Outdoor School Logistics

Camp Gray has cell service, and Wi-Fi is available to adults and OMSI staff. We encourage participants to forego internet and cellphone usage during programs and meals to support the learning environment and community connection.

They may *think* they cannot survive without it. However, they should not have their phones at outdoor school. While accommodations and exceptions are welcome, an important part of the outdoor school experience is for students to gain confidence and independence, connect with their peers, and enjoy our unique opportunities without technological distractions. Digital and film cameras are encouraged, and we urge families only to send what they can replace.

The capacity of Camp Gray is 96 people. Depending on your group’s size, another group may also be onsite. The groups will primarily operate independently, sharing meal times, some restrooms, and occasional evening programs.

Each cabin has comfortable mattresses and provides a home away from home for all participants to sleep, rest, and make new friends. Each bunk room has eight beds as well as heat and outlets. The beds are twin size, and the lower bunk is ADA accessible.

There should always be adult supervision when the students are in the cabins. Group leaders are responsible for finding chaperones for the cabins. Typically, chaperones are parents/guardians from the school’s community, but some schools choose faculty or high school students instead. Small group leader rooms are next to the bunk rooms for teachers, principals, and bus drivers if needed.

Absolutely! Working from information provided by outdoor school group leaders, we build menus with healthy and delicious options for everyone.

We can accommodate mild to severe nut, egg, soy, wheat, and other food allergies. Typically, we create variations on the main meal, for example, cooking gluten-free pasta or vegetarian sausage, to provide a similar meal for our vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free participants.

Our kitchen is not allergen-free, but we clean and sanitize all surfaces and kitchen equipment to avoid cross-contamination. We’re open to inquiries and problem-solving in advance. Parents can also send food to supplement meals and snacks if they would like. We have a refrigerator and microwave available in the dining hall, and participants will always have access to their food.

Everyone will receive a free OMSI t-shirt on the final evening of their program. No camp store exists, so students don’t need to bring any money.

OMSI staff will go over emergency procedures with the groups on arrival day. Since the students are the school’s responsibility, one adult (usually the onsite group leader) is designated to be responsible for medications and all healthcare/emergency decisions. Groups must bring at least one vehicle with them for the duration of the program in case a participant needs transportation to a medical facility.

OMSI staff are trained in first aid and CPR and are available to help in an advisory capacity. Basic first aid supplies and an AED are stored in the infirmary. A land line is also available in case of emergency.

Camp Gray is located in the Oregon Coast’s earthquake and tsunami hazard zone. On arrival day, OMSI staff will lead a walk up to our local vertical evacuation point to practice evacuation and share how our community is preparing and building resilience for the next Cascadia Subduction event.