Student & Family Resources

Find everything you need to prepare for your Outdoor School trip, including guides, packing lists, forms, and answers to common questions.

Parent & Guardian Information
Packing List
Contact & Directions
View Campus Map
Where Students Sleep
What Students Eat
Student Safety & Supervision
FAQs

What is Outdoor School?

Eagle Bluff’s Outdoor School is an accredited educational program that brings classroom learning to life through hands-on experiences in the outdoors. Led by licensed educators and highly trained naturalists, students engage in curriculum-connected lessons while developing important life skills such as teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and leadership.

Outdoor School is an extension of your school’s curriculum, combining experiential academic learning with life-skill building. By learning and living together in a residential setting, students strengthen relationships, gain new perspectives, and develop a deeper understanding of themselves, their peers, and the natural world.

Lodging, Meals, Safety & Communication

Dormitory

While approximately 75% of the K–12 Overnight experience takes place outdoors, students return each day to Eagle Bluff’s climate-controlled dormitory, featuring comfortable rooms for up to eight students, along with cubby storage, a bathroom, shower, double sink, and nightlight. Learn more about lodging in the sections below.

Students stay in shared dormitory-style rooms with their classmates and chaperones. Each room sleeps up to eight students. Rooms assignments are made by your teacher before your visit and separated by gender.

The dormitory is climate controlled for year-round comfort.

Each dorm room includes:
  • Four bunk beds
  • Large cubby storage for personal belongings
  • Private bathroom and shower
  • Nightlight

Accessible rooms are available to support a variety of mobility needs.

Don’t forget to bring a sleeping bag or blanket, and be sure to review your packing list before your trip.

Learn More

The dormitory includes comfortable gathering spaces, lounge areas, wireless internet access, and accessible accommodations. Shared common areas provide space for group meetings, reflection, and community building during the Outdoor School experience.

View Accessibility Info

Students should bring a sleeping bag or bedding, pillow, towel, toiletries, and personal items listed on the packing list provided by their school. Be sure to label belongings and pack for the season and weather conditions.

Please leave phones, tablets, and other electronics at home so you can fully enjoy the outdoor experience.

View Packing List

Dining Hall

Healthy meals help students stay energized, focused, and ready to learn. Our nut-free dining hall serves fresh, balanced meals and can accommodate most medically necessary dietary needs. Explore the sections below to learn more.

Meals are served cafeteria-style and include a main entrée, side dishes, a salad bar, and fresh fruit at lunch and dinner. Breakfast includes a hot entrée, side dish, cereal, and fresh fruit.

Some menu favorites include:

  • Pizza
  • Chicken nuggets
  • Tacos
  • And other delicious options

If you have dietary restrictions, food allergies, or special meal needs, let your teacher or Eagle Bluff liaison know before your trip so we can prepare appropriate meals.

You may also have the opportunity to participate in KP (Kitchen Party), helping your group clean up after meals.

Learn More

Eagle Bluff is a nut-free facility, and our kitchen team can accommodate most medically necessary dietary needs and food allergies.


To ensure we can safely meet dietary needs, all medically diagnosed allergies, intolerances, and special dietary requirements must be communicated before your visit. Please notify your lead teacher or group leader of any life-threatening allergies, dietary restrictions, or requests for vegetarian or vegan meals so this information can be shared with Eagle Bluff in advance.

Questions about food service operations or dietary accommodations can be directed to foodservice@eaglebluffmn.org.

Some classes may include optional food tastings or activities involving food. Instructors communicate major allergens before these activities, and participation is always optional.


If a student has an airborne or contact allergy, please notify your school and Eagle Bluff before arrival so appropriate accommodations can be made.

Safety & Supervision

Student safety is our highest priority. From trained staff and chaperone supervision to secure facilities and emergency preparedness, Eagle Bluff works closely with schools to create a safe and supportive learning environment.

All Eagle Bluff instructors are over 21 years of age, undergo background checks, and are held to the highest professional standards.

Staff receive ongoing training in outdoor education, risk management, and student engagement.

Eagle Bluff staff are also certified in First Aid and CPR, and all program equipment is regularly inspected and maintained.

Students are supervised by their teachers and chaperones throughout their visit. Eagle Bluff requires a minimum chaperone-to-student ratio of 1:10, and supervision is expected during classes, meals, evening activities, free time, and in the dormitory.

Eagle Bluff staff lead educational programs and activities while partnering with school staff and chaperones to ensure students remain safe and supported throughout their stay.

