Exploration and Discovery Through Upper School Outdoor Education

Our Outdoor Education program on the Merle-Smith Campus offers students a rich opportunity to engage with the natural world through experiential learning. Meeting twice weekly for after-school hikes—often along the trails at Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center—and featuring six weekend excursions each semester, the program emphasizes discovery, reflection, and community building beyond the classroom.

Led by Mr. Ferdinand and Ms. Garner, this semester’s adventures have included a sunrise hike along the Appalachian Trail near Fox Gap and Wolf Rocks, where students greeted the morning light with a scenic trek followed by a shared breakfast prepared by faculty and supported by student contributions. The group continued the day with a visit to Smithfield, where they practiced navigation skills in search of a local geocache.

More recently, students received an introductory paddleboarding lesson from MMY Paddle Boards in Ottsville, PA, before heading out onto the waters of Lake Nockamixon. These experiences are part of a program designed not around repetition, but around the intentional exploration of new places and perspectives—each hike and outing offering a fresh lens on the landscape and the learning process.

The Outdoor Education program reflects Moravian Academy’s commitment to holistic learning, encouraging students to challenge themselves, collaborate with peers, and connect meaningfully with the world around them.