Field Studies
All students in kindergarten through fifth grade have six multi-week transdisciplinary programs of inquiry throughout the year that are designed around the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) Primary Years Programme themes of sharing the planet, who we are, where we are in place and time, how we express ourselves, how the world works, and how we organize ourselves. Our students’ field studies serve as an outgrowth of the program of inquiry so that teachers prepare the students for the field studies in advance and then reflect afterward upon their key learnings and how they relate to the program of inquiry.
Overnight Field Studies
Green River Preserve
Green River Preserve is a place built on tradition and respect. All campers are given the opportunity to agree to “respect themselves, respect each other, and respect all living things” while they are part of the Green River Preserve community. The Respect Circle sets the stage for a NO DISCOUNT ZONE community for the campers. It provides campers with a safety net while they are at camp. At GRP there are “no put downs,” only “put ups.” Campers are allowed to be “Their best me at GRP.”
Fifth and sixth grade students go on an outdoor camping field study each year for a three-day, hands-on, unforgettable educational and bonding experience where they study ecology and early American history.
Our middle school students enjoy bonding and personal growth opportunities through our three day REACH (Reaching Environmental Awareness Through Conservation of Habitat) trip each fall. Students study ecology and geology and participate in trust- and team-building exercises as they camp, hike, ride horseback, white water raft, and rock climb through areas such as the Pisgah National Forest, Great Smokey Mountain Institute at Tremont, and Camp Kanuga. In the spring, our 8th graders enhance their knowledge of civics through trips to historically significant cities such as Washington, DC and Philadelphia.