Visit The Mountain Institute’s Spruce Knob Mountain Center for a fun filled outdoor learning experience! We’re hosting a workshop for homeschool students May 17th and 18th. Parents or guardians are welcome to either drop students off for the day or multiple days, or they may participate as well. With adequate enrollment, groups will be formed based on age. This program is recommended for ages 10-18. The Mountain Institute’s Appalachia Program seeks to create powerful connections between students and their surroundings: fostering transference between lessons learned alongside a headwaters stream and their water source hundreds of miles away. Linking environmental literacy, self reliance, and effective communication strategies is paramount to Mountain Learning Courses, as creating a knowledgeable and engaged citizenry is a critical to ensuring the future of our mountain landscapes.
Activity Details
Stream quality monitoring:Study Big Run, a pristine headwaters stream of the Potomac River. Students learn about physical, chemical, and biological properties of the stream while recording data for the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection.
Amphibian study:First, students learn about amphibians. Then, we head outside to search for salamanders! The Appalachian “hotspot” of biodiversity helps us find numerous salamanders (sometimes over 100!) during this hands on activity.
Plant kingdom discovery:Students learn the difference between gymnosperms and angiosperms plant species, monocots and dicots, and much more! We gather samples and observe them under magnification.
Geology: Learn about the geologic history of this ancient mountain chain. Examine different rock outcroppings and learn about rock formation. We’ll drive to the top of Spruce Knob for a view of ancient tectonic activity and the differences east and west of the Allegheny Front.
Nocturnal Explorations: Explore the night with games, night hikes, and other activities.
Insect Investigation:Explore scientific methods for collecting insects, then view them under high powered magnification. Learn about insect body parts and classification systems. You may even leave with a pinned insect collection!
Activity Timeline
Participants are welcome to join us for the day (recommended for local students only, as The Mountain Institute is very remote), or stay in our dormitories in the evenings.
Through our unique buildings, The Mountain Institute has created an atmosphere reflecting a deep respect for mountain cultures and environments. The main buildings, called yurts, are modeled after the historical round structures of Mongolia and contain a modern kitchen, dining area, group meeting space, library, and an office. Dormitories and a separate shower and toilet facility are built into the nearby landscape. Housing for those traveling to visit us will be in shared dormitory rooms (5-6 beds per room). Normally, we separate males and females into different buildings, but are open to placing families in their own rooms. Camping space is also available for those who would prefer to sleep out in a tent!
Costs of attendance per person based on 10 participants. If you have a large group, please let us know. With adequate enrollment, we hope to decrease cost.
Day participation,
no lunch
Day participation,
with lunch
Sunday night - Tuesday afternoon all meals and lodging included
Monday morning arrival, staying overnight, all meals included
$43/day or $86/both
$49/day or $98/both
$220
$185
To register online, please use the registration form here or
or contact Beth Boehme (304) 567-2632, email bboehme@mountain.org
Stream quality monitoring:
