauren “Otter” Rodgers, Director, Camp Tamarack
Student Leaders
Outdoor School ignites and inspires 5th and 6th graders across Oregon. But the ripples of its positive impact are felt far beyond those years. It’s fair to say that Outdoor School would be nearly impossible without the participation of high school students who come back in the role of student leaders.
Participating gives older students a chance to develop leadership skills, empathy, and patience while gaining an even deeper understanding of the curriculum. Outdoor School has the power to change lives. For high school students, it has the potential to change lives twice.
Learning Through Doing
Let’s Get Physical
Learning and playing outdoors allows kids to absorb information in real-world environments — something that can only be imaged in a traditional classroom setting.
Learning in Nature’s Laboratory
The primary focus of Outdoor School at Camp Tamarack is learning about the local ecology — plants, water, and fire. The camp’s location enables hands-on lessons to teach these concepts in a way designed to imprint on students’ memories. It’s learning by doing, rather than by studying a text and trying to memorize facts for a test.
Bringing the Fun
While Outdoor School centers important environmental lessons, there’s plenty of old-fashioned fun too! Camp Tamarack’s facilities include rustic cabins, a dining hall, a waterfront area with canoes and kayaks, a ropes course, and various sports fields and courts. Campers can participate in activities such as hiking, archery, arts and crafts, and team-building exercises. It’s often difficult to tell where learning ends and play begins — and that’s a good thing.
A Magical Place for Making Memories
Memories made at Outdoor School can last a lifetime. This is certainly true at Camp Tamarack, as well as the many other camps that host Outdoor School programs in Oregon. While Camp Tamarack offers the perfect proximity for Central Oregon schools, other schools take a variety of approaches to their programs. Some stay close to home so they can operate as day camps. Many travel to OMSI-hosted camps to take advantage of their unique programs. Some schools in the Eastern Oregon use camps on the Oregon coast, enabling many students to see the ocean for the very first time. Regardless of venue, Outdoor School delivers unforgettable memories!
Oregon Lottery + Outdoor School
What A Team
For decades, Oregon has prioritized the importance of hands-on learning by getting students outside to explore environmental and natural sciences amid the natural beauty of our state. When Oregonians voted to allot 4% of Lottery revenue to support Outdoor School programs, the Oregon State University Extension Service was tasked with facilitating the program throughout the state. The Extension Service is historically immersed in all things “Oregon outdoors,” making it uniquely qualified to administer the new funding.
Thanks to their efforts and the revenue made possible by your lottery play (thank you!), more Oregon schools than ever are able to support traditional curriculum with an overnight camp experience — and the number is growing.
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