Ana Spencer in front of the Glacier Lagoon in Iceland during her 2017 L.E.A.P. course (Photo: Ms. Marcy Fagan).
At Northwood, students learn by doing – that’s the guiding principle for the school’s L.E.A.P. (Learn, Engage, Apply, and Perform) Program, an experiential learning curriculum launched in 2017. According to the web site, “Northwood faculty leverage individual expertise to craft week-long courses which immerse students in unique subjects. Students choose their L.E.A.P courses in the first trimester and then meet periodically throughout the year in preparation for L.E.A.P week in May.”
L.E.A.P. courses take students and faculty “out of the classroom for collaborative, first-hand experiences.” Course offerings this year include:
- Adirondack Farm to Table & Culinary Experience
- Artistry and Biomechanics of the Modern Circus
- Canoeing and Outdoor Leadership
- Cooking 101: Art & Science in the Kitchen
- Coral Reef Ecology, Community-based Conservation, and Eco-tourism in Northeast Tobago
- Exploration in the Adirondacks: Community, Outdoor Recreation, and Regional Identity
- Great Camps of the Adirondacks
- Introduction to Woodworking
- Mountain Rescue
- Six Mountains. Five Days. Become a Saranac 6er!
- Physics and Rocketry
- Tanzania – Safari, and Service
- The Art and Science of Fly Fishing on the Ausable River
- The Most Radiant You: Empowerment Workshop in Yoga, Meditation and Expressive Arts
L.E.A.P. courses take place during the week after graduation and all ninth, tenth and eleventh graders participate. Ms. Fagan in the Director of L.E.A.P. is looking forward to some of the new L.A.A.P. courses this year. “I’m really excited about the Tanzania trip”, said Ms. Fagan. The students in the course are as excited as she is. You can find more information about the Tanzania course on their website.
Other new courses in The Saranac Six, where students climb six mountains in five days and The Most Radiant You. Two Northwood alumni are leading L.E.A.P. courses this year. John Muraco is leading and teaching The Most Radiant You and Gary Green is leading Introduction to Woodworking. Ms. Fagan is really happy and proud to see alumni involved with L.E.A.P. courses.
Scholarships are available for students who otherwise couldn’t afford the more expensive courses.
