Mission
Our mission is to introduce experiential education & science to young people by providing progressive learning experiences that extend far beyond classroom walls. Through our innovative curriculum and professional staff, students will experience the thrill of touching, seeing and learning about the world around them. At Pali Institute, we bring textbooks to life.
School Goals
Individuals who attend Pali will express...
- Increased Understanding of Relevant Science Concepts Pali Institute's hands-on, experiential learning techniques will help students to retain science concepts relevant to California state science content standards.
- Increased Awareness of Personal Growth Students who participate in leadership and teambuilding courses will express an increase in self-confidence, connectedness and communication with their classmates.
- Increased Awareness of Group Dynamics Group dynamics will be influenced in a positive and constructive manner and long-term differences will be noted amongst teachers, parents and the students themselves.
- Preparedness and Confidence in our Program. Students, teachers, and parents will feel adequately informed and will enjoy and think highly of the program and we will continue to meet all other standards applicable for a residential and experiential program (Association for Experiential Education standards, challenge course standards).
Location
Pali Institute, located in the San Bernardino Mountains, near Lake Arrowhead, is within 90 minutes of Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego Counties, and 3.5 hours from Las Vegas. Click here for map and directions.
Accreditation
Pali Institute is a leader in outdoor education with accreditations from two major associations. Pali is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), and adheres to more than one hundred professional standards and guidelines. Pali Institute is the only outdoor education program accredited by WASC. Pali Institute is also accredited by the Association for Experiential Education (AEE), which means we adhere to an experiential model of learning. Pali Institute maintains strict standards for education, program governance and operations management.
Staff
Our highly-trained staff provides around the clock supervision and instruction in all areas of Outdoor Education, Science and Leadership. Our instructors possess a variety of science degrees and teaching credentials. In addition, we also have a full-time nurse (R.N./L.V.N.) living on-site, 24/7. With the Pali Institute team in place, your students are guaranteed to have a blast discovering the wonders of experiential education. Click here to meet our staff.
Curriculum
At Pali Institute we offer a customized program to suit your school's requirements. Educators can choose a three to five-day program and then select from our 30+ class modules, which are divided into three categories: Outdoor Education, Science and Leadership. We are confident that our innovative curriculum will captivate your students; they will not even realize how much they are learning! A full-day schedule at Pali Institute consists of five modules, each 90 minutes in length. Some modules can be selected as a double sessions (180 minutes) for a more in-depth learning experience.
Accommodations
Our authentic cabin environment accommodates up to 400 guests, with each cabin housing up to fifteen students and one Pali Institute instructor. Students sleep in cabins featuring solid wood built-in bunks, radiant floor heating, full bathroom and shower facilities, and last, but not least, an unlimited supply of pure Pali Mountain spring water. Visiting teachers stay in our semi-private accommodations with access to a teacher's lounge complete with computers, Wi-Fi access and satellite television.
California Weather
We are prepared for all types of weather at Pali Institute. As an outdoor education program, the majority of our programming will be outdoors. Throughout the season the temperatures drop at night, so whenever your group is coming, be prepared for chilly temperatures with long pants and a sweatshirt or jacket. The snowy season can begin as early as November - so boots, beanies, jackets and lots of socks are a must. The ground is snowy January through March, with the potential for fresh snowfall. We keep on top of the weather forecasts and road conditions, so if we encounter snow on a travel day we will work with your school administration to keep them updated of all conditions. We are located off the largest roads in the mountains and snow control is excellent along those highways. Any time that weather is a factor, we work with schools to change programming activities and schedules for the best and safest trip we can provide for your children.