Learning Outside the Classroom

An Education in the Wider World

At the Ethical Culture Fieldston School, students across all grades have many opportunities to take their learning outside of the classroom. Whether exploring nearby neighborhoods, parks, and landmarks, participating in semester-long curricular programming, or simply enjoying class outdoors on the expansive Fieldston campus, ECFS students engage in a rigorous education while also experiencing the world around them. Below are a few specific curricular examples.

Ethical Culture

At Ethical Culture, 1st Graders use their developing research skills to explore Central Park as part of the natural world beyond their classroom. Students study the history of Central Park, including the displacement of Seneca Village, all through hands-on learning in the form of walking trips and research. The study is enhanced through the science curriculum, with classes held in the park that focus on wildlife and the environment.

Fieldston Lower

At Fieldston Lower, 5th Graders develop an idea that would benefit our planet in the wake of the climate crisis. Students designed an outdoor learning space in the Fieldston Lower garden with the objective of determining the most suitable use for the garden plantings, exploring options such as growing food, cultivating plants for natural dyes, providing support for pollinators, or creating a sensory garden. Throughout the year, students also frequently visit the Hudson River, where on-site projects include painting, writing poetry, and examining marine life. Students interact with the river through sailing, seining, and fishing.

Fieldston Middle

In Fieldston Middle, students studying science visit nearby Van Cortlandt Park to engage in research and exploratory learning. Science classes also take place throughout the Fieldston campus, including on the School’s green roof. The different learning environments provide students with a variety of unique educational opportunities in which they can engage in fieldwork, research, and inquiry.

Fieldston Upper

At Fieldston Upper, 11th Grade students have a unique opportunity to learn outside the classroom through the City Semester program. City Semester is a selective, interdisciplinary, experiential program offered each semester. Students spend at least two days a week outside of school, doing research, exploring neighborhoods, interviewing residents, working with community organizations, and speaking to policymakers. The academic work is rigorous and challenging, and students make lifelong memories while expanding their academic horizons.

Frequently Asked Questions

How are outdoor learning experiences integrated into the broader academic curriculum at ECFS?

Here, outdoor education isn’t an add-on—it’s embedded within interdisciplinary units across subjects like science, history, and English. Teachers design lessons so that fieldwork directly enhances and supports academic goals, creating a seamless connection between classroom learning and real-world use case.

What kind of preparation or support do students receive before participating in off-campus learning?

Before leaving campus, ECFS students engage in preparatory lessons and research that frame their fieldwork. Whether it’s understanding local history before a visit to Central Park or learning scientific observation skills before visiting the Hudson River, students are guided by faculty every step of the way.

How are these experiential learning opportunities assessed or evaluated?

Assessment varies by age and program but often includes reflective writing, creative projects, presentations, and research reports. Teachers evaluate both content understanding and the student’s ability to make connections between their experiences and academic concepts.

Are there opportunities for families to engage with or support these learning experiences?

Yes, families often support outdoor learning through volunteering, sharing local knowledge, or participating in community partnerships. Communication between teachers and families also helps extend learning beyond the classroom and into students’ home lives.