Wilderness Education

At MSE, we believe that powerful learning happens outside the classroom. The Montessori philosophy emphasizes the importance of children being in nature, and we use our natural mountain setting to its full advantage. Beginning in Primary, students hike to the top of Mount Falcon and participate in the annual night hike. Lower Elementary students spend an overnight at Deer Creek Camp, and Upper Elementary students participate in several overnight trips that provide experience in the outdoors.

The experiences that children have in the lower school prepare them for the rich wilderness education opportunities in Middle School. During the first few weeks of school, 6th year students hike Mt. Goliath, 7th years ride their bikes over Vail Pass, and 8th year students summit Gray’s Peak (elevation 14,278 feet). In October, the entire Middle School student body and faculty spend a week at one of three rotating camps studying mountains, desert, and ocean habitats. The winter brings overnight hut trips to the 10th Mountain Division Hut System with plenty of day hikes and adventures throughout the year.

Not only do these experiences integrate curriculum and provide hands-on opportunities for meaningful academic learning, they also nurture the development of the whole child. Social relationships become fostered when two students have to work together to climb a mountain, and the shared goal of every child making it to the top result in strong group dynamics. Individually, a student’s confidence grows as he is pushed safely outside of his comfort zones to find success. Students come away from an outdoor experience thinking, “If I can do that, I can do anything.”

To learn more about our Wilderness Education Program, please contact us by phone at (303) 674-0093 or by email at info@montessori-evergreen.org.