MSCS Students Exploring the Natural World
Backpacking trips, bird banding, paddling 28 miles on the French Broad River, learning primitive skills, and spending a night in a tent: these are some of the things Mountain Sun Community School students do throughout the school year…
Let's Go Out and Play Together!
Join the Natural Play Project at an upcoming Natural Playdate! Playdates are free, facilitated, natural play experiences for children 3-5 years old with their parent/caregiver. They take place outside and include fun, developmentally appropriate educational activities, and time for natural free play…
Another Camping Trip?
When I looked at my calendar as February turned to March, this question popped in my mind as I saw our next camping trip approaching. You see, camping trips are a lot of work for us teachers. So when it’s about a month (or more!) out from a trip, it’s time to start preparing…
Thoughts from the Front of the Boat
We all have control issues. For some of us, it’s right there on the surface. For others, there’s a slighter, more subconscious element about it. But it’s there. This need is why get a little twitchy when the dishwasher’s not loaded right. It’s why we want the dollar bills facing the same direction and our toilet paper roll to be hung the absolutely correct way…
Boundaries in the Outdoors
One of the places that the children play is an open area of grass, with some large beautiful boulders, and an old hemlock tree. There are boundaries that the children learn and respect. They understand how they are helpers in that they do not venture into the well-manicured flower beds…
Water Water Everywhere
Living in a temperate rainforest comes with the good, the bad, and the sloppy. Grab some rain boots, a good book, or settle in for good times inside and out. Snuggling up at home, in your pajamas, with your family and pets is certainly one of the most enjoyable things that come with rainy weather…
Lucky Us
I had the joy of taking the Acorn Class to the WNC Nature Center on a field trip. It was wonderful!! Breaking the day down into pieces sheds light on so many gifts we have here at Mountain Sun and the region we live in. The order of this list does not indicate anything other than how the day unraveled in my mind…I am so grateful for the Nature Center…
Backpacking with the Coyotes
Plans change and often for the better. On a recent backpacking trip with the Coyote class, we made the decision to delay our departure by a day to avoid a downpour. We managed to miss the storm and maintain the opportunity to exercise our flexibility from staff to students and parents…
Experiential Learning at Mountain Sun Community School
Our journey began with a silent hike down a steep and winding trail, minds full of anticipation and excitement for a different kind of school week. As the trail came to an end, the landscape opened up into the beautiful valley of Buffalo Cove Outdoor Education Center…
It Takes a Village
Many times I have heard the proverb: “It takes a village to raise a child." I have often reflected on that concept and agreed. There are many times when parents and friends help in ways such as driving a child to school or an activity, child care when family members have meetings or unexpected work needs, sharing of clothing items, or materials for backpacking…
Mountain Sun Students Work with Birds at Southern Appalachian Raptor
Mountain Sun students trekked to the the Big Bald Banding Station to aid the Southern Appalachian Raptor Research Center (SARR) in their conservation practices. On September 14th and 15th, the Monarch (4th-5th graders) students participated in raptor trapping, owl banding, hawk watching, and songbird migration monitoring…
Mountain Sun Community School’s Pack of Coyotes Embark on First Backpacking Journey
At Mountain Sun Community School, learning about the history of Transylvania County and its natural resources is not confined to the classroom and textbooks. The Middle School students, also known as the Coyote Class, backpacked through Pisgah National Forest to explore the real-life impacts of early Transylvanians on the local land, economy, and culture…