Academics at Wildwood Academy

A hands-on, student-centered academic program for grades 3–8.

Students learn in two mixed-age learning groups: Grades 3–5 and Grades 6–8

Our academic program combines strong foundational skills with hands-on, place-based learning, supporting students as thinkers, collaborators, and problem-solvers. Small class sizes allow teachers to know students well and tailor learning to individual strengths, interests, and needs.

how learning works at wildwood

Learning at Wildwood is active and connected. Students are encouraged to ask questions, test ideas, reflect on their thinking, and apply skills in meaningful ways.

core subjects

  • People using purple strings to create a geometric shape on a white table with worksheet papers nearby.

    Math

    Conceptual, interactive, and confidence-building

    Wildwood Academy uses the Amplify Desmos Math curriculum, an interactive, research-based program that helps students build deep conceptual understanding and see math as a skill they can practice and improve over time. Now in its fourth year at Wildwood, this curriculum supports individualized pacing, allowing students to receive extra practice or advanced challenges as needed.

    Math at Wildwood blends digital exploration with hands-on learning. Students learn by interacting with visual models, explaining their thinking, and applying skills creatively.

    Math instruction includes:

    Interactive lessons using graphs, sliders, and visual tools

    Small-group work focused on collaboration and mathematical communication

    Individualized feedback that helps guide next steps

    Creative, project-based assessments that apply math to real problems

    Technology is used intentionally, balanced with discussion, games, paper-and-pencil work, and collaborative projects that make learning visible and meaningful.

  • A young person working on a miniature landscape model with a DIY bridge and water features, using a hot glue gun.

    Science

    Inquiry-based, hands-on, and rooted in the natural world

    Science at Wildwood Academy is built around hands-on investigation, real-world application, and systems thinking. Our science curriculum is aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and designed to help students understand how the natural world works through observation, experimentation, and design.

    Students learn science by doing science. Learning takes place in classrooms, labs, and outdoors throughout the Columbia River Gorge, where students explore ecosystems, weather, energy, and human impacts on the environment.

    Science instruction includes:

    Inquiry-based labs and experiments

    Outdoor field investigations and place-based learning

    Engineering and design challenges

    Project-based assessments that follow the scientific method

    Over multiple years, students revisit big scientific ideas such as cause and effect, scale, and systems, building deep understanding and scientific thinking skills that grow with them over time

  • Two young women sitting on grass outdoors, working on large pieces of paper with writing and markings, with books nearby.

    Humanities

    Reading, writing, and history through meaningful questions

    Humanities at Wildwood Academy integrates Language Arts and Social Studies into a cohesive, inquiry-driven block that helps students make connections between literature, history, and the world around them.

    Through shared texts, discussion, and writing, students strengthen their reading comprehension, communication skills, and critical thinking while exploring essential questions about society, culture, and the human experience.

    Humanities learning includes:

    Whole-class novel studies

    Analytical and creative writing

    Discussion-based exploration of historical and social themes

    Project-based assessments that connect literature and social studies

    Students demonstrate learning through essays, creative projects, presentations, and reflective writing, building both academic skills and personal voice

Adventure Mondays

Place-based learning that builds confidence, connection, and leadership

Adventure Monday is a core part of the Wildwood Academy program, designed to support student growth through guided outdoor experiences, team building, and service learning. Rooted in the landscapes of the Columbia River Gorge, Adventure Monday helps students develop resilience, collaboration, and a strong sense of belonging.

Every Monday tudents engage in developmentally appropriate outdoor adventures that balance challenge and support. Experiences are intentionally designed to strengthen social-emotional skills while reinforcing curiosity, responsibility, and connection to place.

