NEWS + EVENTS AT RECESS

See what’s happening now—and explore some of the adventures, projects, field experiences, and moments that have shaped Recess over the years.

Upcoming at Recess

Check Out Our 2026-2027 Family Field Trips

Join Recess families for hands-on adventures, outdoor exploration, and memorable learning experiences throughout the Oregon Coast and beyond. Family Field Trips are a fun way to explore together, meet our school community, and experience Recess beyond the classroom.

Learn More about Family Field Trips

Now Enrolling 2026-2027

🌱 Part Time + Full Time Preschool

🌲Elementary + Homeschool

🪼Before & After School Academic Enrichment +Extended Care

From the Recess Archives

There’s a lot of Recess history to explore. Take a look back at some of our favorite adventures, projects, community experiences, and special events from years past.

2026 Summer Camp

All 2026 Summer Camps are FULL. Please check back in 2027 or Email OregonRecess@gmail.com to be added to the waitlist.

2026 Summer Camp Registration is Closed. Thanks for a FUN Summer!

Earth Day Planting Event – Friday, April 24, 2026

As part of our NOAA Ocean Guardian School work, Recess students and families came together for an Earth Day planting event focused on environmental stewardship and caring for our local community. Children planted, dug, learned about healthy ecosystems, and took part in hands-on conservation work that connected classroom learning with meaningful action.

Join us on the Western Flyer! | May 18, 2026

Recess students and families had the opportunity to tour the Western Flyer and take part in hands-on science activities connected to marine research, exploration, and life on the Oregon Coast. The experience gave students a closer look at how scientists study the ocean while bringing science, history, and curiosity together in a memorable way.

Past Library Programs

Over the years, Recess has partnered with local libraries to bring hands-on learning, creativity, science, and plenty of fun into community spaces. From interactive bubble programs and science activities to special events for children and families, these programs gave us another way to connect with the community and make learning memorable.

We loved watching libraries become places to experiment, explore, create, laugh, and discover together.

One of our favorite library programs was BUBBLES!!! + Interactive Storytelling

 

Friday, July 19, 2024

10:00 a.m. – Yachats Library Summer Program. *Meet Near the Yachats Commons Pavillon

Wednesday, July 24, 2024

The 2024 Library Summer Reading Program Theme is READ, RENEW, REPEAT

BIG BUBBLE FUN: Kids Zone at Waldport Beachcomber Days

We had a great time hosting an interactive bubble station with lots of giant, joyful bubbles in the Kids Zone near the Waldport Post Office during the Waldport Beachcomber Days celebration on June 15, 2024.

It was such a fun way to connect with local families and be part of the community festivities after the parade.

MidCoast Watersheds Council Volunteer Day to Host Community Including Local NOAA Ocean Guardian School Students |April 26, 2024

With support from NOAA’s Ocean Guardian School program, Recess Outdoor Adventure School students and their families will partner with MidCoast Watersheds Council and Cape Perpetua Collaborative to Celebrate Earth Day by propagating and planting native trees at Beaver Creek Nursery.

Lincoln County is home to many diverse types of wildlife that depend on healthy watersheds to thrive. Through their Ocean Guardian School project, students from Recess Outdoor Adventure School have studied local plants and trees and are now helping plant them throughout Lincoln County.

As part of this project, students will partner with MidCoast Watersheds Council to help propagate and plant native plants and trees during MidCoast’s monthly volunteer work party on Friday, April 26 at the Beaver Creek Nursery. The volunteer event runs from 9 am – 1 pm. However, students will be on site with their families from 9:00-10:30 am. The public is invited to join us.

Lead Elementary Teacher, McKenzie Purdom congratulated students on their ocean stewardship efforts. “We’re so excited to be designated a NOAA Ocean Guardian School,” Purdom said. “Students are teaching us about our local watersheds and restoring habitat for our local animals, such as butterflies, elk, and salmon.”

This is MidCoast’s second time in hosting a planting with Recess. In 2022, they planted over 300 native species at OMSI’s Camp Gray in South Beach. This year, Recess students participated in multiple planting events including planting violets for the Silverspot Butterfly with U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service at Yaquina Head and Pacific willows at Sitka Springs Farm.

