PMSS 2025-26 School Recruitment Packet

From our Executive Director

Dear Educators,

I am thrilled to introduce you to Pine Mountain Settlement School, a unique learning environment where history, nature, art, agriculture, and education unite to inspire curiosity and spark wonder. Nestled in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains, our campus offers a living classroom that encourages curiosity, critical thinking, and connection to place.

Why Pine Mountain Settlement School?

Standards-Based Curriculum: Our programs align with state and national educational standards, ensuring that every experience enhances classroom learning. Through hands-on activities in science, history, and the arts, students engage deeply with core subjects while building practical skills and a love for learning.

A Unique Classroom Experience: Imagine your students exploring Appalachian forests as young ecologists, analyzing stream health in a mountain creek, learning traditional crafts in our historic craft studios, or understanding our food system on our working farm. Our campus becomes an immersive educational setting where lessons come alive.

Cultural and Environmental Legacy: With over a century of educational heritage, Pine Mountain Settlement School offers a unique opportunity to connect students with culture, environmental stewardship, and sustainable living practices. From Appalachian cooking and folk arts to environmental science and outdoor adventure, our programs foster a sense of responsibility, creativity, and resilience.

We invite you to discover how Pine Mountain Settlement School can enrich your educational goals while offering your students an unforgettable learning experience. Our team is committed to supporting educators with customized programs that fit your curriculum and meet your student’s needs.

Let’s collaborate to spark wonder and create meaningful educational journeys that inspire the next generation of learners. Visit pinemountainsettlementschool.com or call our office at (606)558-3571.

In the Spirit of Pine Mountain,

Executive Director

MISSION

Pine Mountain Settlement School (PMSS) enriches lives and fosters community by offering experiential education focused on environmental literacy, sustainable agriculture, and Appalachia’s diverse people, art, and culture.

LEGACY

Nestled in the heart of Central Appalachia, our historic campus is a hub for environmental education, cultural preservation, sustainable agriculture and art. Since 1913, we’ve been dedicated to fostering lifelong learning, celebrating Appalachian heritage, and inspiring stewardship of our natural world. Whether you’re here to explore our trails, participate in a workshop, or connect with our vibrant community, we’re excited to share this special place with you.

VISION

We honor our Appalachian heritage by AUTHENTICALLY engaging with the present to shape a thriving future for the region. Grounded in SIMPLICITY, we emphasize meaningful relationships with people and nature over material pursuits. Our programs inspire curiosity and growth through HANDS-ON, EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION, utilizing our unique natural and built environment as a classroom. We cultivate a sense of WONDER, offering a space where bodies, hearts, and imaginations flourish. Our daily actions and programming uphold SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, INCLUSIVITY, and COLLABORATION, creating bridges among people of diverse backgrounds. We encourage mutual respect and understanding by fostering connections and valuing shared expertise.

From our Program Director

Dear Educators,

Years ago, while making a trek to Pine Mountain State Park, I decided to look for Pine Mountain Settlement School. To this day, I am not entirely sure where I ended up, but I was redirected back to the main road, confused but undaunted. I had heard about Pine Mountain Settlement School – a magical, mystical place that was hidden deep in the mountains like an elvish city from a Tolkien fantasy.

I finally made my way and was immediately captivated by this very real, very magical, mystical place. As program director, I am grateful to play an active role in sharing the spirit of Pine Mountain Settlement School with over 4,000 visitors every year. I can be in Lexington, Kentucky or London, England, but there is someone with a connection, a memory, of this place. Educators use the words “life-changing” when describing their experiences on our campus. I truly believe this is rooted in our authenticity. As I explain to visitors, this is not Disney – this place is alive and real with no animatronics to be found. We are not performing, we are here to share in moments of discovery, joy, frustration, and in the wonder of this world. To experience Pine Mountain Settlement School is to truly connect – with our planet, with each other, and with Self. More and more, authentic connection is becoming a distant memory for those of us old enough to remember and something our children have no idea they are missing. It is my goal to ensure the next generation understands the need for connection, and I welcome you on that journey.

In the Spirit of Pine Mountain,

Kiristen Webb

Program Director

EXPERIENCES OFFERED

Students can participate in a wide range of experiences, selected from our catalog of options, during their visit to our campus. The full list of experience options is available in our Program Guide