Frequently Asked Student Questions:

• Is there poison oak at CODS?
There is only poison oak along the trail in the State Park. For this reason, we request that students hike in long pants. The students will learn about both helpful and harmful plants along the trail.

•Will I find REAL gold?
Eureka! There is real gold in that pay dirt, but it’s up to you to find it! We’ll give you the gold vial... good luck!

• Is there any free time?
Yes! Anywhere on the schedule you see the words “free time,” students may choose from the following options: gold panning, playground (horseshoes, basketball, jump ropes, hula-hoops), or quiet games (cards, checkers).

• Do I get to shower?
Absolutely, but only once and on the second day. At CODS students wear their swimsuits and take one minute showers. If it’s cold, we don’t recommend washing your hair.

• Will I see wild animals?
Maybe. We share our campus with many foothill critters: deer, squirrels, raccoons, frogs, foxes, snakes, hawks, just to name a few. Your best chance to see wildlife is on the journey through the State Park.

Frequently Asked Parent Questions:

•Will my child be well-supervised?
The safety and well-being of your child is our primary concern. All students are supervised on a 24-hour basis by either the Outdoor School teaching staff, classroom teachers, and/or trained Parent Counselors from your school. This allows the adult/student ratio to be 1:5 during the day and 1:8 at night. All counselors and teachers will be oriented to emergency policy and procedures upon arrival at CODS.

•What is the weather like at CODS?
The weather in the Sierra foothills is variable! During the winter months, expect chilly weather during the day and hot apple cider at night. Be prepared for anything in early spring… but by May we are usually dipping our bandannas in cold water! We suggest “layering” clothing to accommodate cool mornings and warmer afternoons.

•What happens if it rains while my child is at CODS?
We are an OUTDOOR school and try to conduct almost every part of our program, even if it rains. In case of extreme weather conditions, we will conduct station rotations with an abridged version of our journey to the State Park on day two. Please come prepared to be outside in the rain if you are traveling to Coloma in the months of: October, November, December, January, February, March or April.

May I contact my child while he/she is at CODS?
The best way to communicate with students in the Gold Rush Program is by writing! Many teachers hand out letters from home on the second night. We ask parents to prepare an 1849 letter for their “greenhorn” and give it to the classroom teacher at least one week prior to the departure date. Please do not mail letters for students directly to Coloma. Our e-mail and fax are for office use only. In case of emergency, please contact the CODS Office at (530) 621-2298 x16.

Will my child’s visit to CODS be shared with other schools?
Frequently, more than one school attends CODS at once. In these cases, schools will remain independent for the small learning groups and for sleeping accommodations. Schools will be integrated during meals, recreation periods, and the evening program. We encourage the formation of new friendships between schools, and teachers often facilitate this process by having students write “pen-pal” letters ahead of time.

Menu
Students are asked to bring a pack lunch on arrival day. Any extra or leftover items will not be allowed in the bunkhouse. All other meals are designed to be kid friendly and prepared with fresh ingredients by our Kitchen Staff. Please review the menu and inform your classroom teacher of any food allergies that might affect your child. If your child needs food different from that provided, please supply your teacher with ready-to-eat supplemental food, labeled and packaged for each meal. 

The following is a list of food products that contain allergens: Allergen List