Students look forward to inviting the public to this Earth Day planting event with MidCoast. Otis L., a 5th grader at Recess, is very excited about this project, “I look forward to planting because it will benefit many types of wildlife.”  Wesley B., a 3rd grader at Recess concurred, “Turtles are my favorite animal. I am excited to plant trees to help our local turtles.”

“We rely on a hearty group of volunteers and work with student groups to get our work done” Evan Hayduk, MCWC Executive Director says. “We’ve found those little hands are especially good at our weeding work at the nursery, and for transplanting native plants.”

“It is amazing to see the youth so engaged and involved in the community and local conservation practices,” Katy Bear Nalven adds, program manager for Cape Perpetua Collaborative.

Natalie Dulansky, MCWC Communication and Outreach Specialist added: “We’re especially excited for these students to plant out plants that they have propagated on their own, seeing that full process, starting from a seed or seedling, and putting it out on a project is rewarding. Years from now these kids can drive by the project site and see their good work growing up!”

Members of our community are encouraged to join us. Every volunteer contributes to increasing the quantity of native plants that MidCoast propagates, harvests, and plants annually for watershed restoration. Dressing for the weather, including muck boots, is encouraged. Email natalie@midcoastwc.org to RSVP. We hope to see you there!

 

 

 

The MidCoast Watersheds Council is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, with a staff of four and an active board that works with private landowners and agencies to improve the health of watersheds on Oregon’s Central Coast. The MCWC and our partners complete watershed restoration projects in an area of 928,000 acres along the Oregon Coast, so that streams produce cleaner water, helping salmon populations rebound, which in turn supports a healthy coastal ecosystem and economy. From Cascade Head to Heceta Head, MCWC takes a scientific and consensus driven approach to restoring fish passage and habitat connectivity, enhancing stream complexity, and making our watersheds better for both people and all the fish and wildlife species. https://www.midcoastwatersheds.org

The Cape Perpetua Collaborative is a local, community organization dedicated to local stewardship and conservation of the protected lands and waters near the Cape Perpetua Area. The Cape Perpetua Collaborative welcomes all to join us during our events including, tidepool tours, guided walks, stargazing and other community events. Find out more at CapePerpetuaCollaborative.org

Recess Outdoor Adventure School hosts year round outdoor classes and camps in Newport, Oregon for ages 2 & up. Learning is expanded through play, hands on experiences, and fun adventures. Recess is in its 3rd year of the NOAA Ocean Guardian School program. Students have completed multiple beach cleanups, removed invasive ivy from local trees, and participated in numerous native plantings. They are the next generation of outdoor enthusiasts. Connect with Recess on Facebook or online at www.RecessOutdoorAdventures.com

The Ocean Guardian School program awards small grants to K-12 schools to carry out hands-on stewardship projects that help to protect the health of local watersheds, our global ocean and special ocean areas such as national marine sanctuaries. To read more about NOAA’s Ocean Guardian School program, please visit https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/education/ocean_guardian/

Recess student holds violets during a planting event for the Silverspot Butterfly in October 2023.

Elementary students stand proud around the Meadow Restoration sign where they helped plant violets for the Silverspot Butterfly during a cold October storm.

Recess Toddler & her dad plant native plants for butterflies and elk in 2022.

Kids Playing Outdoors

From the beginning, Recess has believed that children need meaningful time outdoors to play, explore, move, imagine, and connect with the world around them. Outdoor play has always been an important part of the Recess experience—and still is today.

 

 

Toddlers on the Trail!

Toddlers on the Trail was one of Recess’s early childhood programs designed to help young children and their families explore the outdoors together through simple adventures, nature play, and hands-on discovery.

Today, families with young children are encouraged to join us through our Family Field Trips, where they can explore, learn, and adventure together while also getting to know current Recess families and our school community.

A New Chapter in Newport | May 2021

Recess’s return after COVID marked a meaningful new chapter for our school. We were excited to welcome children back to in-person learning, outdoor exploration, and shared adventures in NEWPORT, OR while continuing to grow the hands-on, relationship-centered experiences that define Recess.

Bubble Shows for the Recess Scholarship Fund | 2018

In 2018, Recess announced community bubble shows as a fun way to bring families together while helping support our scholarship fund. These events combined giant bubbles, laughter, and community connection while raising funds to help make Recess programs more accessible to local children and families.

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