We plan for the entire 8th grade to attend, which is usually 96-100 students.

 Six SLArts teachers/staff accompany students on the trip.

Between three and five parent chaperones travel with us. All parent volunteers are required to have a current background check.

We use LeBus, a long-standing Utah transportation provider, with professional drivers, for travel to and from Jackson, Wyoming. While at TSS students are transported in multi-passenger vans, and TSS-staff are required to have a Commercial Driver’s License to drive students.

We post daily to a Google photo album, so you can follow along at home!

Students will not have access to personal technology. Parents/guardians are responsible for ensuring all devices remain at home. 

Our time in the Tetons is purposely planned to be an unplugged / technology free experience for the students. Please help support this rare opportunity for students to disconnect and enjoy being in nature and interacting with each other.

Medical Exception: Students who require a phone to manage a medical device must have a prearranged plan created with the student, their family, and the administration.

Students may bring standalone cameras, but will not have access to phones for taking pictures during the week. But staff take many, many photos during the week and will upload them daily to a shared Google photo album so you can follow the camp adventures from home and download any photos you’d like to keep.

During the day, students are sorted into “Field Groups” of 10-12 students, plus a TSS Instructor and a SLArts teacher or parent. These Field Groups spend the day outside doing place-based activities studying the ecology of the Grand Teton National Park.

Students will be hiking, taking samples, journaling, exploring, and enjoying an unplugged week in nature. In the evenings, there are structured games, additional educational activities, and free time.

TSS provides ALL meals and snacks during our stay at camp (meals are included in the camp fee).

Students are allowed and encouraged to bring their own food for the bus ride to TSS and they will need to bring their own lunch on Monday. The bus will stop at a gas station during the drive up and students are welcome to purchase snacks and drinks for the ride. (The bus will also stop on the ride back to Salt Lake City.)

Students are not allowed to bring snacks into the TSS dorms (it attracts wild animals) and will need to pass any uneaten bus snacks to the TSS guides when they arrive. If bagged and labeled, students can retrieve these snacks for the drive home.

Please see the Dietary Accommodation (2026)

Students should expect to bring a duffle or suitcase, which will be transported via the bus, as well as a backpack or bag to keep with them on the bus (with lunch, snacks, etc.) Parents/guardians will receive a detailed packing list provided by TSS, as well as a list of prohibited items.

The short version of that list is that students should be prepared for all kinds of weather, including wet and cold conditions. They will need five days worth of comfortable clothing, especially layers, lots of socks, a good jacket, and good hiking shoes. A winter hat, coat, and gloves, as well as snow pants are recommended for October TSS visits. Sturdy walking shoes or boots are required for outdoor activities; sandals/flip flops are fine for indoor use.

All participants need to bring their own bedding, including a towel, pillowcase, blanket or sleeping bag, and full-sized flat sheet. Students also need a refillable water bottle, a sun hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen, as well as their own personal toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, etc.)

Please let us know if you have any issue acquiring proper gear! Don’t let this stop you from sending your student to TSS. We can help!

Contact SLArts Business Manager Nicole Laird, nicole@slarts.org, with any questions or concerns. TSS also has some personal gear available to lend to students who may have left items at home. The collection of loanable personal gear includes winter boots, snow pants, waterproof jackets and pants, additional water bottles, fleece tops, hats, gloves, and sunglasses. Any gear loaned to participants will be collected and washed at the end of the program.

No additional money is required for the trip. However, students are able to bring money to purchase snacks at the gas station during our rest stop, and may also want to buy something at the TSS gift shop (water bottle, t-shirt, hoodie, etc.) Most students bring a little cash for snacks, but won’t need much more than that.

The TSS Staff is fully trained for first aid, and if an injury is serious, parents will be notified immediately to discuss plans for treatment in Jackson, or if the student needs to be picked up from the TSS.

With some exceptions (inhalers, epi-pens, etc.), adults must hold and administer student medications including prescriptions and pain killers.

If your student has been taking regular medications for any reason please do NOT take them off of them for this trip. SLArts staff will administer them as directed.

Parents will be asked to send an email with the student name, name of medication(s), and instructions for dosage and time of day before the trip.

Additional detailed instructions will be provided before the trip.

If you need to your student or a SLArts staff member during the trip for emergency purposes you can contact Ms. Candler, Mr. Clark or other SLArts Staff directly, or call the TSS main number; TSS will always have the ability to get in contact with us wherever we are. All phone numbers will be provided before students leave for TSS. The SLArts office can also contact TSS for you.

Please note that chaperone cell phones may not have cell coverage in the canyon for voice calls or SMS texts, but will have internet to receive iMessages or emails, etc.

Students are carefully and thoughtfully sorted into 4 to 6-person dorm groups by our student support team (Ms. Markell, Ms. Mautz, and Ms. Candler) who will solicit student input before the trip.

Students may or may not be placed with their very favorite friend, but we work hard to make the groupings feel kind and safe and positive for all kids.

Students sleep in modest dorm rooms, with shared bathrooms. The dorms are single-gender dorms, and students are not allowed to visit the other dorms.

There will be several “safe rooms” with mixed genders, and gender-neutral rooms for students who identify as such. Adults do not share rooms with students, but are in the same hall.

If parents/guardians have concerns about sleeping arrangements or gender identity concerns, talk to us! We have worked with these concerns in the past. We can provide additional details and context, as well as options like private rooms, off-campus housing, etc. There are many possibilities and we will work with you to make sure you and your student feel safe and comfortable.

There are very clear expectations about behavior during the trip, including a zero tolerance policy for drugs, alcohol or weapons. Students who violate those expectations will need to be picked up by a parent/guardian in Jackson.

We have many SLArts staff and fellow parents who have experienced the TSS trip, or whose students have had a successful experience. Markell McCubbin, Academic Engagement Director, or Amy Mautz, School Social Worker, would be happy to speak confidentially with families who may have additional questions.

markell@slarts.org
amym@slarts.org

There is a $845+ fee for TSS. This covers tuition and transportation to and from the program. This can be paid in one payment, multiple payments over time, or you may request a full or partial fee waiver.

Cost will not prevent your student from participating. Reach out to SLArts Business Manager Nicole Laird, nicole@slarts.org, with any questions regarding payment.

We're proud and grateful to report that for the 2025-26 school year, donations and grants covered more than $17,000 in scholarships for 30 students to attend TSS.

Check out this great Parent/Guardian Packet from Teton Science School.