St. James Outdoor Education trips are designed so students from each participating grade will integrate group interaction skills and personal growth goals with a more in-depth exploration of instructional material. Often camping, hiking, climbing and canoeing are employed to make the experiences particularly engaging. These trips are intended to "expand the walls of the classroom." While tremendous fun, the trips are also serious learning experiences and therefore all students participate. The Barbara Harrold Memorial Climbing Wall in the McNeil Gymnasium is used to augment both Outdoor Education and our Physical Education instruction.

Recent trips have included:

4th Grade - San Antonio museum survey (day trip only).

5th Grade - MO Ranch - low elements of the Ropes Challenge Course.

6th Grade - Week-long trip of camping, hiking and horseback riding in the Big Bend National Park area; astronomy at McDonald Observatory

7th Grade - Austin, San Antonio, Golliad and trips for camping, rock climbing, and canoeing.

8th Grade - High elements of the Ropes Challenge Course, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Amish Lancaster County & Gettysburg.