Learning beyond the classroom: Inside Mountain School

Students part of Aiglon’s Wonder Years (Years 2-6) in the Junior School have now experienced Mountain School for two years. Our programme leaders provide insights on the learnings from this winter term. 

On Thursday mornings this winter term, Aiglon’s youngest students could often be found digging in the snow, examining alpine plants or discussing how animals survive the winter.

These days form part of Mountain School, a programme within the Wonder Years curriculum designed to connect classroom learning with the surrounding alpine environment.

Students in Years 2 to 6 participate in the programme, with activities adapted to each age group. For younger students in Years 2 to 4, Mountain School takes place as a full “mountain day” each week. Older students in Years 5 and 6 take part in shorter sessions that fit around their academic timetable. During the winter term, the activities are extended by ski lessons in the afternoon.

Mountain School focuses on key themes such as sustainability, interculturalism, entrepreneurship, and innovation. This inquiry-driven curriculum ensures that our students are not only gaining knowledge but also developing the character and oracy skills essential for real-world success.

Sebastien (Seb) Bernaert, Wonder Years Expeditions Coordinator, leads the programme and focuses on bringing learning into the landscapes students are studying.“We take the students out of the classroom so they can experience the mountains directly,” he explains. “When they’re outside, they start noticing things and asking questions. They’re exploring, but they’re also learning at the same time.”

Throughout the year, Mountain School takes students to different locations in the region so they experience the alpine environment in changing conditions. During the winter term, activities are often based around the Maison de la Montagne, a mountain hut that serves as a base for the day.

“The students really enjoy going there,” Seb says. “It’s a welcoming place where they can warm up, share a hot meal and prepare for the activities outside. From there we head straight out into the mountains.”

Theme for the Winter Programme: Adaptation 

The programme is closely linked to what students are learning in school. Seb works with Rebecca Whelan, Deputy Head of the Junior School, to align Mountain School activities with the broader themes of the Wonder Years curriculum.“Each term we focus on a central question,” says Seb. “This winter we explored the idea of adaptation—why living things are the same in some ways and different in others. We looked at it through animals, plants and humans.”

For Amber Whewell, Expeditioner, who teaches alongside Seb, the Alpine environment provides a wealth of examples that connect classroom learning to real life. “Alpine plants have incredible survival strategies,” she says. “Some have tiny hairs to keep them warm. Others grow flat to the ground so they are protected from strong winds.”

Students chose their favourite plants and later presented them to the class. Observations like these often lead to wider discussion as students connect what they see outdoors with ideas they encounter in the classroom.

Another session explored how humans adapt to cold environments. Students examined different clothing materials and compared natural fibres such as wool with modern technical fabrics used in mountain gear.

“They were already learning about layering and fabrics in school,” says Seb. “Mountain School gives them a real context. The students experimented with wool and even created felted hats. At that age they enjoy making something physical.” Winter conditions also create opportunities to explore the science of snow. After recent snowfall in the region, the topic of avalanches quickly captured the students’ attention.

“We built small models in the snow and looked at how avalanches form,” Amber says. “The students created barriers and experimented with different slopes to see when the snow might move.”

Moments like these often begin informally. Students may start the day sliding down a hill, making tunnels in the snow or simply exploring. Soon the questions begin. “Then they start asking why the snow behaves the way it does,” Seb says. “That’s when the discussion really starts.”

The Connection with Aiglon Expeditions 

Mountain School complements Aiglon’s well-known expedition programme, which takes place mainly on weekends and focuses on challenge and outdoor skills. Mountain School, by contrast, takes place during the school week and links closely with academic subjects.

“It’s much more connected to the curriculum,” says Seb. “The aim is to explore the ideas students are already studying, but in a natural environment.”

For many students, especially those who are new to mountain landscapes, the programme provides an important introduction to the environment around the school. “Some students haven’t spent much time in the mountains before,” Seb says. “They’re discovering it step by step. They’re enjoying themselves, but they’re also learning a lot along the way.”

The programme, which began only two years ago, continues to evolve each term. This upcoming summer term, students will also take part in a dedicated session led by instructors from the Bear Grylls Survival Academy, focusing on practical outdoor skills and teamwork.

For many students, Mountain School is a highlight of the week and an opportunity to learn in a setting very different from the classroom.