School of the Wild is an outside-the-classroom learning experience that every single 6th grade student in the Iowa City Community School District enjoys. The almost 1100 students that get to participate annually are treated to a true summer camp-like adventure where they tag and release birds, study the woodlands and wetlands native to Iowa, learn about prairie sustainability, and so much more. Each of the five days spent at School of the Wild has a specific identifying goal of learning that is directly tied to curricular expectations. The whole experience serves to help students become more aware of and gain a greater appreciation for wildlife and the world’s ecosystem.
Located at the Macbride Nature Recreation Area, School of the Wild is a part of the University of Iowa College of Education’s UI WILD programming. Through the generous support from GreenState Credit Union, as well as private donations, the ICCSD Foundation is able to fully cover the cost of the this program for all of the ICCSD elementary schools.