White Pines Ranch

White Pines Ranch, a real working ranch, is located in Oregon, Illinois. To assist the staff at the ranch, 5-6 teachers from Oak Prairie School and approximately 10-12 parents will attend the trip this year.

While at White Pines, students will have an opportunity to learn about things that would be impossible to teach in the classroom or on the school grounds. Some of the activities that are taught at White Pines include Wilderness Survival, Horsemanship, Field Study, Project Wild, Initiative Task, Orienteering, and Cemetery Study. The students will also develop social skills and a greater appreciation for their environment. White Pines’ unique natural features, educational activities, and qualified instructional staff provide the basis for a quality outdoor/environmental education experience. In addition, White Pines offers comfortable accommodations and hearty home-cooked meals. The White Pines Outdoor Education program is designed to compliment the school curriculum.

Features include:

•Ordovician dolomite quarry with six varieties of fossils

•Ordovician sandstone canyon

•Natural springs, erosion banks, oxbows, etc.

•Fields of natural vegetation

•Prairie plants, Illinois spring flowers, deciduous and evergreen trees

•Abundant wildlife

•125 year old cemetery for interdisciplinary studies

•Cross-country skiing. Equipment and lessons provided (weather permitting)