Our school embraces experiential learning and capitalizes on our amazing location to enhance learning opportunities for our students. We believe the outcomes of these learning experiences include:  enhanced motivation, real-world learning opportunities, and stronger rapport between staff and students.  Students explore locations in northern New Mexico, Utah, and Colorado during their middle school years.  Each trip purposefully incorporates high-level academic learning before, during, and after the students return.  

Fifth-grade students take three-day trips including a new fall trip to Ghost Ranch in northern New Mexico, a soil and water conservation trip to the local Rafter T Ranch, and a snow science day on Reservoir Hill.  Teachers incorporate strong academic lessons that accompany these experiential learning opportunities, capitalizing on the high level of student engagement and motivation. 

Sixth-grade students experience their first overnight adventure when they travel to the Great Sand Dune National Park near Alamosa, Colorado.  Students summit the High Dune and rotate through various stations studying the dynamic dune environment and ecology of this spectacular national treasure.  

Seventh-grade students culminate an integrated unit of study in the spring and explore Bandelier National Monument and Los Alamos, New Mexico.  The class spends three days and two nights on this expedition.  Students learn about the amazing geological history surrounding this area and visit to the impressive Valles Caldera.  They learn how native people used their knowledge of geology to survive.  They study the changes that have taken place in Northern New Mexico from the ancestral Puebloan culture to the important role this scientific community played in the outcome of WWII.  

Eighth-grade students travel the farthest from home in their exploring and studying Arches National Park near Moab, Utah.  Students hike to various arches and learn about how this amazing landscape has formed over time.