Teacher: P. Jayesh Narasimhulu and Jamie York
Dates for 3-week course:
June 8th to June 27th, 2026
Location for live course: Paonia, CO
Course Description
- While many traditional tasks and occupations have become obsolete with the advancement of machines and technology, it remains valuable to learn how this modern world actually works. Surveying, the science of accurately locating points on the earth for the purpose of making maps, serves as an excellent example of how mathematics and technology can be applied in the modern world. This in-person main lesson will transport students into the magical world of numbers, geometry, and map-making during three weeks of fieldwork and classroom sessions.
- The lessons will integrate math, technology, geography and nature’s outdoor classroom, to enliven learning and build lifelong relationships with peers and teachers. During these three weeks, we will connect by working, studying, preparing meals, hiking, and sharing stories with the backdrop of the Colorado Rocky Mountains.
Steiner pedagogy is based essentially on two basic movements in the teaching process: to bring willing into thinking and thinking into willing. The surveying main lesson takes the teaching out of the classroom into intellectually and emotionally unfamiliar settings, demanding teamwork, in addition to synergising and integrating the two fundamental pedagogical processes above.
- This course is for students who completed 9th grade math.
Details about the in-person experience
- Where will it take place? It will be on Jamie York’s land in Paonia, on the beautiful Western Slope of Colorado.
- When is it? Students will arrive on Monday, June 8 and depart on Saturday, June 27.
- Who can attend? This course is open to all high school students who have at least completed 9th grade.
- What will we be doing? This is a very hands-on, experiential main lesson! Every day, we will be out in the field, using surveying equipment to take measurements of the land, and then (in the classroom) learning about the mathematics and methods for translating those measurements into the creation of a highly accurate map.
- Who is teaching the course? Jayesh Narasimhulu (a personal friend of Jamie from India) is the lead teacher, with Jamie York and Niek Slooter assisting. Marnie Haluska (a parent in our Academy) will be serving as our chaperone.
- What about food and lodging? Students will either camp in tents on Jamie’s land, or share a room in Jamie’s house or a neighbor’s house. Preparing and cleaning up meals will be a group activity. Jobs will be shared on a rotating schedule.
- How do I get there? Although some students may travel with a parent, most will be flying on their own. Paonia is around 1 hour from the Montrose Regional Airport (MTJ). We will pick up and drop off the students at the Montrose airport.
- What is the cost? There will be a $380 down payment for students planning to participate in the course. The total cost is estimated to be $1,765, which includes lodging, food, and transportation (not including your cost of getting to Colorado) will be billed before the course starts. This cost is an estimate, and will vary somewhat depending upon enrollment.
- What about cell phones? Read about our cell phone policy here.
