Home > Details > Frequently Asked Questions What screening process do you use when hiring staff? All Shady Creek Outdoor School staff are subject to the same background checks as any public school employee. This includes an extensive background check including fingerprint clearance with the Department of Justice, thorough application process, interview process, and reference checks. Employees must also complete a TB test and are subject to ongoing evaluation by Shady Creek Outdoor School administration and visiting school personnel. How is the food? All meals are prepared in the Shady Creek kitchen by professional food service staff. Each meal is designed to meet standards for state and federal child nutrition programs. Meals are well balanced and students regularly comment on the high quality of the meals. Food is served family style and students have the opportunity for second and sometimes third helpings. Does the program provide health care? Each week students at Shady Creek Outdoor School are accompanied by a registered nurse. This person begins the week with a thorough review of all student health forms. The nurse also tends to any student needs regarding the dispersal of medicine, first aid, and treatment for illness (including homesickness). All Shady Creek Outdoor School staff are trained in first aid and CPR. What kind of training do Shady Creek Outdoor School staff receive? All staff receive a complete orientation on the Shady Creek Outdoor School program and are paired with a seasoned instructor/mentor during their first full year. Each staff member is also observed and evaluated on an ongoing basis by the lead credentialed teacher and credentialed administrator (Director). Is the Outdoor School experience available to all students? The Outdoor School program is open to students of all backgrounds and abilities. This includes students with disabilities of any kind. The facility is completely handicapped accessible and also includes some trails accessible by wheelchair. What is the weather like at the site? At 3,500 feet in elevation, Shady Creek Outdoor School is subject to all weather patterns ranging from hot sunny days in September to snow in the winter months. When preparing for a visit to Shady Creek Outdoor School, students should consult the local forecast and always make sure to pack warm clothing. The following link will provide information on what should be packed for a week at Shady Creek Outdoor School. Is the Outdoor School really a School? The Shady Creek Outdoor School program curriculum is aligned with California State standards for Science, Social Sciences, Language Arts, Mathematics, and other areas of study. The staff is overseen by a credentialed administrator and a credentialed lead teacher. In addition, all visits to Shady Creek Outdoor School are accompanied by credential classroom teachers from the schools themselves. All visiting schools are also provided with the Ecoquest curriculum books that provide lessons and information to tie the Shady Creek Outdoor School experience into an entire year of learning (ecoquest link). What are the facilities like? The facilities at Shady Creek Outdoor School are thoroughly modern. In fact, it can be said that they are at the level of any conference center or resort. All student housing is complete with running water electricity, showers, carpeting, bunk beds, heat, and more. The dining hall is a stunning work of architecture with a kitchen fit to serve as many as 600 people at a time. The grounds and meeting rooms are kept in top shape by a dedicate maintenance staff. (Link to pictures of the facility.) What does a typical day look like? Students at Shady Creek Outdoor School are kept busy throughout the day. All aspects of the day are treated as educational opportunities. From time spent in cabins working together, to meals in the dining hall, and morning and afternoon classes on the trails students are immersed in a rich learning environment. We also have a series of evening programs which range from night hikes to skits and songs all designed to be engaging and educationally stimulating. (sample schedule) If I want to write to my child, where do I send the mail? WHEN WRITING TO YOUR CHILD: Please use the following address when mailing letters to your child. Do not send letters or items to our Yuba City Office, they will probably not reach your child before he/she leaves the school on Friday. ADDRESS: Student Name c/o Teacher's Name, Student's School Shady Creek Outdoor School Please do not send food items, students are not allowed to have food items in their cabins.