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A joyful environment is key to learning.

In 1926, Country Day was established in a rural setting to take advantage of the numerous resources available in a natural, unsettled environment. The founders were committed to outdoor education, and in particular, the study of nature. Student devoted the afternoons to outdoor play and sports or nature study in the fields and woodlands.

As the impact of technology continues to shape the world in which we live, research now shows that outdoor education and play are important component of student development. To that end, our school is committed to growing the environmental programming for all of our students, early childhood through grade 12, with a purposeful, connected, and innovative environmental curriculum. We continue to instill a culture of sustainability and purposeful connection to the natural world through education, partnerships, action, and self-assessment that empower and inspire our community members to be stewards of our environment.

Since its founding in 1926, the 60-acre campus has played an important part in fulfilling CCDS’s mission. Today, our talented teachers nurture curiosity in the natural world, engage students in real-world research on campus, and develop environmentally literate citizens.

Our environmental commitment includes a full-time director of outdoor education, an endowed environmental council, an environmental education center and several partnerships with regional environmental organizations.

Students school-wide, from 18 months through grade 12, enjoy the outdoors as part of their education. Open-ended discovery of the natural world begins in our early childhood program, is bridged by a rich experiential programming through Middle School and is continued as a source of camaraderie and social action in the Upper School.

All-School and Cross-Divisional Environmental Initiatives

CCDS is exceptional, in part, because of the connections and bonds that develop among faculty, students, alumni, and friends. Many environmental initiatives and projects take place on our 60-acre campus that involve children of all ages, adults, community members, institutional partners, and alumni.  These opportunities are wonderful learning experiences in the areas of life cycles, conservation, and sustainability.

All-school projects have included:

More Information

For more information on our environmental commitment please contact:

Jana Westhoven, Outdoor Education Lead Teacher
(513) 979-0398
westhovej@countryday.net

LeeAnn Bertsch, Environmental Council Chair
bertschl@countryday.net