The Monticello Outside Program Just Got a Big Boost!

We’re excited to share that Monticello Academy has been awarded a Utah Children’s Outdoor Recreation and Education (UCORE) grant to support a new 4th–8th grade outdoor and environmental education program called Monticello Outside.

Monticello Outside is a vertically aligned outdoor curriculum that spans grades 4–8 at Monticello Academy. The idea is simple:
more time outside, less time on screens, and more real-world experiences that help students grow in mind, body, and character.

Inspired in part by the research and ideas in The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt, Monticello Outside is designed to replace some digital habits with adventure, exploration, and meaningful connection to nature.

Why Monticello Outside?

Through this program, we’re working to:

• Reduce screen time and increase face-to-face connection
• Boost physical activity, curiosity, and excitement for life
• Support students’ mental health and resilience through hands-on, age-appropriate challenges
• Help students appreciate Utah’s landscapes and ecology, connecting what they learn in class to the world around them

What It Looks Like in Each Grade (4–8)

All of this is built around real experiences with expert partners. Here’s what students will do along the way:

🎿 4th Grade – Learning on Snow (Ski Utah Program)

Partners: Ski Utah & Youth Sports Alliance

4th graders will take part in multiple half-day ski or snowboard lessons, learning the basics of snow sports and mountain safety.
They’ll build comfort in alpine environments, push themselves physically, and get to experience Utah’s famous snow in a totally new way.

❄️ 5th Grade – Snow Science & Ecology

Partner: Wasatch Mountain Institute – Snow School

5th graders head to Big Cottonwood Canyon for Snow School, where they’ll dive into the science of snowpack and mountain ecosystems.
They’ll dig snow pits, measure snow depth and density, and learn how snow in the mountains keeps water flowing into Utah’s valleys and lakes.

🌊 6th Grade – Watershed & River Ecology

Partner: Wasatch Mountain Institute

6th graders will follow the journey of water from mountain to river.
Out on the Jordan River, they’ll kayak an urban route, test water quality (pH, turbidity, pollutants), and study how human choices affect the waterways that eventually feed the Great Salt Lake.

🌿 7th Grade – Environmental Science Immersion

Partner: Wasatch Mountain Institute – Jordanelle Reservoir

7th graders will take a day trip or overnight experience at Jordanelle Reservoir, focusing on field-based environmental science.
They’ll study habitats, conduct biodiversity surveys, and practice collecting and analyzing data together in a living outdoor classroom.

🏕️ 8th Grade – Headwaters Expedition (Capstone Experience)

Partner: Headwaters Ranch – Boulder, Utah

8th grade students will participate in a multi-day camping trip to Headwaters Ranch near Boulder, Utah in Southern Utah—the source of the grass-fed, grass-finished beef used in our nutrition program.

Experiences may include:

• Canyoneering in nearby slot canyons
• A night-sky astronomy program
• Regenerative agriculture and ecology workshops
• Art and music sessions in a professional recording studio
• Survival skills and ecological fieldwork

It’s the capstone of Monticello Outside—a chance to pull together outdoor skills, creativity, and leadership in one unforgettable experience.

Where It All Leads

By the end of the Monticello Outside journey, we want our students to:

• Feel confident and capable in outdoor environments
• Be able to apply science and ecology to places they’ve actually visited
• Grow in character–including perseverance, resilience, and hard work (yes ,we’re going to help at the ranch!)
• Practice stewardship and gratitude for Utah’s landscapes

Most of all, Monticello Outside is about helping kids be fully alive—curious, grounded, and connected to the real world beyond the screen.

More details (and a lot of photos) will be coming as the program rolls out. For now, we’re just really excited to get outside with our students. 🌤️