Denali

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•	Course Overview
•	About Denali
•	Course Description
•	Course Schedule
•	General Info
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•	Tuition

Course Credit
In the Denali course, students can earn high school credit for 3 different courses: Ecology, Outdoor Leadership and PE. At this time, Classroom with a View does not issue transcripts; courses are parent graded.

The independent study coursework is complemented by a hands-on field course camping in Denali National Park in Interior Alaska. Each morning, we dayhike in a different area of the park and return to our basecamp in the evening.

Ecology (1/2 credit science)
This course introduces the science of ecology - the study of the interactions among organisms and their environment. Topics include habitat, range, life cycle, interdependency, diet, cycles, adaptations, ecosystem, community, population dynamics, food webs, and more. Studies focus on ecology of the tundra and taiga communities in Denali National Park in the Interior of Alaska. Aspects of natural and human history of Denali, geology, wildlife, vegetation, geology, weather, human impact on ecosystems, human use of resources and current conservation issues are also covered.

Outdoor Leadership (1/2 credit elective)
This course introduces principles of leadership that can be applied to any situation: styles of leadership, how to lead, communication, group dynamics, goal setting, teambuilding, decision making, initiative, planning, people skills, group responsibility, risk management, skills acquisition, motivation, integrity and awareness. Students study the principles in theory at home and then observe them modeled by instructors and gain hands-on experience while frequently leading the group during the field course.

The principles of leadership are taught in the scope of leading a group in the outdoors. This course introduces a variety of outdoor skills: using outdoor gear properly, setting up a camp, hiking, outdoor cooking, orienteering, teambuilding, minimum impact philosophy, and safe travel in a cold climate wilderness environment. Emphasis is placed on naturalist skills. Students become familiar with tundra and taiga ecosystems, become experienced at using field guides, and develop their observation skills. Students are also exposed to local issues and related careers.

PE (1/2 credit pe)
Students keep a log of physical activity at home and accumulate 70 hours prior to the field course. Students may choose the activities as long as it meets the requirements for getting in shape. More details are included in the course materials sent to enrolled students.

Learning takes place in many formats throughout the field course:

	•	Field Lessons- Topics span the scope of all subjects: ecology, pe, and outdoor leadership. A field lesson may be anywhere from 5 to 60 minutes, hands-on, and given on a hike, after breakfast, or in the evening in camp. Examples: keying out plants, classification of mammals, using a topographical map and compass, tundra vs. taiga, etc.
	•	Student Presentations- These are 15-30 minute presentations prepared by students prior to the field course. Students are given an extensive list of topics to choose from. During the field course, each student presents his/her research findings to the rest of the class. Examples include adaptations of mammals to cold temperatures, population dynamics of the grizzly bear, and species diversity in the tundra ecosystem.
	•	Instructor Led Hike- These moderate to strenuous hikes are planned and led by the instructors and include field lessons.
	•	Student Led Hike- With guided instruction, these moderate to strenuous hikes are planned and led by the students and include field lessons.
	•	Meeting with Park Employees- Students meet with various park employees to gain insight on ecology of the park, gain exposure to current park issues, and gain knowledge of career opportunities. There is a variety of people to meet with: Park Historian, Environmental Educator, Long Term Monitoring Coordinator, Park Biologist, Bear Technicians, and the Park Geologist.
	•	Programs- There is a variety of Park Service Interpretive programs to attend.
	•	Teambuilding Activities- Instructors lead fun, interactive activities that teach principles of teambuilding, group dynamics, and leadership.
	•	Leaders of the Day- After watching instructors lead for several days, students are given the opportunity to lead. Leaders are responsible for the day’s schedule, group decisions, group welfare, our route, and more.
	•	Observation- Students are given opportunities to develop their skills of observation through time specifically devoted to observing the natural world.
	•	Hands-on Experience- This is the bulk of how learning unfolds. We take advantage of the countless teachable moments that arise to learn science and leadership while doing them.

Independent Study
Students must adequately complete all assignments. Once enrolled, students receive course materials, detailed information on course assignments, a suggested timeline for completing assignments, and due dates. Since each 1/2 credit encompasses a minimum of 90 hours of work, most of the coursework is done before the field course. There are many assignments, but students have the entire spring semester to complete them. The field course is designed to be the hands-on culmination and application of everything studied at home. All course materials are provided to the student.

There is an array of assignments designed to cover a wide variety of content. They are interesting, engaging, and prepare students well for the culminating field course. Assignments vary from reading selections from texts and literature to preparing a presentation to doing research on related careers.

“I learned a lot more than I would have in any other classroom setting.”
- Student, Denali '03

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