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Youth & Learning

A living classroom where students learn by doing, and young leaders find their way into community service.

Students at a maker space
STEAM

STEAM Lab & Maker Yard

Hands-on science, technology, engineering, art and math: sensors in the meadow, drones over the prairie, robotics, and nature art, with a STEM Discovery Trail across the site.

An outdoor class
Field trips

Classrooms without walls

Field trips to the meadow, greenhouse, pond and woods; a seed and book library; and history and science lessons in the Forest Classroom.

Young people gardening
Growing Green Leaders

From Growing Green Leaders to lifelong service

Teams of young people lead real environmental projects, and can grow into youth service clubs such as youth service clubs. Every project gets a 4-7-8-17 Report Card on 47817.org.

  • RYLA days: one-day leadership programs on site, with hotel or church partners for overnight versions

Life at the waystation

Poweshiek skipperling
Poweshiek skipperling
Broad-tailed hummingbird
Broad-tailed hummingbird
Lesser long-nosed bat
Lesser long-nosed bat
Maguey (agave)
Maguey (agave)
Oyamel fir
Oyamel fir
Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve
Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve
Monarch winter cluster
Monarch winter cluster
International Peace Garden
International Peace Garden