October 15, 2018
This article is the first in a series called “The Fall Campaign Stories of Impact: Five Weeks, Five Stories, Five Reasons to Give.”
At MPA, we know that educational aha moments aren’t limited to the school day or the four walls of a classroom. That’s why experiential learning off campus is built into the curriculum, allowing students to grow and explore in a variety of settings that cultivate a genuine joy of learning.
For Bridgette Shannon’s eighth grade son DJ, attending this fall’s Eagle Bluff overnight was truly transformational. “He came back a different person, with a different perspective on life,” she says. The Eagle Bluff experiments around ecology and conservation continued to make an impact at home, long after the trip ended. “Coming out of Eagle Bluff, he doesn’t want to be wasteful or careless,” says Bridgette, “from not stepping on a bug to cleaning his room!”
Relationships were another powerful part of the Eagle Bluff experience for DJ, which was especially important as a student new to MPA. “They hiked in the woods and had to navigate their way back, work together as a group, and really bond,” Bridgette explains. “There was a student who was uneasy about being away from home, and DJ was able to support his friend, and help him build confidence.”
Bridgette has seen MPA’s faculty create that same positive environment for students on campus as well. “They are so encouraging and responsive. One night at home recently, DJ had a homework question and emailed his teacher. He was amazed to get an almost immediate response and felt terrific about how his teacher was there to help him. It feels like one big family at MPA.”
MPA’s variety of approaches to learning, from woodland hikes to papers and projects, has also impressed Bridgette. “The curriculum here is structured differently and includes textbooks, lessons, and practical assignments. Teachers are using real world tactics to show students how learning is applied, which is something that benefits them not only in school, but in life.”
Because of philanthropy at MPA, enrichment activities like experiential learning off campus expand the educational experience for our students. Consider making a donation to the MPA Fund during the Fall Campaign by visiting moundsparkacademy.org/donate or contacting Susan Robertson, Annual Giving & Alumni Relations Manager, at 651-748-5531. Together, we will raise $300,000 to bridge the gap between tuition and the total cost of educating a student at MPA.
