Nature’s Classroom offers a unique educational experience to students and their teachers. The goal of Nature’s Classroom is to create a living-learning community integrating the social development of the community with academic experiences. Common goals woven throughout the experience are for the student to improve his/her self-concept; to work together with others for the positive benefit of all members of the community; to recognize the community as comprised of individuals with their own individual needs; to appreciate the individuality and uniqueness of each other; and to gain an understanding of what education can offer him/her. The process begins when teachers volunteer to bring their students to Nature’s Classroom. Each Nature’s Classroom program is developed in consultation with the classroom teachers in order to create an experience connected to the school’s curriculum and goals.

        The typical daily schedule at Nature’s Classroom consists of a morning Field Group experience, two afternoon Special Interest class periods and an evening activity. Meals and an evening snack are provided and to close each day a Quiet Sing is presented.

        The goal of the field group is for the student to understand and recognize the concept of dynamic equilibrium—constant upsetting influences being re-adjusted to maintain balance—in the natural world, in social interactions and within themselves. The classroom teacher assigns each child to a field group and each group is assigned a single Nature’s Classroom teacher. They focus on concepts and themes and their connection to the total life support system as they explore the natural environment. For example, the field group might examine producer, consumer and decomposer concepts, predator-prey relationships or life cycles. The theme of “changes through time” may be an approach taken by a field group.

        During the afternoon Special Interest classes, Nature’s Classroom’s academic environment, the emphasis is on learning motivation. The goals of the afternoon classes are for the student to choose the classes in which he/she is interested; to actively learn by doing; to understand and recognize the relationships between the major subject areas; to understand the importance of goal setting and work toward an attainable goal; and to gain an understanding of the personal value he/she can gain from education. The classroom teachers may request particular classes be offered from our two volume set of lesson plans which allow our teachers to teach classes of special interest to them.

        Evening activities may be done by the full community together or by the smaller field group. The activity’s emphasis may be academic or social. Large group academic activities may include an Alpha , Beta, Gamma or Back to Basics. The Alpha, Beta, Gamma game gives students a chance to take part in a fictitious culture and to experience the sometimes frustrating experiences when two very different cultures collide. During the Back to Basics, students rotate through various stations that focus on primitive ways cultures made food, fire, clothing and communication. The field group may take a Night Experience, with a focus on astronomy and vision. Not all of these activities are done consistently at every site. Working with the Nature’s Classroom Program Coordinator, classroom teachers can select those activities best suiting the goals they have for their students.

        What the students learn in relation to community awareness and group cohesiveness in field groups and classes is applied in other activities. Mealtimes provide a chance to interact and to share experiences with others. The diversity within field groups, classes and other activities facilitates conversation among the students and adults allowing them to share their excitement. To be of service to the community, students take turns taking on the responsibility of helping as waiters.

        The Nature’s Classroom teaching staff is composed of individuals with a minimum of a bachelor’s degree. We maintain a teacher to student ratio of one to twelve or less. There is a nurse, EMT or medical person on site or on call at all times. The children are provided with 24-hour adult supervision. The classroom teachers and the Nature’s Classroom staff share the responsibilities for supervision. Having spent a week at nature’s Classroom living and learning together, students develop a sense of community, a confidence in themselves and an appreciation for others carrying over to the school community. They see their classroom teacher as a person and friend in the learning process. The strengthened peer cooperation and expanded student-teacher relationships have an influence on the cognitive growth of the students throughout the school year. Together, they return to the classroom united through this shared experience to achieve the common goal of the pursuit of knowledge.

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