Excellence in Education Through the Use of Multiple Strategies for Learning.
Can’t see the forest for the trees? Then look a little closer. What little things you find may be greater than you imagined. We try to instill this impression in young children through an alternative education program at 2nd Nature Academy. 2nd Nature Academy Elementary School is located on 22 acres of pristine farmland/forest and is bordered by 350 acres of conservation land. 2nd Nature boasts manicured trails, a pond, fields, wetlands, and a bog. Using a green curriculum model, 2nd Nature guides children through the learning process of core curriculum areas through the study of habitats, wildlife, plant life, sustainable forest management, farming, and biodiversity. Our mission is to foster an appreciation for our natural world and to build a sustainable community through innovative approaches to learning. We strive to provide a learning environment that enables children to experience success in all curriculum areas through the use of an integrated, multi-sensory curriculum. As well as offering elementary school, 2nd Academy includes preschool classes, kindergarten, before and after school programs, and summer camp.
In addition to planning instruction that follows a green curriculum model, 2nd Nature is in the process of designing a high performance school with the hopes of obtaining a LEED certification for green buildings. This process involves constructing a building that meets strict criteria for site selection, sustainable building practices, and the use of super-efficient plumbing, electrical and heating systems. Green builders also utilize recycled materials, maximize natural lighting, and avoid products that may contain toxins that may contribute to unhealthy buildings. Working closely with a team of green architects, planners, and environmental science specialists, 2nd Nature hopes to boast the first LEED certified green school in New Hampshire. Although the process is more costly and time consuming than standard construction, it is well worth the price of protecting the environment, local species, and the students and staff who will occupy the building.
One of the finer features of the new site is that is abuts 350 acres of conservation land owned and maintained by the Dunstable Rural Land Trust. Together, 2nd Nature and DRLT hope to educate our youngest citizens on the importance of preserving the land and its natural resources. We feel education is critical to preservation and hope to share ideas, resources, and knowledge to promote awareness and sustainable practices that will ensure the perpetuation of green spaces and the practices, we hope to inspire children to become life-long nature enthusiasts who will generate new ideas and solutions to the growing environmental issues that face their generation.