“Nature is our Best Teacher” is the motto at Learning Gate Community School, and environmental education is at the heart of everything we do. Through a rigorous and relevant academic curriculum, teachers weave environmental studies into all grade levels and subject areas. Students develop environmental literacy by demonstrating knowledge of the natural world, the factors that affect it, and society’s impact on the environment.

The Learning Gate model goes beyond simply learning about the environment—it encourages students to use the school’s surroundings and community as a framework for constructing their own learning. Guided by teachers and administrators using proven educational practices, students engage with the environment as a comprehensive lens for learning. This includes building critical thinking and problem-solving skills, developing life skills, and cultivating an understanding of their personal relationship to both community and nature.

Our nature classes are designed to nurture each student’s inborn sense of wonder about the natural world. In the early grades, students explore and investigate nearby habitats and the creatures that live in them. As they grow, they are introduced to different groups of plants and animals, as well as the tools and methods used by real scientists to study the environment.

By the time students complete fifth grade, they will have gained a broad knowledge of the plants and animals found on our campus, an understanding of foundational ecological concepts, and the ability to apply their learning to real-world issues as they enter middle school. Whenever possible, our environmental education teachers incorporate authentic scientific techniques, such as water quality testing, reptile and amphibian surveys, insect traps, and more—giving students meaningful, hands-on experience with how real environmental scientists work.

In sixth grade, Environmental Science becomes a core daily subject. This course introduces students to both the physical and biological aspects of the natural world through active investigations and outdoor learning. It also integrates with Language Arts, offering opportunities for students to analyze and respond to scientific texts. Topics include ecosystems, human impact, energy flow, the water cycle, and biodiversity.

In seventh grade, students take Outdoor Education, a unique course that emphasizes leadership, teamwork, and environmental responsibility. Activities such as kayaking on our school’s lake, nature journaling, and field-based science experiences deepen their connection to the outdoors.

Eighth grade students participate in Ecology, a capstone course that focuses on the relationships between living organisms and their environments. Through gardening, habitat studies, and sustainability projects, students expand their understanding of environmental systems and develop the mindset and skills of true environmental stewards.