Experiential Learning

sutdent wearing safety shield shaving wooden lamp post in woodshop
3rd graders walking along oregon coast during overnight trip
two preschoolers digging up dirt and placing them in containers
lower school art teacher theresa perrin giving feedback to 5th grader print making in art class
three 5th graders kneeling down wearing gloves and digging in garden box
two 5th graders in tinkering class

Students learn by engaging in the world around them, by asking questions, and through exploration and discovery. With encouragement and guidance from teachers, they follow their personal interests and learn by doing.

Connections are made both within grade-level cohorts and beyond, fostering a sense of community. Older students mentor young students throughout their time in the Beginning and Lower School through intentional activities. Family members are invited to attend events, performances, and class trips.

Beginning School: Preschool and Kindergarten

In the Beginning School, experiential learning grows from children’s natural curiosity and sense of wonder. In preschool and kindergarten, students explore their interests through hands-on experiences, play, and collaborative inquiry, guided by teachers who pose meaningful questions and position children as co-researchers. Learning extends beyond the classroom through time on campus and in the broader community, as students observe, question, and make connections to the world around them. Through reflection, dialogue, and creative expression, they make their thinking visible while building independence, curiosity, and a lifelong love of learning.

Lower School: 1st-5th Grades

Students continue to have extensive time outside each day. The Fir Grove is alive with children inventing games, building with sticks and logs, and climbing trees. Students learn about the natural world through explorations of to our wooded trails, pond, and tiny forest. They travel off campus to explore local parks, rivers, reservoirs, and farms. Beginning in 3rd grade, students embark on class overnight trips to sites such as the Oregon Coast, Central Washington, and Mt. Hood where they deepen community connections and their understanding of ecosystems.