As part of the Experiential Learning program, middle school students left home behind for a week in Glacier National Park this summer. Away from the classroom, they built stronger friendships, gained confidence outside their comfort zones, and grew a deeper appreciation for the world beyond St. Andrew's.
Middle School in Glacier National Park
July in Glacier National Park is a special time. The roads are finally open after a long winter, the wildflowers are blooming, and the snowmelt creates beautiful crystal blue water that rushes over anything in its path. It was the perfect environment for our 17 students on our Middle School Experiential Learning Summer Trip.
A private campground facility was our home for the week, and our students slept in tents. Our camp hosts from Grand Classroom made sure our group was fed and cared for throughout our trip.
The agenda was packed with different activities for the full Montana experience. Our first day was spent at Whitefish Mountain Resort’s Aerial Adventure Park and Zip Line tour. With harnesses and safety equipment, the students soared through 6 zip lines as high as 300 feet above the forest floor, and as long as 1,900 feet.
We met up with guides from Climb Montana the next morning for a full day of rock climbing next to the Stillwater River. Our guides taught our students how to check their harnesses, tie their own climbing knots, and belay for each other. The rock walls echoed with encouragement as each student attempted multiple routes, while the others cheered them on from the ground.
The Red Bus Tour through Glacier National Park took our group up to the Going-to-the-Sun Road, giving us vast views of the park. Many of the current Red Bus fleet have been in service since 1936, making them the oldest touring fleet of vehicles anywhere in the world. They feature a roll-back top that allows passengers to stand up for photo and viewing opportunities, so our students could easily see far and wide. Our knowledgeable tour guides gave our students insight into the history and stories of the park, with incredible scenery to match. There was even time for a snowball fight at the top of Logan Pass!
Next, it was time to explore the water. Our Middle Schoolers bravely suited up in life jackets and helmets, and headed out to join their guides on the Middle Fork of the Flathead River. This section runs 8 miles through beautiful canyons, and contains class II and III rapids. It was a beautiful day for splashing on the river. The day ended with an epic pickleball tournament back at camp, complete with s’mores around the campfire.
Our final day was spent hiking in Glacier National Park along the John’s Lake Loop Trail, with a picnic lunch on the bank of McDonald Creek. After roughly 6 miles of hiking, we headed to Kalispell for dinner to end our trip.
The purpose of these trips is for our students to leave home, visit amazing places, get to know their classmates and to deepen their connection with nature. Creating a better understanding of life outside of St. Andrew’s, while providing our students with new experiences that force them out of their comfort zone, allows them to have a greater impact on the world as they grow older. Our Summer 2027 adventures will be posted in November, so keep an eye out for ways and places our St. Andrew’s students can grow through Experiential Learning!
A private campground facility was our home for the week, and our students slept in tents. Our camp hosts from Grand Classroom made sure our group was fed and cared for throughout our trip.
The agenda was packed with different activities for the full Montana experience. Our first day was spent at Whitefish Mountain Resort’s Aerial Adventure Park and Zip Line tour. With harnesses and safety equipment, the students soared through 6 zip lines as high as 300 feet above the forest floor, and as long as 1,900 feet.
We met up with guides from Climb Montana the next morning for a full day of rock climbing next to the Stillwater River. Our guides taught our students how to check their harnesses, tie their own climbing knots, and belay for each other. The rock walls echoed with encouragement as each student attempted multiple routes, while the others cheered them on from the ground.
The Red Bus Tour through Glacier National Park took our group up to the Going-to-the-Sun Road, giving us vast views of the park. Many of the current Red Bus fleet have been in service since 1936, making them the oldest touring fleet of vehicles anywhere in the world. They feature a roll-back top that allows passengers to stand up for photo and viewing opportunities, so our students could easily see far and wide. Our knowledgeable tour guides gave our students insight into the history and stories of the park, with incredible scenery to match. There was even time for a snowball fight at the top of Logan Pass!
Next, it was time to explore the water. Our Middle Schoolers bravely suited up in life jackets and helmets, and headed out to join their guides on the Middle Fork of the Flathead River. This section runs 8 miles through beautiful canyons, and contains class II and III rapids. It was a beautiful day for splashing on the river. The day ended with an epic pickleball tournament back at camp, complete with s’mores around the campfire.
Our final day was spent hiking in Glacier National Park along the John’s Lake Loop Trail, with a picnic lunch on the bank of McDonald Creek. After roughly 6 miles of hiking, we headed to Kalispell for dinner to end our trip.
The purpose of these trips is for our students to leave home, visit amazing places, get to know their classmates and to deepen their connection with nature. Creating a better understanding of life outside of St. Andrew’s, while providing our students with new experiences that force them out of their comfort zone, allows them to have a greater impact on the world as they grow older. Our Summer 2027 adventures will be posted in November, so keep an eye out for ways and places our St. Andrew’s students can grow through Experiential Learning!
