Adventure
“It is very much our mission to transform the prose of this life into poetry, into heroic verse.”
— St. Josemaría Escrivá, Furrow
In the Classroom
At Sparhawk we believe that learning should be an adventure, not a chore, and this belief strongly informs our curriculum. From battle reenactments in history classes to exploring the extensive fields, woods, trails, and wetlands of our campus in science classes, Sparhawk students engage their minds through interaction with the world and people around them.
Our curriculum emphasizes stories that both appeal to a boy’s thirst for adventure and strengthen his moral imagination—the capacity to understand his life as part of a grand story in which he plays an important role. Through the exploration of good literature, a panorama of uniquely human questions arise such as: Why is adventure important in a life well-lived? The boys reflect on the importance of stepping out of one’s comfort zone, the value of bravery, and the transformation that comes from overcoming adversity.
On the Grounds
Movement matters for boys. By giving boys the freedom to run and play, Sparhawk counters the boredom and restlessness commonly found when boys are confined to a classroom or stuck behind a screen. When boys are free to explore, their curiosity is activated, their minds sharpen, and learning happens organically through experience.
Sparhawk students spend more than 60 minutes outside each day, with ample opportunity to seek and find new adventures and challenges, from building forts, to catching frogs, to pickup sports. In addition to daily physical education classes, students enjoy two 5-minute breaks, two 15-minute breaks, and a 45-minute lunch and recess break each day.
On the Grounds
Movement matters for boys. By giving boys the freedom to run and play, Sparhawk counters the boredom and restlessness commonly found when boys are confined to a classroom or stuck behind a screen. When boys are free to explore, their curiosity is activated, their minds sharpen, and learning happens organically through experience.
Sparhawk students spend more than 60 minutes outside each day, with ample opportunity to seek and find new adventures and challenges, from building forts, to catching frogs, to pickup sports. In addition to daily physical education classes, students enjoy two 5-minute breaks, two 15-minute breaks, and a 45-minute lunch and recess break each day.
Out in the World
Sparhawk students embark on regular field trips to historic sites and culturally significant locations throughout New England. The Sparhawk faculty embrace field trips as an essential extension to the learning that happens each day in our classrooms and throughout our grounds. These trips can incorporate outdoor adventure, community service, and field learning—from learning about geography and the nature of a specific landscape to visiting historical places, art museums, and nursing homes. All field trips are opportunities for boys to grow in character.
An end-of-year capstone trip is carefully planned and led by each homeroom teacher and members of the faculty. The itinerary is designed to complement the class’s curriculum while presenting an opportunity to strengthen the bonds of friendship through a shared adventure. From camping expeditions to the White Mountains of New Hampshire and Fort Ticonderoga in New York, to white-water rafting in Maine, to exploring our nation’s capital, Sparhawk Academy cultivates a habit of lifelong exploration.