Combining Nature and Academics

Inspired by Dr. Jane Goodall’s activism, we prioritize nurturing a profound connection to nature. Our science program encourages students to explore and learn in the great outdoors, fostering an appreciation for the environment and a deeper understanding of their role in protecting it.

One of the most impactful aspects of EOE is the Oceanography unit at the start of Sixth Grade. On Fridays after Kuyam, our sixth graders head down to the beach, where they split their time between hands-on STEAM projects and learning to surf.

In STEAM, students dive into ocean science by building and testing watersheds, designing plankton nets, testing water for microplastics, and more. During surf sessions, they learn resilience and tackle personal challenges. Under the guidance of our expert instructors, students take risks, face new experiences, and conquer fears. This powerful combination of outdoor learning and character development consistently stands out as a favorite memory among our alumni.

The EOE program lets students experience nature, develop trust in others, and build teams while practicing cooperation and group problem-solving. Depending on age level, they go on day hikes, field trips, or overnight trips to locations throughout California, including local parks, the beach, Catalina, Sacramento, Joshua Tree, and Yosemite.

Seven Arrows is an environmentally conscious school. Since its founding, it has been proactive in a host of sustainable initiatives, including cultivating edible vegetables on school property. Thanks to the dedication of our founding families and educators to cultivating healthy and environmentally conscious children, our school has a long tradition of guiding students in understanding their relationship to nature and the cycles of the natural world.

The leadership and inspiration of Jamie Oliver, master chef and food revolutionary and a former Seven Arrows parent, have energized the school’s efforts to change the way we think about food and how food systems work (from production to distribution to cooking and eating what we grow). Jamie Oliver’s strategy for creating a worldwide food transformation begins with changing the relationship Americans have with food. Seven Arrows is proud to be at the forefront of this good-food movement with its on-campus edible garden, created in the spring of 2015.

The Edible Garden is an outdoor classroom that is integrated into our science, Service Learning, Spanish, math, and Global Cultures curricula. Our students plant, harvest, cook, and eat the “fruits” of their labor, gaining hands-on experience that will leave a lifelong imprint on their relationship to food, water, and the natural world.

With the power of our community behind us, Seven Arrows can achieve exceptional things. This shining example of sustainable living would not have been possible without the vision and hard work of our parent community and Jamie Oliver’s generosity in underwriting the effort.