After a rocky start last year, Glen Canyon Outdoor Academy recently moved into its new, permanent location in Page and has started accepting pre-enrollment applications for the 2023-2024 academic year.

The school is also holding an open house for families of students, as well as for the general public, on Feb. 16 from 3-6 p.m. at its new location at 835 Newburn Road.

GCOA, a free public charter school with an outdoor-focused curriculum, is in its first academic year. The first classes were held on Aug. 1, 2022. At that time, the school was split into two temporary locations – one on Poplar Street and the other at the former Shepherd Preschool on South Lake Powell Boulevard – with two classrooms each.

It was not an ideal situation, but it was made necessary after the school’s first choice for a location fell through earlier in the year.   

“We have had many struggles getting locations identified,” GCOA School Leader Jim Walker told Lake Powell Chronicle. “There was a time last spring when we thought we had a location identified, but things didn’t work out. We thought we were probably done.”

Even as the first semester got underway in August at the temporary classrooms, the search continued for a permanent location. The site on Newburn Road was identified by Phoenix-based Charter Schools Development Corporation, which bought the location, renovated it and now leases it to GCOA. Classes started at the new site just last month.

“This year we only did a partial renovation of three of the buildings. There are four classrooms right now. This summer we hope to be able to renovate two additional buildings as we add more classrooms,” Walker said.

GCOA currently has 92 students enrolled in first through sixth grade. For 2023-2024, the school will add seventh grade classes and hopes to increase enrollment to around 170 students. The following year, it plans to add eighth grade classes and expand to its full capacity of 200 students. 

That will also mean increasing staff from the current faculty of four teachers and four paraprofessionals. 

“The thing we have to offer is lower class sizes, in the 22-to-24-student range,” Walker said, “and outdoor experience to support a standard-based curriculum. We do have regular classrooms for all teachers and kids, but they support their learning with outdoor activities. We get the kids outside doing research, visiting locations, doing partnerships with the National Park Service and other community agencies.”

The school has already established a greenhouse in the new location to support hands-on learning. Every Thursday, students go on a transported field trip. So far, students have taken trips to Lees Ferry to work with the NPS in planting trees, as well as to Hanging Garden, the Toadstools and Beehive Trail.    

“I think outdoor learning is something that kids are interested in. It motivates them. I think they enjoy the opportunity to be outdoors and connect their learning in the classroom with what we have to offer here in our unique geographical location in Page, Arizona,” Walker said. 

He added that he would also like to see students get involved with community-based service. “We want to do more to tie our kids to the community. That’s a big part of what we want to do, developing partnerships,” he said.

As it moves forward, GCOA recently announced that Raini Goatson will take over as school leader from Walker in the 2023-2024 school year. 

“Goatson is rooted in the community and is an experienced educator,” said a statement released by the school. “She also holds her master’s in education and is pursuing her Ph.D.”

Walker is retiring after 30 years working as a school administrator in the Page area. He helped get GCOA up and running because he believes in the school’s vision. 

“GCOA offers an alternative,” Walker said. “The alternative is that we believe in getting kids outdoors and getting them connected to the learning that takes place in the classroom. I think it engages kids. I think it interests kids. We might not be for everybody, but I think there are kids that can really benefit from our unique model.”

GCOA is currently accepting pre-enrollment applications for the 2023-2024 school year. Forms can be downloaded at www.gcoacademy.org. For more information, email enrollment@gcoacademy.org or call 928-813-8422. The public is also invited to attend the open house at the school (835 Newburn Road) on Feb. 16 from 3-6 p.m.