Jackson Campus
Journeys
Embark upon a Journey for a deeper understanding
Journeys are intentionally designed to break from classroom learning and take students off-campus to experience the ecological or cultural environment that is an essential part of learning. Journeys include thoughtful faculty planning and meaningful student inquiry and reflection. They are the nexus of lesson plans, community building, and deepening one’s sense of place and understanding by connecting our curriculum to the real world.
Annual 8th grade Journey to Washington D.C.
Journeys
At Mountain Academy, we believe in the power of place and that the community is our classroom. Students venture outside both the Teton Valley Campus and Jackson Campus on Journeys to connect learning to our communities. Journeys emphasize that communities serve as learning ecosystems where local and regional experts, experiences, and places are part of the expanded definition of a classroom.
Middle school Journey to Baja, Mexico.
Extended Journeys
Extended Journeys are not just measured in miles of mountain, river, or desert, but in significant personal growth. These Journeys bring our students into one of nature’s most incredible classrooms — the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and beyond. Supported by our unparalleled Outfitting Building, students adventure into the front and backcountry, learning skills that build courage, perspective, and leadership.
Classrooms
Without Walls
Jackson Campus Early Childhood students explore the Teton Valley Campus farm and garden, planting seeds, observing bugs, and learning how food grows while connecting with the land, local ecosystems, and seasonal cycles.
Teton Valley Campus 2nd and 3rd graders visit the Murie Ranch, walking historic trails, learning about conservation leaders, and exploring the connection between people, wilderness, and the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
Jackson Campus lower school students visit the Raptor Center, learning about bird conservation, observing rehabilitated raptors up close, and exploring the importance of birds of prey in local ecosystems.
Teton Valley Campus middle schoolers embark on their annual fall backpacking journey, hiking rugged trails, camping under the stars, and deepening their connection to self, community, and the natural world.
In winter at R-Park, Jackson Campus Early Childhood students crunch through snow, spot animal tracks, and explore frozen hills, learning about seasonal change, wildlife adaptation, and the wonders of their local winter landscape.
Teton Valley Campus middle schoolers visit the Chester Dam, studying water management, ecosystems, and engineering while learning about the vital role of dams in local conservation and natural landscape.
Jackson Campus middle schoolers travel to Baja, participating in turtle conservation by releasing hatchlings into the wild, learning about marine ecosystems, and connecting with global efforts to protect endangered species.
Jackson Campus middle schoolers visit the History Jackson Hole Museum, exploring the region's rich cultural heritage, learning about early settlers, Native American history, and the evolution of the valley.
Teton Valley Campus 2nd and 3rd graders explore the National Museum of Wildlife Art, studying animal forms, interpreting stories through sculpture and painting, and connecting art to ecology, habitat, and the wildlife of their home landscape.
Teton Valley Campus middle schoolers explore Grand Teton National Park, investigating alpine ecosystems, learning about geologic forces, and connecting with the cultural and ecological stories of the landscape.
Teton Valley Campus lower school students visit the Snow King Planetarium, exploring the wonders of the night sky, learning about constellations, planets, and celestial bodies.
Teton Valley Campus 4th and 5th graders explore Yellowstone National Park, studying geothermal features, wildlife, and the park's ecology.
Teton Valley Campus 8th graders journey to Washington, D.C., exploring historic landmarks, learning about American history and government, and engaging with civic responsibility.
Jackson Campus Early Childhood students engage in place-based learning at the Jackson Hole Airpirt, observing planes, meeting local airport staff, and exploring how transportation, community, and conservation connect in a national park setting.
Jackson Campus middle schoolers embark on their annual fall backpacking journey, rain or shine, navigating through the elements, building resilience, and deepening their connection to nature and community.
Teton Valley Campus middle schoolers visit the Jackson Hole News & Guide, touring the newspaper room, learning about the process of journalism, and discovering the role of media in their community.
