EXPLORE IN THE FOREST SCHOOL

Reprinted from The Hilltopper Magazine, Fall 2025

 

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Victor Riparbelli, CEO and co-founder of the AI educational video platform Synthesia, told NPR’s TED Radio Hour, “Your grandchildren will be the last generation to read and write.” In his conversation with host Manoush Zomorodi, Riparbelli described a future shaped by immersive AI tutors. These “tutors” are basically personalized avatars modeled after students’ favorite celebrities, capable of delivering lessons, assessing comprehension, and assigning grades in real time. Sounds good… right?

“It’s a compelling vision at first thought,” says Forest School Principal, Matt Whittaker. “AI could offer the kind of tailored instruction typically reserved for classrooms with low student-to-teacher ratios. But it’s also just one facet of how children learn.” At Marshall School, Matt and his fellow educators believe that learning is far more than just delivering content. It’s sensory, relational, and deeply rooted in community. That’s why learning to explore in Forest School serves as the foundation for every student’s journey.

INQUIRY

Learning to explore begins with both curiosity and wonder. And at the Forest School, there’s no shortage of either. Whether it’s sparked by a breathtaking view or a puzzling question, wonder sets the stage for deeper learning. In science, students are taught how to follow the scientific method. In design, they iterate prototypes. In English, they weave through the writing process. And in social-emotional learning, curiosity opens the door to empathy and the ability to see another perspective beyond their own.

SKILL-BUILDING

As the students explore, they encounter the need for new skills to pursue their interests, conceptions, and imaginations. Forest School provides hands-on experiences across a wide range of modalities, giving students the tools to pursue their ideas and imaginations. These early exposures become anchors for future learning in Marshall’s Middle and Upper Schools and after graduation. As students grow, these foundational experiences are revisited, refined, and expanded to support deeper exploration and skill development.

NAVIGATION

Community is central to the Forest School learning experience. For many students, it’s their first opportunity to co-create shared learning spaces. They learn to balance personal values with collective needs, build relationships with the land, and understand the systems that shape their world. Navigation means defining problems and designing solutions that honor the complexity of community.

"Joy is at the heart of learning. The spirit of adventure enlivens and sharpens attention, especially when students are applying their skills in new and unfamiliar contexts." - Matt Whittaker

ADVENTURE

“Joy is at the heart of learning,” Matt proclaims. “The spirit of adventure enlivens and sharpens attention, especially when students are applying their skills in new and unfamiliar contexts.” At Forest School, adventure is built into the rhythm of the year. Forest Schoolers venture off campus twice a month on expeditions that challenge them physically, mentally, and emotionally. These experiences allow students to connect classroom learning with the land through hiking, snowshoeing, nordic and alpine skiing, and biking. As they explore, they encounter moments of discomfort that stretch their capacity and grow their confidence. They build the muscles to do hard things. Over time, these adventures foster resilience, determination, and a greater comfort with uncertainty. They also offer new and unique ways for the kids to engage with the natural world. On every expedition, students learn how to navigate challenges with this sense of joy.

STORYTELLING

Reflection transforms experience into understanding. It is a crucial part of Learning to Explore, where students engage in meaning making and the communication of experience. At Marshall, storytelling becomes a foundational skill; one that students build through daily read-alouds, exposure to great writers’ craft and style, and immersion in stories of the land. These moments of listening and learning spark inspiration and help students develop a relationship with narrative. Over time, they compose their own pieces across genres: persuasive, informative, reflective, narrative, and creative writing where they learn to shape ideas with clarity and voice. They present their work to audiences, formalizing their thinking and deepening their understanding. Through the creation of story, students solidify experiences into learning and understanding.

A MARSHALL FOUNDATION

Learning to explore begins in the earliest grades, but its impact is part of a Marshall student’s transformation. The habits of inquiry, skill-building, navigation, adventure, and storytelling are woven into every stage of a Marshall education. In a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence, Forest School reminds us that learning is more than personal — it’s human.

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