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NARRATOR: Nestled in the gorgeous Sierra Nevada Mountains amidst towering pines and wandering creeks lies a school where students embrace scientific learning and hands-on discovery in a pristine setting.

Sly Park Environmental Education Center welcomes thousands of children each year. These students get first hand knowledge in a wealth of subjects, from astronomy… to natural science… to geology… and more.

For many students this is their first taste of education outside of a classroom. Sly Park makes the words and pictures of textbooks come alive. The natural world bristles with new energy. Mother Nature teems with life. And teachers tell us that children who participate in the Sly Park experience really do perform better academically and socially.

STUDENT: "I understand a lot of things about science better now. It made all the stuff in my books jump off the page."

NARRATOR: Sly Park is not just a camp for kids but a certified school. Part of SCOE -- the Sacramento County Office of Education - Sly Park has its own principal, administrators, and dedicated teaching staff.

The curriculum at Sly Park is based upon the science standards for 5th and 6th grades. So visiting teachers can relax knowing that the California Science Framework guidelines are being met during the week.

VISTING TEACHER: "At our school we're limited in what we can do with the science curriculum. Reading, writing and math are OK for the classroom. But to teach science in a way that is meaningful to students you need that real world, hands-on learning. So for teachers like me Sly Park is an integral part of the learning experience."

NARRATOR: Sly Park teachers complete the same California credentialing process as the students' classroom teachers. They're committed to scientific study and environmental education. They bring their love of the outdoors to Sly Park each and every day.

SLY PARK TEACHER: "Each week we get a whole school full of new students so it's always fun around here. We don't do any teaching 'from a script.' Each of the classes and hikes is just as interesting to us as it is to the students."

NARRATOR: Students observe geological cycles by scenic lake beds… study plant and animal survival… apply the concept of thermal energy while making shelters… observe weather patterns. Days are packed with a vast array of scientific concepts. Many explore the important role humans have on the environment. It's here that students experience that they are part of Nature rather than separate from it.

These and many other California standards are met during the week, which is filled with lively activities that electrify students' minds.

STUDENT: Learning is so much easier when it's fun. And Sly Park is so much fun!

NARRATOR: Students live in comfortable cabins tucked away in the forest under starry skies. Parent chaperones supervise all students after class and in their cabins… and join in the laughter and spirited conversation.

Visiting teachers live in their own dormitory separate from the students.

VISITING TEACHER: It's my favorite week of the year because we know the students are learning from people who love science and the environment and know it so well."

NARRATOR: Most important for parents, of course, is safety. Sly Park has a spotless safety record since it opened in 1970. Students pair up in two's and travel everywhere together. An intercom system links each cabin to a Sly Park administrator 24 hours a day. And your own teachers are always on site should an emergency arise.

PARENT: "Honestly, I was pretty worried about my daughter up there out in the woods for the first time. So I spent a day at Sly Park to make sure. It was so safe, and so much fun. I wish she could repeat 5th grade just to go to Sly Park again. A great experience."

NARRATOR: For many the natural world is something completely new. Here, a bond is formed between all students and the environment. They see the cycles of nature, how humankind is one part of a much bigger picture, and experience for themselves the interdependence of all living things.

These insights are crucial since - soon - parents will be handing over stewardship of the planet to each one of them.

TEACHER: "When we got back in the classroom I could tell the students had significantly grown. They had a deeper appreciation for the environment and the worth of those around them."

NARRATOR: Also gained is a new respect for other cultures, especially through our Native American Interpretive Center. As students explore the center they investigate cultural artifacts, use grinding rocks, and view the stars the way the original Americans saw them.

Besides a new relationship with Nature, students also form new social bonds. Being away from home helps them develop a degree of independence and teaches them important new socialization skills as they approach adolescence. Students mix with others from different ethnic backgrounds. And they even get to see their teachers in a new, relaxed environment, which strengthens their relationship back in the classroom.

STUDENT: "Mr. Simmons was just a teacher before we went to Sly Park. But he was totally cool when we came back. And I made some new friends with my classmates that I wouldn't have made here in school."

NARRATOR: Multiculturalism is a key component of the Sly Park experience. So is breaking down ethnic barriers. Ensuring that all students have the opportunity to visit Sly Park is one of our primary goals - "no child will be left behind." We pride ourselves on a long history of inclusion. At Sly Park all students are united in the natural world.

PARENT: "We don't spend a lot of time outdoors so I not see why spending time out in the woods was so important. But I think everyone, no matter what culture, benefits from spending time in Nature."

NARRATOR: Sly Park is a unique, once-in-a-lifetime experience. It's the one place students flock to year after year to…

… learn from snakes, iguanas, mice, rabbits, turkey vultures and red tail hawks….

… pan for real gold at the river's edge and learn about the significant impact the Gold Rush had on California's environment…

… study ethnobotany - plants and their ancient uses…

… learn to silk screen their own t-shirts…

… hike during the day…

… and night…

… Safely scale a climbing wall…

… and perform skits in front of an appreciative audience…

SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR / SUPERVISOR: "The school does two things marvelously. It teaches children science in a real world setting. You can't get that in a classroom. And it gives them a respect for nature. You can only get that being there. For many students Sly Park is the most vivid memory of their school years. You can't replace that."

STUDENT: "I'll never forget Sly Park for the rest of my life."

(Video produced by Swing Media.)