Hiking and Trail Running in Sedona, Arizona
Students will explore the landscapes, communities, nature, and local history that defines Sedona, Arizona through camping, hiking, trail running, and researching/visiting several archaeological sites.
Outdoor Education: Students will experience challenge through camping and be responsible for cooking their own meals and keeping the site clean. While exploring Sedona's beautiful red rock scenery on the trails, we will discuss the principles of Leave No Trace and recognize indigenous peoples as the traditional stewards of the land.
Physical Education: Students will have the choice to hike or trail run each day. The hikes and runs will take the majority of our day. Our hope is that each student will challenge themselves by choosing to trail run at least once. That being said, no prior experience is necessary!
Place Based Education: We aim for students to develop a greater sense of connection to and responsibility for the community in which they are staying. This is inextricably tied to the history of the indigenous peoples who lived in Sedona. Several cliff dwellings and petroglyphs are maintained as archaeological sites, including Montezuma Castle and Montezuma Well. At least two afternoons will be dedicated to visiting these sites and reflecting on the history.
This Project Fulfills Outdoor Education Graduation Requirement.
Students should be able to run at least a mile or two prior to the project week to make the experience more enjoyable.
We will be procuring airfare in early January, so please do not make other travel arrangements for spring break until we do.
Overlake requires that on a day to be specified before departure, Overlake will administer a COVID test to all participants and leaders. To participate in the Project Week, the test must be negative, and students must be symptom-free from any illness to leave on a trip.
Participants must be willing to follow King County and destination travel COVID guidelines. If a participant should become COVID positive during the trip, the student will be isolated, and the student’s family will be required to pick up the student within 36 hours at their current location. The family will bear all the costs associated with any travel to pick up their student and any costs for isolation or return travel.
By selecting the above project, you and your family are accepting the financial responsibility for the cost of the projects. This includes any unrecoverable expenses incurred if Overlake, or any federal, state or local government forces cancelation of the project, or if you or your family decide not to attend, or your student becomes COVID positive and needs to be isolated.
Project Week (2024-25)
Mar 24, 2025 - Mar 28, 2025