Why We Do Spring Trips at Foothills
At Foothills, Spring Trips are more than just a break from the classroom—they’re an essential extension of how we believe children learn best: through meaningful experiences, authentic exploration, and connection with the world around them.
From the Idaho Botanical Garden to the shores of Belize, these journeys offer students opportunities to engage deeply with science, culture, community, and themselves. Whether it’s a first overnight adventure at YMCA Horsethief Camp or navigating a new city like Portland, students aren’t just observing—they’re participating. They’re learning how to care for themselves (yes, even keeping track of that passport or packing list!), how to collaborate with peers in unfamiliar settings, and how to adapt with curiosity and confidence.
Spring Trips create the kind of learning that stays with you—a balance of academic discovery and life experience. These are the moments where a student realizes they can navigate a tidepool, a city block, or a group challenge without immediate adult direction. Where they feel the joy of helping their community by remembering the itinerary, or simply by showing kindness on a long bus ride.
We do Spring Trips because they build core memories—the kind that shape independent, thoughtful, and compassionate learners. They remind students that the world is bigger than the classroom, but also that they have the tools, agency, and support to find their place within it.
At every age, from Kindergarten explorations to international experiences in 9th grade, these trips reflect what Foothills stands for: purposeful learning, self-discovery, and the understanding that we grow not just by what we know—but by how we engage with the world and each other.