Nature-based school opening in Monument Valley

A new school is preparing to open in Monument Valley and the community is invited to help bring it to life.
Life Mission School, a nonprofit K–12 microschool is expanding from Monticello to add a second campus in Monument Valley. The home of the new school is the former Seventh-day Adventist school.
Life Mission School hopes to offer programs to Monument Valley youth beginning this summer.
However before classes and summer camps can begin, the school needs a safety clean-up. Miriam Petersen, owner of Life Mission School, invites volunteers to help prepare the campus for students. Volunteers of all ages are welcome!
The clean-up effort will take place on Monday, March 23 from 10 AM to 4 PM, with lunch provided for all volunteers at noon.
This project is about more than preparing the property, it is also about bringing the neighborhood together to help build something new and improve the community.
The new school, along with any volunteers, will clear broken glass and improve the outdoor space so the property is ready and safe for children.
Life Mission School will provide tools, cleaning supplies, snacks, and lunch for volunteers.
In addition to lunch, good feelings, and community togetherness, the project can also provide certified volunteer hours for those who have community service requirements.
Volunteers are encouraged to dress for outdoor work and bring a water bottle, sturdy shoes, work gloves if they have them, and clothes they do not mind getting dirty.
Those who are able are also encouraged to bring items such as a wheelbarrow, shovel, or sifting tray to filter broken glass from the soil.
By working together, participants will help create a space where children can learn, explore, and grow in a natural environment.
The campus expansion represents an exciting new chapter for Life Mission School and offers families another educational option.
The immediate vision of the new school expansion is to offer weekly summer camps to Monument Valley youth, while establishing a long-term goal of a permanent, five-day-a-week K-12 microschool.
As the program grows, the school also plans to hire local staff members to operate the campus, creating new employment opportunities while ensuring that local culture and community knowledge remain part of the learning experience.
Life Mission School, currently operating in Monticello, operates on a forest-school model. This nature inspired approach to education combines core academics with hands-on outdoor learning. Math, reading, and writing are taught through exploration in natural environments, allowing students to learn through play, discovery, and interaction with the world around them.
For many students, spending time outdoors while learning creates a deeper connection to the material and the environment.
Turns out kids do learn better when they learn outside. Research found that students who learn in nature are more engaged, build stronger social skills, and gain more confidence while making strong academic progress. Fresh air and real-world learning are a powerful combination.
The Monument Valley Life Mission School campus is located at the former Seventh-day Adventist school site, now listed on Google Maps as Monument Valley Mission School.
For more info, call Miriam Peterson at (435) 459-9796 or visit lifemissionschool.org.