Taking Learning Outdoors

Each fall, Harlem Academy students trade city streets for forest trails. From a couple of hours in a beautiful garden to multi-day wilderness excursions, they explore nature, build confidence, and deepen their sense of community.

EXPLORING WAVE HILL

Our primary students visited Wave Hill, a public garden overlooking the Hudson River. They identified maple leaves by counting their points, created colorful leaf rubbings, and learned about seeds and the life cycles of trees. Their guide encouraged students not just to look around, but also to take in the sounds, smells, and textures around them. 

“In science, we learned about trees and the life cycle of trees, and now we know even more because we went to Wave Hill,” said Aziza, a second grader.

ADVENTURES IN THE DELAWARE WATER GAP

Middle school students spent three days at the Princeton-Blairstown Center (PBC), a 268-acre outdoor learning campus in western New Jersey. They stayed in cabins and bonded through nature walks, stories around the campfire, and ropes course challenges that fostered teamwork, leadership, and resilience.

“Getting out of the city and into nature gives our students a chance to step beyond their comfort zones,” said Middle School Director Mr. Beller. “From climbing 30 feet into a tree to learning to paddle a canoe with a classmate, the challenges they tackle at PBC push students to grow in ways that stay with them long after they return home.”

BROADENING HORIZONS 

Across all grade levels, Harlem Academy’s outdoor learning experiences share a common purpose: broadening horizons through exploration and discovery. “One of our goals is to nurture students’ natural curiosity through experiential learning,” says Head of School Vinny Dotoli. “When they step into new environments, whether a garden or mountain trail, they see the world from new perspectives and build a lifelong connection to nature.” 

Thank you to the Harry Winston Hope Foundation for supporting the middle school trip to PBC.


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Harlem Academy is an independent school (grades K-8) that drives equity of opportunity for promising students, guiding them to thrive at the highest academic levels and one day make a mark on the world.