The Sunrise Middle School Outdoor Program was formed to serve as a separate but related organization to a new charter middle school that is opening in San Jose at the end of August. The program will be designed similar to other outdoor programs that the school’s executive director has operated at her previous schools, most recently, Escuela Popular in San Jose.

Sunrise Middle School was set up to take struggling sixth through eighth grade students. Many are being referred by the San Jose school district. Others are being recruited from the nearby low-income, predominately Latino community.

The Outdoor Program will receive funds and in-kind services from the school, as well as from private, outside sources. If the program is awarded a Stewardship Council grant, that money will be directed toward the expenses of the 7th and 8th grade students, while school funds and other donations will be directed toward the expenses of the 6th grade students.

The program will fund trips for our students about twice a month. Some of these will be offered during the school day, while others will be offered after school or on weekends and will have voluntary participation. School staff, accompanied by volunteers, will lead the trips, and they will be complemented with discussion and written reflection in the classroom.

We will have ninety youth, both in the Outdoor Program and in the school. All of our youth will participate in at least several of the activities and, based on our intake interviews with prospective students, we expect that many of our students will want to sign up for the majority of the activities.

The Outdoor Program will help our students: (1) develop and awareness and appreciation of the natural world, (2) learn in a hands-on, active way, (3) improve emotional and physical health, (4) learn how to release stress, (5) increase self-confidence and self-esteem,  (6) improve cooperative and leadership skills, and (7) become good stewards of our Earth.

1149 E. Julian Street
San Jose, CA 95116
http://www.sunrisemiddle.org/

Contact Information:
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(408) 206-4779
Teresa Robinson