As the director of Upland Hills School in Addison Township, Phil Moore’s spent most of his life educating children and encouraging them to not only live their lives in tune with nature, but help find solutions to the planet’s most-pressing environmental problems.
To honor his efforts, the 61-year-old Oxford resident recently received the Julian Smith Award from the Michigan Alliance for Environmental and Outdoor Education.
Each year, the award is bestowed on the individual who exemplifies the best in the field of outdoor education.
‘To get an award from an organization that is so concerned with outdoor education is an honor because that’s really what we set out to do when we began here in 1971,? said Moore, who became director shortly after the school’s founding. ‘It’s a recognition of the entire Upland Hills learning community’s work, which includes the farm, the ecological awareness center and the school.?
One of the school’s founding principles is ‘the natural world should be a primary teacher.?
Teaching the need for connection to the natural world is absolutely critical when educating students, in Moore’s opinion, because they will have to confront climate change, otherwise known as global warming.
‘Although many people still don’t really understand the implications of confronting climate change, it is, I believe, the single most series issue that humanity has ever encountered,? he said. ‘It should be a foundation for anyone who’s working with young children to be working on the solutions to things that promote climate change.?
In addition to traditional academic subjects, students at Upland Hills School learn about ‘sustainability,? which is the idea that humanity’s survival on this planet is dependent on the well-being of the natural world and responsible use of natural resources.
‘Teaching sustainability is really rewiring people to live in a very different way with a much lighter footprint than we have (left) up until now and with a consciousness that takes into consideration the generations that will come after us,? Moore explained.
Changing the ‘footprint? humanity leaves on the planet is more than just reducing the amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases we emit, according to Moore.
‘It’s about changing the life-style that has up until now said consume as much as you want, throw away without thinking about where it ends up, use water as if it was an inexhaustible resource,? he said.
Looking back over his 38-year career Moore has a lot to be proud of.
‘I’m really proud of the children who have grown up through our school, gone out into the world and are making a difference in their communities from places as far away as Prague, Czech Republic to Antarctica,? he said.
Former Upland Hills students are helping save the planet and in the process, making their mark upon the world in a variety of ways.
‘A couple of our (former) students are involved in the development of large wind farms and are on the forefront of that industry,? Moore said. ‘A couple of our (former) students are deeply imbedded in the national park system and are teaching children from disadvantaged neighborhoods and situations how to love and appreciate the natural world.?
Moore believes ‘the greatest joy for a teacher? is when ‘you form a strong bond with a student,? who then ‘surpasses you in terms of their understanding, appreciation and knowledge of the world.?
‘I can assure you there’s hundreds of children that I know, parents as well, who have transcended my understanding of the world and are doing phenomenal things in helping to change the world,? he said.
In addition to his duties as headmaster, Moore teaches several classes at the school, which currently boasts an enrollment of 83 students in grades K-8. ‘That’s full for us,? he noted.
Two of the most interesting classes Moore teaches are called ‘Adventure Playground? and ‘Wild.?
Adventure Playground takes place every Friday for two hours on the school’s outdoor ropes course, which includes a 200-yard zip line that allows students to soar 20 feet in the air from one tree to another.. Moore said the various ropes challenges encourage students to cooperate and use their bodies to succeed.
‘It’s physical education without it being competitive,? he said. ‘You only go as far and as high as you’re comfortable with. There’s never any pressure.?
The Adventure Playground class has led some former Upland Hills students to achieve great heights ? literally. ‘Some of the kids who have gone to our school are in that very rarified air of being a part of an international mountain climbing group,? Moore said.
‘Wild? is another of Moore’s classes that focuses on teaching students about ‘what’s growing wild in the world around us.?
Students learn about delicious natural foods by hunting for morel mushrooms and tapping maple trees to make syrup.
They also learn which plants are poisonous and which possess medicinal value. ‘We just have a wonderful time learning about what exists in the environment we live in,? Moore said.
To learn more about Upland Hills School visit www.uplandhills.org or call (248) 693-2878.
very different way with a much lighter footprint than we have lived up until now and with a consciouness that takes into consideration generations that will come after us,? Moore explained.
Changing the ‘footprint? humanity leaves on the planet is more than just reducing the amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases we emit, according to Moore.
‘It’s about changing the life-style that has up until now said consume as much as you want, throw away without thinking about where it ends up, use water in a way as if it was an inexhaustible resource,? he said.
Looking back over his 38-year career Moore has a lot to be proud of.
‘I’m really proud of the children who have grown up through our school, gone out into the world and are making a difference in their communities from places as far away as Prague, Czech Republic to Antarctica,? he said.
Former Upland Hills students are helping save the planet and make their mark upon the world in a variety of ways.
‘A couple of our (former) students are involved in the development of large wind farms and are on the forefront of that industry,? Moore said. ‘A couple of our (former) students are deeply imbedded in the national park system and are teaching children from disadvantaged neighborhoods and situations how to love and appreciate the natural world.?
Moore believes ‘the greatest joy for a teacher? is when ‘you form a strong bond with a student,? who then ‘surpasses you in terms of their understanding, appreciation and knowledge of the world.?
‘I can assure you there’s hundreds of children that I know, parents as well, who have transcended my understanding of the world and are doing phenomenal things in helping to change the world,? he said.
In addition to his duties as headmaster, Moore teaches several classes at the school, which currently boasts an enrollment of 83 students in grades K-8.
‘That’s full for us,? he noted.
Two of the most interesting classes Moore teaches are ‘Adeventure Playground? and ‘Wild.?
Adventure Playground takes place every Friday for two hours on the school’s outdoor ropes course, which includes a 200-yard zip line that allows students to soar 20 feet in the air from one tree to another..
Moore said the various ropes challenges encourage students to cooperate and use their bodies to succeed.
‘It’s phyiscal education without it being competitive,? he said. ‘You only go as far and as high as your comfortable with. There’s never any pressure.?
The Adventure Playground class has led some former Upland Hills students to achieve great heights ? literally.
‘Some of the kids who have gone to our school are in that very rarified air of being a part of an international mountain climbing group,? Moore said.
‘Wild? is another of Moore’s classes that focuses on teaching students about ‘what’s growing wild in the world around us.?
Students learn about delicious natural foods by hunting for morel mushrooms and tapping maples trees to make syrup.
They also learn which plants are poisonous and which possess medicinal value.
‘We just have a wonderful time learning about what exists in the environment we live in,? Moore said.
To learn more about Upland Hills School visit www.uplandhills.org or call (248) 693-2878.