Experiential Learning

"Tell me and I'll forget. Show me and I may remember. Involve me and I'll understand."

What is experiential learning?

Experiential learning (or experiential education) is a philosophy of education that purposefully engages with learners in direct experience and focused reflection in order to increase knowledge, develop skills, clarify values, and develop a learner's capacity to contribute to their communities. Experiential learning recognizes that reflection on lived experiences is critical for learning.

See this resource for further explanation: What is Experiential Education?

How does experiential learning work?

Experiential learning works in cycles. See this resource for further explanation: How does Experiential Education Work?

How does Aldo apply the experiential learning philosophy?

At Aldo Leopold Community School, students engage in applied experiences relating to their current subject matter. Our educators use our immediate environment, our local community, and some statewide resources to provide experiential learning opportunities to our students.  

8th grade Celebration, Memory Book, photos, etc.

Astor Park Picnic

Bairds Creek

Barkhausen

Barlow Planetarium

Bay Beach

Bike Trip to Voyageur Park

Blaser's Acres

Boncher Courses

Bookworm Gardens

Bowling with Aspiro

Bubolz Nature Preserve

Building for Kids

Camp Trees for Tomorrow

Camp U-Nah-Li-Ya

Camp Upham Woods

East High School Musical

Farm Wisconsin Discovery Center

Feed my Starving Children volunteerism

Freedom House

Friendship Feast

Guest Speakers

High Cliff State Park

Ledgeview Caves

Madison

Mulberry Lanes

Neshota Beach

Neville

NEW Zoo

Oneida Farm

Open Door Bird Sanctuary

Pamerin Park

Polly's Pumpkin Patch

Renard Island

Red Barn Corn Maze

Ridges Nature Preserve

Ski Club

Titletown Park

UWGB Basketball Game

Weidner Center

Wildlife Sanctuary

Wildlife Sanctuary - Bats and Owls Program

How does Aldo pay for all of these experiences?

The school takes a two-pronged approach to afford these experiences:

The school requests that families pay an experiential learning fee (ELF) per student per year. This is separate from any Green Bay Public Schools fees. This fee goes 100% toward experiential learning. ALAPTO manages the ELF account.

We know that some families cannot pay the ELF. Our school is a choice school, and our students are from all kinds of backgrounds. Income is not a consideration in gaining acceptance into Aldo's program.

Bridging the gap between the ELF that comes in, and the budget that we are trying to achieve is no easy task. That is where ALAPTO comes in. 

ALAPTO is made of volunteers in the Aldo community - mostly parents and teachers, but we've had some alumni, grandparents, and others join as well. We are a non-profit organization with a mission to fund the experiential education gap at Aldo.

ALAPTO does several things throughout the year to fill the funding gap: we hold fundraisers, apply for grants, and request donations and/or sponsorships.