MorningField Studies
Out before the dew dries — collecting data, taking notes, and reading the landscape like a map of stories.
NCUHS · Northeast Kingdom, VermontThe Kingdom
The Kingdom
Course
Education through field studies, recreation, and service.
Where freshmen and sophomores explore the Northeast Kingdom through hands-on projects, real-world learning, and lifelong adventure.
What it is
An education that
happens out there.
The Kingdom Course is NCUHS's experiential program for freshmen and sophomores — learning that lives in the field, on the water, and in the community. Core standards aren't abandoned; they're met in ways a classroom can't reach.
Students build a real resume and cover letter, keep a student blog, and finish with a culminating, student-generated project presented at a public exhibition. It's rigorous, demanding, and quietly transformative.
Field Studies
Water sampling on Lake Memphremagog, forest transects, and species surveys — science learned where it actually happens.
Recreation
Canoeing, hiking, and backcountry skill-building that turn the Northeast Kingdom into a living classroom.
Service
Trail stewardship and community projects with local partners — work that leaves the Kingdom better than we found it.
Projects
Student-driven inquiry that culminates in a public exhibition and a finished resume, cover letter, and portfolio.
The rhythm
A day in the Kingdom
From first light to last light — how a day actually moves when the Northeast Kingdom is your classroom.
Morning
MiddayRecreation
On the water and on the trail. We move our bodies, build trust, and learn the country by walking through it.
AfternoonCommunity Partners
Working alongside local organizations — trails maintained, habitats restored, relationships built.
Close of DayWellness & Reflection
Slowing down to take stock. Journaling, group circles, and the quiet that only the Kingdom offers.
Who it's for
For freshmen & sophomores who'd rather be outside
The Kingdom Course is built for students who learn best by doing — who come alive in the woods, on the water, and around a shared project. If that's you, this is your invitation.
- Curiosity about the world outside the classroom walls
- Willingness to be outside in all kinds of Vermont weather
- Commitment to a team and to shared stewardship
- Desire to build real, demonstrable skills and a portfolio
- Readiness to present work publicly at the culminating exhibition
Student showcase
Work worth showing off
Field studies, service projects, and the culminating public exhibition — plus featured student stories from the blog.
Public ExhibitionSpring Capstone Showcase
Students present original field research and student-generated projects to families, partners, and the community.
Field StudyMemphremagog Water Quality Survey
A multi-week study of lake health, sampling and reporting alongside regional watershed partners.
ServiceKingdom Trails Stewardship
Adopted sections of backcountry trail — built, repaired, and mapped by Kingdom Course crews.
Student StoryFrom Classroom to Backcountry
A featured student blog on building confidence, a resume, and a real relationship with place.
In their words
Growth they can feel
"My kid came home muddy, exhausted, and glowing. For the first time, school felt like the most important thing in their life."
Parent of a sophomore
Northeast Kingdom family
"I learned how to write a resume and a cover letter by actually needing one. The exhibition gave me something real to show."
Kingdom Course student
Class of 2025
"They meet core standards, but they meet them in the field — and the retention is remarkable. This is what learning can be."
Amy Pickering
Flexible Pathways, NCUHS
Upcoming experiences
On the calendar
Field studies, service days, and the culminating public exhibition. The seasons shape the schedule.
OCT24
Field Study
Lake Memphremagog Shoreline Survey
Newport waterfront
NOV07
Service
Kingdom Trails Build Day
East Burke
NOV22
Recreation
Autumn Summit Hike
Willoughby State Forest
DEC12
Community
Open House & Info Session
NCUHS, Newport
JAN16
Field Study
Winter Tracking & Snowpack Study
Highlands area
MAY30
Exhibition
Kingdom Course Capstone Showcase
Public exhibition
The Northeast Kingdom
Learning with the people & the place
The Kingdom Course is built on relationships — with the stewards, scientists, and guides who know this country best. Our partners open doors that a classroom never could.
NorthWoods Stewardship CenterMemphremagog Watershed AllianceKingdom Trails AssociationVermont State ParksCraftsbury Outdoor CenterUVM Extension · 4-H
Lake Memphremagog · Willoughby State Forest · the highlands of the Northeast Kingdom
How to join
Take your first step into the Kingdom
Express interest below and our Flexible Pathways team will reach out — or schedule a conversation directly with Amy Pickering.
Schedule a conversation
Talk with Amy Pickering about whether the Kingdom Course is the right fit — for the student or the family.
Book a timeOr call (802) 334-2521
Prefer to talk it through?
Connect with Amy Pickering, Flexible Pathways coordinator. We're happy to answer questions from students and families.
apickering@ncuhs.orgEnrollment opens each spring
Spaces are limited. Expressing interest early helps us plan a cohort that fits each student.