THE QUEST For families, alumni & friends of Quest Academy
SUMMER I 2012
Quest Academy’s West Campus to Enhance Outdoor Learning
IN THIS ISSUE OUTDOOR LEARNING SPRING PROFILE
The students, parents, faculty, and administration at Quest Academy have long known the importance of outdoor learning. Our West Campus development, set to open this fall, significantly enhances opportunities for using nature in our curriculum.
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t also puts Quest at the forefront of a growing movement that emphasizes the importance of nature in children’s learning and development. “No Child Left Inside” is an initiative gaining support across the United States to address environmental education for children in grades K-12. States throughout the country, and even the U.S. Congress, are introducing legislation, and schools are creating curriculum, designed to get students introduced to nature. Author Richard Louv is largely credited with sparking the “No Child Left Inside” movement when he published his book, Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder. The book was first published in 2005. Louv researched various studies that showed “exposure to
nature as an essential for a child’s healthy physical and emotional development.” The book was recently updated, showing that, by contrast, the lack of nature in a child’s life can be linked to obesity, attention disorders, and depression. As one example in his book, Louv looks to architect Robin Moore, an internationally known expert on the design of children’s play and learning environments. Moore contends that “natural settings are essential for healthy child development because they stimulate all the senses and integrate informal play with informal learning.”
GLOBAL MEDICAL BRIGADES WHO’S WHO SCIENCE FAIR 2012 GRANDPARENTS DAY 2012 THE CLASS OF 2012
The story behind the pictures The pre-kindergarten class studies butterfly caterpillars to give them a chance to see another piece of the cycle of metamorphosis. They look at how all the components of healthy development--including their input-combine to ensure the survival of their special guests. The class also enjoyed
Incorporating learning into natural settings has always been a strong component of Quest Academy’s curriculum. Immersion Day usually includes a project or projects involving the outdoors. For example,
comparing their growth and attributes to the
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The top photo includes one of the butterflies
silkworms that a student brought into class. Each morning, they enjoy their breakfast of mulberry leaves. A magnifier that connects to the Smart Board enables students to see the secrets of these teeny, tiny classmates! they released. The left photo shows the class watching the release of one of their visitors.
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