Explorations Academy
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Explorations Academy is an independent school in Bellingham, Washington, USA that integrates experiential education with academic studies. The school was founded in 1995 as a program of a not-for-profit educational organization called Global Community Institute.
Explorations is the only independent high school in Bellingham that is fully accredited by the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools. [1] Graduates have been accepted to many fine colleges, and typically enter the college of their choice upon graduation.
With a small student body of capable students whose needs were not being met in public schools, Explorations cultivates a learning community atmosphere, in which self-directed learning is emphasized and individual students have a voice in their own education. Advanced interpersonal skills such as compassionate communication, conflict resolution, and leadership are part of the required coursework.
Experiential learning activities include frequent field outings -- averaging one day per week -- that provide students with learning activities throughout the Pacific Northwest. Explorations Academy also offers extended study/service expeditions to places as diverse as Nicaragua, Thailand, Ireland, and Kenya. These international expeditions give students life-changing learning opportunities, including a profound appreciation for cultural differences, the ability to work well as a team, and the capacity for enduring difficult circumstances.
The Explorations curriculum is built around theme-based interdisciplinary units called clusters. Each cluster includes academic coursework in three to six subject areas. Students generally study fine arts, foreign language, PE and occupational education in addition to core academic subjects.
