Outdoor Program

Outdoor adventure programs are a powerful tool for learning real-world problem-solving skills.
At The Summit Academy, we seek to foster an awareness of the richness of the region in which they live.
​
Too often it is the case that students receive instruction about the natural world while schools offer students almost no any direct interaction with nature. Meanwhile, there is ample research to demonstrate nature’s positive effects on dealing with attention fatigue, dealing with stress and anxiety, fostering creativity and developing perseverance and problem-solving skills. Of course, the first-hand experience of outdoor adventure (even if it is something as simple as a mere troll in the woods) has always been recognized as a vital learning tool for gaining a deeper understanding of ourselves, and of the world.

Of course, the best way to learn the natural sciences is to learn to love nature and the best way to learn to love nature is to get out in nature!
​
In a noise-saturated culture, the experience of being outdoors gives students a vital opportunity to learn to listen and to grow in a more profound sense of awareness.
Learning outside of the classroom prepares students to become life-long learners in whatever environment they find themselves.
​
Each year, students at The Summit participate in two overnight outdoor retreats where they have the opportunity to gain new experiences and develop skills in a safe but challenging environment.

Receiving learning as an adventure equips students to embrace challenges in life with a sense of hopefulness and courage. As Tolkien writes, “The wide world is all about you: you can fence yourselves in, but you cannot ever fence it out.”

Each year students have the opportunity to engage in a variety of activities such as : biking, rappelling, caving, rock climbing, horseback riding, skiing, and mountain climbing.