These weekly experiences complement classroom learning by helping students grow as confident individuals, thoughtful teammates, and engaged members of their environment and community

  • Group of people walking along a narrow, elevated pathway carved into a rocky mountainside with a metal railing, overlooking a dense forest of evergreen trees under a blue sky.
  • Group of children and a woman building a snow fort in a snowy mountain landscape with trees and a mountain in the background.
  • A smiling young girl in a black jacket and maroon hoodie poses in front of a colorful archery target on a wooded hillside, holding an arrow.
  • Group of kids sitting on a log by a lake with a snow-capped mountain and forest in the background.
  • A person wearing a blue jacket, yellow pants, a gray beanie, and gloves pounding a wooden stake into snow-covered ground using a power tool in a forested area.
  • Four children lying on snow, smiling and laughing, with an adult pouring Hershey's chocolate syrup into their mouths.
  • Group of children and teenagers in winter gear, smiling and posing together outdoors in a snowy forest
  • Group of people with headlamps exploring inside a dark cave with rocky ground and ceiling.
  • A person walking barefoot on a muddy trail through a grassy hillside with yellow flowers, wearing a jacket, shorts, and carrying a walking stick and shoes, under a cloudy sky.
  • A young girl holding three baby goats in a barnyard with sunlight shining on them.
  • Group of children and adults working together outside in a garden, pushing a wheelbarrow filled with harvested plants and flowers.
  • People swimming and standing in a river in front of a tall waterfall flowing down a rocky cliff surrounded by trees under a clear blue sky.

core subjects

  • Afternoon Classes & Enrichment

    Creativity, movement, and community learning

    Wildwood offers afternoon electives that allow students to explore interests, develop new skills, and learn alongside peers in a relaxed, collaborative setting.

    Electives vary by term and may include:

    Art & Design

    Craft Time & Making

    Sportsmanship & Movement

    Guest Workshops led by artists, makers, and community members

    These electives are an integral part of the school day and are open to homeschool hybrid students on their on-campus days, offering additional opportunities for connection and enrichment.

  • Homeschool Hybrid Option

    Wildwood Academy offers a homeschool hybrid option for families seeking a balance of at-home learning and on-campus academic experiences.

    The homeschool hybrid program includes:

    Access to afternoon electives and enrichment and or Adventure Mondays

    Opportunities for collaboration, discussion, and hands-on learning

    Connection to Wildwood’s small, supportive learning community

    This option allows families to maintain flexibility while benefiting from Wildwood’s student-centered, place-based approach.

    (Availability and scheduling vary. Families are encouraged to contact us for details.)

The School day

  • The Shuttle

    For some students, the day begins with a ride on the school shuttle from Hood River or Cascade Locks, offering a chance to catch up with friends on the way to school.

    Our school day runs from 8:15am to 3:15pm, following a typical school year schedule. Mondays are dedicated to outdoor adventures, service projects, and exploration around the Gorge. From Tuesday to Friday, we gather at our school in the historic Mt. Hood Town Hall.

  • Starting the day

    Each day kicks off with morning movement, where students lead games to wake up their bodies and minds. This energetic routine fosters leadership, flexibility, creativity, and fun, bringing the whole school community together.

    Before Lunch: Before lunch, students dive into core subjects on a rotating schedule, often continuing long-term projects and collaborating with one another. They’re challenged with a curriculum designed to build on and expand their knowledge.

  • Afternoon

    Lunchtime is usually enjoyed outdoors and students enjoy the courts, lawns, and play structures of the Town Hall to get their yayas out and to play toghther.

    After Lunch: After lunch, we focus on electives. These might include a field biology excursion in the forest, a guest artist leading a plein air painting lesson on color theory, or an afternoon of active sportsmanship and teamwork. This is also a time our Homeschool Hybrid students join us.

  • After School

    School wraps us at 3:15. Some students ride the shuttle back to Hood River and enjoy afterschool activities in town or time back at home.

    After School Program: Wildwood offers an after school program that runs until 5pm. This is a time for students to play, read, or invent some fun. It’s a beloved and intentionally unstructured but supervised time. Homeschool Hybrid students are welcome to join After School Program.