Banff Mountain Film Festival:
10 students have the opportunity to attend the Banff Mountain Film Festival Tuesday, April 26th 2011 for FREE Courtesy of the VCS Outdoor Club. If you are interested sign up with Ms. Gapp by April 4th (this is the date tickets go on sale).
The show will be at The Bagdad Theatre 3702 Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard Portland, OR 97214
 Doors open at 6pm Show starts at 7pm. Carpool from Valley at 5pm. We’ll grab a bite to eat along Hawthorne before the show.

·      Rock Climbing @ Stoneworks
After School in May, dates TBA
Overnight at Smith Rock: Memorial Day Weekend

·      Guler Ice Caves:
Monday May 30th (Memorial Day), or Saturday, June 11th

·      Hike in the Gorge: Saturday May 14th
Location and Departure TBA

·      Spring Surfing with Swim Team Coaches:   
Mandatory Informational Meeting – Wednesday June 1st 6:30pm Meeting in HS classroom TBA
Surf Trip- Sunday June 5th

COMING THIS FALL 2011
·      69th Annual Roy Webster Cross Channel Swim:
September 5th 2011

Jump from a Sternwheeler into the mighty Columbia (on the Washington side) and swim with the current the 1.1 miles back to the Oregon shore. $60 registration fee.

Mt. Hood Meadows X-Country Ski Trip ~ Saturday, February 5th 2011
Return Transportation Waiver no later than Thursday, February 3rd 2011
Meet at the Park & Ride: 10500 SW Butner Rd Beaverton, OR
Bus leaves at 7:05am and returns aprox. 6-6:15pm
Cost $35 for transportation—we’ll be riding public transit NOT a VCS vehicle. YOU must reserve a spot on the shuttle, by following instructions on this link.
Equipment is your responsibility. Rentals available at Meadows.
Rentals on the Mountain

Ms. Gapp will be leading the group in Nordic Skiing. (No snowshoe trails at Meadows) Our activities will be restricted to the Nordic Center.


Note: Snow sports are expensive, if you need assistance subsidizing the cost, please talk to Ms. Gapp privately.

Note: For all activities you must return a separate Transportation Waiver...
Due to safety concerns we will not be participating in alpine skiing or snowboarding. X-Country skiing is challenging, but if the point is to have fun in the snow, it covers that, plus it is much more conducive to a group outing.

Snowshoe Mt. Hood ~ Monday, January 17th 2011 (no school MLK Day)
Max. # of students = 8 (due to transportation limitations--uness you get permission to drive on your own)
RSVP today! No cost! Lunch, snowshoes, trekking poles all provided.
Please return a Transportation Waiver to confirm your attendance.
Leave VCS 8am
Return VCS 5pm

Four VCS freshman ventured forth to Smith Rock State Park this past weekend to brave November temps and test their novice rock climbing knowledge against 'Rope de Dope,' Smith's 40 ft. boulder block. "It's intense!" agree the foursome. Guided by Matt Spohn, a professional guide and climber from Stoneworks Climbing Gym in Beaverton, the students were joined by VCS Staff Ms. Gapp (Librarian) and Ms. Fellows (Library Assistant).

Arriving in late afternoon the group tackled a couple of routes and then headed for Skull Hollow Campground for ghost stories, burnt marshmallows, and pizza--after their Coleman stove refused to boil water for pasta. Swapping anecdotes around the campfire, students enjoyed the comraderie of a small group while alternately dodging the smoke monster and doing battle with the cold by squeezing HotHands warmers.

The following morning brought a light skiff of snow...or chunky rain, depending on your perspective. Spohn led a hike over Misery Ridge for a view of the distant Marsupial Group, a basalt canyon, irrigation canal, and the much photographed Monkey Face, a free-standing 350 foot pillar with some of the most challenging climbing routes in the world. The afternoon provided another opportunity to tackle Rope de Dope and  'Shamu,' a 5.9 1 pitch sport route.

Students had prepared for the trip by attending free climbing lessons (subsidized by Outdoor Club funds) conducted in the Eagle's Gym on campus (home to a modest climbing wall), and trips to the Stoneworks Climbing Gym. Safety precautions learned at the gym were implemented in the field, enhanced by the use of helmets. Students also practiced their knowledge of belaying, knot-tying, and  wilderness ethics.

The four student participants look forward to future outdoor club outings and encourage others to join them. Be sure to check out the VCS Outdoor Club's Flickr photostream, which includes photos from the trip.

We are learning basic Rock Climbing skills this month:
Download/Print the Stoneworks Climbing gym waiver below in order to participate. All our hard work will culminate in an overnight trip to Smith Rock next month, November 12th and 13th (Friday and Saturday).

Tue. Oct. 12 Rock Climbing Lesson 3:30pm Eagle’s Gym @ VCS Free!
Class until 4:30pm

Thu. Oct. 14 Bus to Stoneworks Climbing Gym. Meet in Library 3:30pm $6/$8 Return to VCS at aprox. 5:15pm

Tue. Oct. 19th Rock Climbing Lesson 3:30pm Eagle’s Gym @ VCS
Class until 4:30pm

Thu. Oct. 21st to Stoneworks Climbing Gym. Meet in Library 3:30pm
 $6/$8 Return to VCS aprox. 5:15pm

Tue. Oct. 26th 2:30pm Rock Climbing Eagle’s Gym @ VCS(different time due to Conferences) Class until 3:30pm

Thu. Oct. 28th Bus to Stoneworks Climbing Gym. Meet in Library 3:30pm $6/$8 Return to VCS aprox. 5:15pm