Campaign Information

Key Experiences at Great River School are core elements of our curriculum, provided for free to all our 3rd-12th grade students.  Find your favorite trip and consider donating in any of the amounts below, or doubling your donation to further support this integral part of our curriculum.  Financial support will keep our program accessible and robust for years to come!

Eagle Bluff Camp - The 3rd Grade Key Experience

• Our oldest Lower Elementary learners start with an overnight trip to Eagle Bluff.  This is a celebration of their transition to Upper Elementary and an introduction to Key Experiences.
• The average cost is $175 per student.

Camp Widjiwagan - The 4th-6th Grade Key Experience

• 4th-6th graders participate in their first week-long trip in the Fall.  There they practice all the skills to be successful on later trips: camping, hiking, working in community, and sleeping away from home.
• The average cost per student is $375.

The Odyssey, Theater Intensive, and the Bike Trip - The 7th-8th Key Experiences

Becoming an adult is a complex process that begins in adolescence.  GRS key experiences support our students need for independence and create a strong foundation between students, staff, and peers:

• The Odyssey starts the school year with a week-long road trip heading to the North Shore and Iron Range. Students spend time in Duluth, Gooseberry Falls, and visit the Soudan Mine.
• The Theater Intensive provides a group worthy task where students practice academic, professional, and performance skills through the arts, bringing joy to our community.
• The Bike trip has students and staff bike in community for 100 miles, giving our adolescents a physical accomplishment to end their school year.
• The average cost is $750 per student.

The Farm - The 9th Grade Key Experience

• The 9th graders spend a week on a working farm in Western Wisconsin, reconnecting with the land. Students will learn about the land, work the land, and ponder our connection to it.
• The average cost is $365 per student.

Itasca State Park - The 10th Grade Fall Key Experience

• The 10th grade takes a journey to “Minnesota’s Own Resort,” Itasca State Park. Students will be exploring the park and hunting for the true source of the Mississippi (is it really Lake Itasca?), a parable for  discovering their own true headwaters as they begin to think about their futures.
• The average cost is $250 per student.

The Northstar Quest- The 11th Grade Key Experience

• Each student will visit four colleges or universities in the Minnesota/Wisconsin area. This year the “NSTQ” takes us south to the Driftless Region of MN and WI. Students will visit a community college and tech school in the cities before heading south to Carleton and St. Olaf. Then the trip heads to WI for Thoreau College and the Driftless Folk School. The trip wraps up with a visit to Winona State.
• The average cost is $350 per student.

The Canoe Trip- The 12th Grade Key Experience

• The 12th graders take to canoes again for another paddle along the Namekagon River. This meandering river is a perfect place for students to hone their skills and enjoy  beautiful scenery before they delve into their final year at Great River School. Students will camp along the river, reconnect with their peers, and think about preparing for the next chapters of their development.
• The average cost is $250 per student.

Campaign photos