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Academics » Outdoor Education

Outdoor Education

Students working in outdoor classroom

Mission Statement

Outdoor Exploration: We explore the world around us in pursuit of classical education’s goals: what is good, beautiful, and true. Outdoor learning provides opportunities for cultivating healthy futures and relationships with nature and each other. 

 

Goals: 

      • Increase students’ physical activity and introduce students to outdoor recreation. 

      • Facilitate connections between students and their environment, their peers, and adult leaders.

      • Connect the growing process to our health by growing our own food to be used in our kitchen and increase student stewardship of the various garden beds on school grounds.

      • Give each student the opportunity to go on an overnight camping trip (grades 6-12) or family campfire (K-5)

      • Expand our playground facilities and outdoor learning spaces.

      • Create and sustain community connections through education and service projects.

      • Stronger Connections Grant Goals

        • Strengthen relationships and community connections

        • Increased bullying awareness and response strategies

        • Enhanced student–teacher relationships

        • Expanded community engagement through service projects

During the 2025-2026 school year, LLCA will expand our outdoor education program to include the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences Using the Outdoors to Teach Experiential Science (UTOTES) program.  Early in the year teachers will be trained on the program designed to take advantage of all the rich resources on school grounds and in the area around the school.  Key components of the program are:
    • Reawaken your own sense of wonder.
    • Discover the free resources that exist right outside your door.
    • Take away resources to use in your classroom activities.
    • Create or enhance a habitat area on your school grounds.
 
Teachers will be tasked with creating lessons and activities with an outdoor focus that are inquiry based.  Students will be encouraged to work in small groups, conduct investigations, and develop and refine observation skills.
 
We encourage you to please check this area out in the future as we develop and add more content.

Other Outdoor Educational Opportunities Available at or near Lake Lure Classical Academy ..

The school sits on several acres containing open areas, wooded parcels, ball fields, and flower beds all nestled around the beautiful area of Lake Lure, North Carolina.  Near the school property we have access to hiking trails, rock climbing, ropes courses and many other outdoor opportunities to help us learn about and enjoy nature.
 
One of the key features of our school is the outdoor education program we offer in horticulture.  Elementary and middle school students have the chance to take a horticulture elective class during which they are involved in planting, caring for, and maintaining our raised gardens, flower beds around the school, identifying trees and plants on the hiking trails.  Students have even had the chance to harvest vegetables they have helped grow.  We also have a greenhouse on site which we hope to improve by adding humidity controls to help us get better yields from the plants we grow there.  Once added, we may even be able to use the vegetables grown in the greenhouse to supplement the meals served from our new food truck!
 
In addition to these features, we also have animals on site - goats and chickens.  The goats help contain the kudzu and clear out the underbrush growing in certain areas of the campus.  The chickens have a dedicated area  for their coop, but also have the chance to roam free in our courtyard.  
 
Students conducting an outdoor experiment.

Muddy Sneakers

Muddy Sneakers is a program available to our K - 5 students aimed at helping each child connect with nature and benefit from the resources it provides.  Some key components of their program include:

  • 90+ ready-to-use supplemental lesson plans
  • 6 topic modules cover all NC Essential Standards for 5th Grade Science
  • Cross-curricular activities address ELA, Math, Social Studies, and Visual Arts standards through science concepts
  • Professional videos of Muddy Sneakers instructors demonstrating experiments
 
Students helping to beautify the school grounds.
 

Chimney Rock Park Raptor Family Passes

Our LLCA only Raptor Family Passes include park admission for up to three youth and two adults! 

To use a Raptor Family Pass:

  1. Fill out Chimney Rock Park Raptor Family Pass to make a reservation ahead of time (we have a limited number of passes to be used at one time). Please fill out the form at least 48 hours in advance of when you’d like to visit the park. 

  2. Once your reservation is confirmed, the pass can be picked up from the school office, or brought home by your student. 

  3. Bring the pass to Chimney Rock Park and present it to the Ticket Plaza upon entrance and enjoy the park! (Reservations are not required at the Park when using the Raptor Pass)

  4. Please return the passes to the office the week following your visit, for the next family in line to use. 

Email [email protected] with any questions.