Great Smoky Mountain Adventure

CPS Science offered trips to the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont in the Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee from October 2018 through November 2023.  At the conclusion of the trips, the Science office was asked to focus on serving all students in the 5th grade at our newly developed Boone County Nature School beginning with the 24-25 school year.

The development of the Boone County Nature School (which was designed to replicate those experiential trips to the Smoky Mountains) and our desire to ensure that all students in the 5th grade had the opportunity to engage in this experience was of utmost importance.  Columbia Public Schools is now focused on enhancing the Nature School experience.  We have hired new teachers, refined our curriculum, and built a program that will serve 100% of our 5th graders to provide a rich, interactive experience locally that is aligned with Missouri Science, Math, PE, and ELA standards as well as many others. 

We are extremely grateful for our community partners, Missouri Department of Conservation, and all supporters who have made it possible for us to support all 5th grade students with this experience.  For more information about the Boone County Nature School, visit our website:

Boone County Nature School