Outdoor and Nature Education
Whether trekking the ridges and valleys of Mount Lebanon, exploring the bounty of the Bekka, or navigating our near-shore waters, all ACS students have an opportunity to immerse themselves in the full diversity of Lebanon’s ecosystems and cultures. The ACS Outdoor and Nature Education Program (ACS ONE) curates experiences to deepen our students’ understanding of the natural world, to build confidence in their outdoor abilities, and to bolster their teamwork and collaboration skills.
The 21st century will be defined by our relationship with the natural world and each other. ACS is preparing students to lead through action in our collective quest for long-term thriving ecosystems, communities and economies here in Lebanon and around the world. ”
Peter SchoonmakerOutdoor Education Coordinator
Two Distinct Outdoor Experiences
Four Seasons / Four Divisions
As educators, we engage students with diverse attitudes and relationships with the natural world, depending on experience, background and development. We design four seasons of outdoor and nature education as a continuum – ramping up the content, activities, and challenges – from early childhood through high school.
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For Early Childhood students, the primary goal is helping students to be comfortable in nature and open to exploration. Our Nursery through 2nd-Grade students accomplish this via frequent trips to our Deir El Qamar campus, with as many as five visits per class per semester.
- Elementary School students can see nature as an area for inquiry, and are able to use the knowledge and skill sets (math, mapping, critical thinking) they’ve acquired in the classroom in our ONE programming. Deir El Qamar and the Shouf Biosphere Reserve serve as the primary outdoor activity for elementary students, with numerous day-trips per class, as well as a 5th grade overnight camping experience.
- Middle School students are ready to apply formal STEAM methodologies, as well as to engage in more challenging team-building activities. Students extend their outdoor experiences beyond Deir El Qamar, with house retreats and grade-level day trips. Recent and upcoming activities include fossil hunting in Hakel, mineral museum visits, snow-shoeing in Kfardebien, wind turbine building, and offshore sea instruction for interested students.
- For our High School students, all of Lebanon is at their disposal. This dynamic division can take full advantage of our offerings, such as class-related day trips, and snow days, with prospective activities to include 10K+ hikes, a week-long Lebanon Mountain Trail hike, and mountaineering and maritime exploration.
ACS ONE Partnerships
AUB Botanic | The Natural Step | The Resilience Alliance | The Nature of Cities | Lebanon Mountain Trail Association
