Our Classroom is Denali State Park, Alaska:
Measuring 325,240 acres, it is almost one-half the size of Rhode Island. Situated between the Talkeetna Mountains to the east and the Alaska Range to the west, the landscape varies from meandering lowland streams to alpine tundra. The class will hike along the awe inspiring Kesugi Ridge, a 35 mile-long north/south alpine ridge, the backbone of the eastern half of the park, which has superb vantage points for viewing the breathtaking heart of the Alaska Range. Home to flora and fauna found in both taiga and tundra, it is the perfect classroom for studying ecology. A great hiking route for beginners or advanced backpackers, it is the perfect classroom for learning outdoor skills, leadership, teambuilding and more.

Denali was Classroom with a View’s inaugural course, when it first took place in 2001. It was such a great success that we began offering other adventure education courses. This is our tenth season for Classroom with a View - Denali. In this course, students study Ecology, Outdoor Leadership, and PE at home in the Spring and then in June we travel to Denali State Park for 9 days of fun, hands-on, adventure based learning. After spending several days at picturesque Byers Lake, the group spends 6 days backpacking on the alpine tundra of Kesugi Ridge with breathtaking views of Denali, the Alaska Range and its many glaciers.

Enrollment is open to students in grades 9-12. Prior outdoor experience is not required to enroll. The coursework is equivalent to 1/2 credit Ecology, 1/2 credit Outdoor Leadership and 1/2 credit PE. When we’re in the park, students apply what they've studied while camping, hiking, leading the group, meeting with rangers and guides, and more.

Field Course Dates: (2 classes taking place simultaneously)
Course I: June 6-14, 2010
Course II: June 21-29, 2010

Couse I: June 4-12, 2011

After partcipating in this course, students will have a broader horizon from which to build character, a greater love of learning, and new friends, skills, and memories. This is an educational experience that will impact students for a lifetime.


“I learned a lot more being in the field than reading a book or sitting in a class (and I had a lot of fun!).”
- Student, Denali '01

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