Academic Courses
English
This course introduces students to a collection of America’s greatest authors, such as Wendell Berry, Annie Dillard, Annie Proulx, Linda Hogan, Alice Walker and Walt Whitman – all of whom took their artistic inspiration from the natural world. As a complement to their readings, students will participate in creative and expository writing exercises, providing them with the opportunity to discover their own literary voice and source of inspiration.
Over the course of the semester, students create handmade journals, participate in independent projects and field trips and develop writing portfolios.
Natural Science
Natural science classes provide students with the unique opportunity to take their studies out of the classroom and into the natural world, bringing them face-to-face with the subjects they study. Classroom lectures set the stage for field studies and provide students with a comprehensive introduction to our local mountain ecosystems.
Students will keep field notebooks to document their experiences as they explore the biological systems of the mountains.
Mathematics
Designed to complement the math curricula at students' sending schools, OA courses include Trigonometry, Geometry, Algebra I and II and Pre-calculus. Additional courses, such as Integrated Mathematics, Logic and Statistics may also be offered as needed. In all math classes, students participate in hands-on activities. Students may find themselves building a solar oven, designing an intricate quilt or surveying natural features of our landscape, such as trees, mountains or streams.
A detailed assessment form completed by the sending school, as well as the level of demonstrated ability, determines appropriate course placement. Every effort is made to ensure that students are well-prepared to re-enter their sending school math sequences upon their return.
French and Spanish
We require detailed information from each student’s sending school to determine appropriate language course placement. OA courses include instruction at all ability levels in French and Spanish. Classes are conducted in the language of study, emphasizing skill development in speaking, reading, writing, grammar and cultural studies.
In addition, The Outdoor Academy supports tutorials for students who study German or Latin.
Environmental Seminar
Why is there a global food crisis when we grow enough food to feed everyone? How does biodiversity loss affect the quality of human life? What does it mean to live in a sustainable way? As humans increasingly impact the environment, effects are showing up in interesting ways around the globe. This seminar will focus on prevalent environmental issues and ethics, encouraging each student to form individual opinions after investigating multiple sides of an issue. Using the Southern Appalachian region as a focus and Daniel Quinn's novel Ishmael as a springboard for discussion, we will actively strive to understand the complexities of the ecological, social, economic, political, and personal web that surrounds present-day environmental discussions.
Independent Appalachian Studies Project
This part of our curriculum provides an introduction to the folk and craft culture of the Southern Appalachians. At the beginning of the semester, each student selects a project from our many offerings, which may include quilting, cooking, woodworking, or blacksmithing. Students work alongside faculty mentors, often utilizing 19th century tools and techniques. Emphasis is places on the creative process rather than the final product, though virtually all projects ultimately yield stunning results.
World History
This course studies the people, events and ideas that have come to shape our modern world. Combining history with geography and anthropology, this course helps students to cultivate a global perspective of their local setting.
Students take a close look at political institutions, economic systems, religious beliefs and cultural identities of the past to help them understand historic themes and modern issues from multiple perspectives. Critical thinking and thorough research are central to both written assignments and exams.
Visual Arts
This course is an exploration of the natural world, how we interact with it, and how that transforms into pieces of art. We’ll work in both 3-dimensional disciplines (clay and found objects sculpture) and 2-dimensional disciplines (photography and drawing) as we explore how we can mold natural elements with our hands, how we fit into a landscape, and how nature can inspire ideas as we pay attention to it through the change of seasons.
Music
The Southern Appalachians are home to a diverse group of musical styles. The musical instruments encountered in this course reflect this same diversity: Native American flute, African drum, banjo, guitar, mandolin, tin whistle and mountain dulcimer. Students have the opportunity to develop proficiency on an instrument of their choice while playing in various ensembles. In addition, students are encouraged to compose original pieces and are always welcome to share the songs and stories brought from home.
