Northwood School’s LEAP program—Learn, Engage, Apply and Perform—gives students opportunities to learn through experiences outside a traditional classroom.
“We offer LEAP to enhance our academic program and offer students opportunities they wouldn’t normally have in a traditional classroom,” Director of the LEAP Program Ms. Marcy Fagan said.
Fagan oversees the organization of LEAP, including coordinating course offerings, leaders, student placements and travel plans. Northwood’s 2027 LEAP week is scheduled for May 16-21 and is mandatory for underclass students.
The program includes local, domestic and international options. This year’s offerings range from working with young students at local elementary schools and kindergartens to traveling to Uganda to observe mountain gorillas, learn about conservation and visit local communities. Other courses focus on subjects such as cooking, cycling, fishing, golf, woodworking and outdoor leadership.
LEAP allows students to explore interests, learn practical skills and experience places and cultures beyond their usual surroundings.
Fagan said she enjoys creating those opportunities and watching students build relationships with classmates outside their usual social groups.
One of her favorite parts of LEAP is “watching the students bond as a group with kids they normally don’t hang out with,” Fagan said.
As a returning senior, I participated in the golf LEAP last year. With guidance from Mr. Trevor Gilligan and Mr. Andy Donatello, our group visited different golf courses around the Adirondacks. Along with playing each day, we learned about the history of golf and the courses we visited. The course, “Golf—A Swing Back in Time,” is being offered again this year.
New students are also looking forward to their first LEAP experience.
“I am very excited to make new friends and explore different parts of the world,” Charles Corriveau ’28 said.
LEAP concludes Northwood’s academic year by giving students opportunities to apply their learning, develop new skills and explore subjects that may not be available during the regular school day.