The California Outdoor Schools Association (COSA) was established in 1978 as a membership organization for outdoor school principals, directors, and county office personnel who have the unique experience and expertise to accurately assess the quality of an outdoor program and its facilities. Committed to finding ways to make the outdoor school experience available to all students, COSA utilizes their Residential Outdoor Science School (ROSS) certification process to ensure a high quality academic, safe, and appropriate learning environment for fourth through seventh grade students served in California’s Outdoor Schools. COSA is dedicated to ensuring that all students in California have the opportunity to participate in an outdoor school experience as delineated in California Education Code Sections 8760–8774.
Link to California Outdoor School Association website with California Department of Education
Foothill Horizons is a California Outdoor School Association (COSA) certified residential outdoor school, summer camp, and site rental facility. Over 9,000 participants every year enjoy their time in nature, connect with one another, and have the experience of a lifetime amidst the 143 acres of forest in the foothills of the central Sierra! We are owned and operated by the Stanislaus County Office of Education.
Annually we serve approximately:
80 schools, representing just over 20 school districts
Serve just under 8,000 students annual through overnight and day outdoor education programs and summer camp
6,000 sixth grade students, 90% low income students,
500 day students, 600 summer camp kids,
700 high school volunteer leaders
382 classroom teachers
Average student at Foothill walks 14,000 steps per day
We make over 12,000 cinnamon rolls each year
Aansh Singh, 6th grade student: "That there is nature and science everywhere you go. The Me-Wuk are alive. And how we make a difference from recycling or reusing."
Sylvia Lee, 6th grade student: "The most meaningful part of my Outdoor Education experience was learning about how all our motives and actions can impact and change everything on our Earth. This is important to me because it teaches us all that even though you do the smallest thing, like picking up littered trash that you find, this can help our world little by little."
Maddilyn Baker, 6th grade student: "The most meaningful part of outdoor ed is the counselors. They were very understanding, helpful, kind, very inspiring, and funny."
Volunteer counselor quote: “I didn’t know I was capable of doing all this!”
Volunteer counselor quote: “It was so cool to see people from such different backgrounds and different families and schools work so well together, become friends and help each other.”
Melissa Menses, teacher: "The positive and engaging atmosphere at Foothill is inspiring to students and encourages self challenges where they gain confidence, knowledge and life long skills."
