Program and Curriculum

 
Nature's Classroom Atop Lookout Mountain is an experiential education program designed to support traditional classroom learning by teaching creative and practical applications of subjects taught in school. Students enjoy the informal, outdoor atmosphere and open themselves to new growth experiences. All facets of Nature's Classroom programming - from classes, field groups, and evening activities to meals, music, and games - have been specifically developed to encourage learning. Students learn about motivation, creativity, goal setting, cooperation, social interaction, self-confidence, and environmental awareness. Nature's Classroom Atop Lookout Mountain is dedicated to meeting the needs of children in public, private and homeschool groups from 3rd grade up to high school.

WE OFFER EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE THROUGH:

A Proven Program: The Nature's Classroom Atop Lookout Mountain has been in existence since 1991. Other Nature’s Classroom campuses in New England and the Midwest have been teaching for over 20 years.

Highly Qualified Staff: Experienced teachers with expertise in group development and experiential education. All staff have various post-secondary degrees or equivalent experience.

Hands-on Approach: Students in classes and field groups learn hands-on with an instruction ratio of 14 to 1 or fewer.

Extensive Curriculum: Our own text A Harvest of Hope as well as the two-volume And This Our Life provide more than 250 lesson plans in math, science, humanities, and social studies.

Natural Environment: Located in Mentone, Alabama on beautiful Lookout Mountain, our campus boasts miles of wooded hiking trails, a lovely waterfall, and rock shelters for students to explore. The Little River, best known for carving the famous Little River Canyon, flows right through our campus.

Our curriculum is divided into three general elements: Field groups, large groups, and classes. Field groups function as a homeroom. Field groups dine together, meet for educational hikes, and more. Large group activities rely on two or more field groups collaborating on the same activity. Classes operate on a student-teacher basis and reflect classroom content. Students choose from classes selected by the school. To learn more about each of these elements, select one of the following links:

Field Groups Large Groups Classes

These program elements are combined in various sequences to create activity schedules offering a balanced program of instruction. A choice of schedules is available to meet the varying needs of different schools. To view a sample schedule, please select from the following links:

3-Day Schedule 4-Day Schedule 5-day Schedule
P.O. Box 400 - Mentone, AL - 35984 - natures@hiwaay.net - (800) 995-4769