Tahoe Expedition Academy brings teachable moments outside of the classroom

TRUCKEE, Calif. - The Tahoe Expedition Academy (TEA) prides itself on taking learning outside of the classroom, but it’s not just about going outdoors. This year, TEA is trying to cultivate compassion in its students by helping them make a positive impact on their community and the world around them.

“After the challenge of the last few years, we believe compassion has never been more important,” says TEA’s head of school, David Maher. “Compassion for ourselves, for our neighbors both near and far, and for the environment. Compassion has the power to ignite curiosity, concern, and ultimately action.”

TEA’s cultivating compassion mantra has been put into action in various ways: from lessons on emotional well-being to the impact of climate change on the environment and economy, as well as the relocation of numerous groups of people in the history of the Eastern Sierras. Here’s a closer look at how three different grades took action:

Third Grade - Compassion for Selves

TEA third-graders recently completed a multi-week project that focused on emotional well-being. They worked to identify complex emotions in themselves and learned specific strategies to help communicate their emotions in healthy ways. To help deepen this learning, they traveled to EQ Insight in Washoe Valley -- a ranch that uses horse-led training to teach teamwork and train the next generation of leaders to make a positive impact on their businesses, communities, and families.

Sixth Grade - Compassion for Others

TEA sixth graders studied the history of Owens Valley in the Eastern Sierra. There they learned about the uprooting and relocations of numerous groups of people, including the construction of an internment camp where more than 100,000 men, women, and children were imprisoned during World War II.

11th and 12th Grade - Compassion for Environment

TEA 11th and 12 graders headed to Maine where they discovered firsthand the impact of climate change on natural treasures like the Appalachian Trail, marine ecosystems of the Androscoggin watershed, and local businesses like the Saddleback Mountain mom-and-pop ski resort. They grappled with how to use their voices for elements of the world that can’t advocate for themselves.

Tahoe Expedition Academy (TEA) is a fully accredited, independent school serving grades Pre-K to 12. They also have summer base camps in Lake Tahoe and Truckee, Calif.