Eagle Bluff maintains a First Aid room equipped with medical supplies and an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). While Eagle Bluff does not provide a school nurse, staff are trained in First Aid and CPR and are prepared to respond to emergencies.


Schools are responsible for administering student medications and should ensure all necessary prescription and as-needed medications—such as inhalers, nebulizers, or epinephrine auto-injectors—are brought to camp.

In the event of an emergency, local ambulance services can typically reach Eagle Bluff within approximately 10 minutes, with advanced medical care available through Mayo Clinic in Rochester.

Student overnight accommodations are designed with safety in mind. The dormitory entrance is secured with keypad access, and exterior doors are locked overnight. Each school receives a unique access code to help ensure only authorized individuals can enter the building.

All Eagle Bluff staff wear identification badges, and teachers and chaperones are encouraged to wear school-issued identification while on campus.

Outdoor learning is a core part of the Eagle Bluff experience, with approximately 75% of programming taking place outdoors. Staff continuously monitor weather conditions and adjust activities as needed to ensure student safety and comfort.

During cold weather, factors such as temperature, wind chill, student preparedness, and clothing are considered when determining appropriate outdoor activity levels. When conditions require, instructors utilize indoor learning spaces and alternative activities to maintain a meaningful educational experience.

If air temperatures or wind chills drop below -20°F, we may limit time spent outdoors based on National Weather Service frostbite risk recommendations. In these situations, instructors adapt programming with engaging indoor activities and lessons, ensuring students continue learning while staying safe and comfortable.

What to Wear in Cold Weather →

Contacting Students

Outdoor School is designed to help students disconnect from screens and connect with nature, their classmates, and new experiences. For this reason, students are not permitted to use cell phones unless authorized by their coordinating teacher. We recommend leaving phones and other electronic devices at home. If you need to contact your student during their stay, please review the options below.

Main Office: (507) 467-2437

Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Messages left before 9:00 p.m. will typically be delivered that evening.

Messages received after 9:00 p.m. will be delivered the following morning.

Please note that students, teachers, and staff may be participating in classes or activities when you call. We will do our best to deliver messages as quickly as possible.

Letters and packages may be sent to:

Student Name & School
c/o Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center
28097 Goodview Drive
Lanesboro, MN 55949

Mail is typically distributed during dinner each evening. Because of our rural location, we recommend mailing items at least two days before your student’s trip. Please do not send candy, food, or items listed on the “Do Not Bring” list.

After office hours, our voicemail system provides an on-site emergency contact number.

If you must immediately contact a student or visitor during the night, call our number at (507) 467-2928 and explain your emergency.

As a final option, you may also contact the Fillmore County Sheriff’s Department at (507) 765-3874. They will notify Eagle Bluff staff directly and see that your message is delivered promptly.

Our staff is available around the clock while school groups are on campus, ensuring students remain safe, supported, and connected when needed.

What You Get to Do at Eagle Bluff

Check out the videos below to see some of the experiences you may have during your trip:

Overnight Trip Sneak Peek
Treetops High Ropes Sneak Peek
Animal Signs Sneak Peek

What Teachers Are Saying

Hear firsthand how Eagle Bluff helps students grow, connect, and discover the world around them.

“We do an Eagle Bluff trip every year. It’s a really, really, really good community building tool. It’s what [students] talk about the second they enter the classroom.”

Melissa Johnson

Teacher, La Crescent Montessori

“By the end of the trip, he had pure joy in his eyes. He completely opened up compared to at school.”

Andrew Markert

Teacher, St Francis of Assisi School

“My favorite part of our Eagle Bluff trips is being a dork with a kids in the woods. It’s a chance for us to just have a lot of fun together.”

Anders Lundahl

Teacher, DaVinci Academy

Minnesota K–12 Education Subtraction and Credit

Minnesota offers an education subtraction and credit for families whose children participate in out-of-school enrichment programs. Eagle Bluff’s Outdoor School program qualifies as an eligible out-of-school enrichment program.

Eagle Bluff qualifies as one of these programs. The guidelines, qualifications, and restrictions can be found at the Minnesota Department of Revenue website, or by phone at 800-652-9094.

Only instructional costs qualify. Room, board, and transportation expenses are not eligible.

Instructional costs for the current school year:

  • 3-Day Program: $52.64
  • 4-Day Program: $72.85
  • 5-Day Program: $91.18

Please consult the Minnesota Department of Revenue or your tax professional for current eligibility requirements.