Flying Deer School Programs at Mountain Road,
our flagship school -- and around the region

As teachers, we constantly strive for student engagement, and no question, you had them engaged on all levels. What a testimonial to the power of hands-on learning! I can't say enough about your teaching, and particularly your relational skills. I believe our kids took away skills on all levels that they will draw on in years to come. —Janice Moran, mathematics teacher, Lenox Memorial Middle and High Schools, Lenox, Massachusetts

Our school programs were first developed with the staff at our flagship school, Mountain Road. In 2008, Mountain Road School (MRS) and Flying Deer Nature Center joined forces to create an innovative schoolwide program that makes outdoor education an integral part of the school’s curriculum. On Flying Deer Days, once a week each semester for six consecutive weeks, MRS students spend the majority of their academic day outside, and the woods and nature become their classroom.

With the faculty of MRS, Flying Deer has crafted curriculum for outside learning that has stimulated art, science, social studies, and writing projects in the classroom. Nature is integrated into the entire learning environment and the community culture. We know this culture is thriving as we watch younger children look to older students for excellent role modeling and mentoring in earth skills and naturalist knowledge.

With so many academic requirements, why does Mountain Road School choose to invest its time and resources in this way? Because we have seen the transformation that happens when children move beyond the indoor classroom. The strengthening of a child's mind, body and spirit; the strong sense of community that develops among the children; the blossoming of self-confidence; a vast knowledge of plants, animals, habitats, and ecosystems; the development of tracking, navigation and survival skills. Most importantly, we have witnessed the discovery of self as each child comes to understand his or her place in the larger environment and begins a lifelong bond with nature. —Aimee Johnson, Mountain Road School Director

We are excited to be recreating this exciting and effective model in other schools. Flying Deer offers weekly and biweekly nature education programs during and after school hours, working within each school's and grade's study plans to co-create an exciting and educational cross-curricular experience. Along with our MRS program, our current school programs include collaborations with Taconic High School in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, Lenox Memorial Middle and High Schools, Walter B. Howard Elementary in New Lebanon, New York, and Chatham Middle School in Chatham, New York.

For information on setting up an FDNC program at your child's school, e-mail info@flyingdeernaturecenter.org.

Watch a video of our Chickadees group at Mountain Road School.