Experiential Education at Tampa Prep

Tampa Preparatory School believes that experiential education fosters a deeper understanding of the self, the world and other people. Our students are encouraged to live the Tampa Prep mission: to think, create, be yourself, aspire to excellence and go beyond. These experiential learning opportunities exemplify our mission in action.

» Sixth Graders Learn Team Building at Camp High Rocks

Our students' first encounter with Experiential Education happens in 6th grade, when students spend five days at Camp High Rocks in the North Carolina mountains. The trip fosters camaraderie and trust as students explore nature together in what is many students' first time away from home. Team-building and character development occur as students attempt rock climbing, the high ropes course, white-water rafting and canoeing. Students develop winning attitudes as they learn to challenge themselves and overcome adversity. The program builds confidence as students learn the joy of succeeding. Students leave North Carolina feeling confident and excited about the school year ahead with their supportive peers and teachers.

» Seventh Grade Keys Trip Offers Up-Close Look at Marine Wildlife

Each year, seventh graders spend a week in the Keys, exploring wildlife and experiencing nature through a variety of hands-on activities. In addition to the knowledge gained through the various activities, students are learning life skills as they spend a week away from their families, traveling with their peers and trusted chaperones. Chaperones strive to help maturing students learn to think and act independently and promote a positive self-concept. As groups work together, students develop mutual respect and learn to communicate effectively.

The Keys Trip is a culmination of the Life Science curriculum. After studying plant and animal organisms, kingdoms, species and their habitats and characteristics, students interact with these animals in their native environments. Each day is filled with interactive learning experiences the students will remember for a lifetime.

On Day One, students visit the Dolphin Research Center to learn about the Atlantic Bottlenose dolphin and actually have the chance to swim with the amazing creature! The students then visit Sombrero Beach to eat lunch, hang out and scour the shore for water animals. Later that day, students go kayaking through the Mangroves of No Name Key. They visit the Mangrove habitat up close, encountering upside-down jellyfish, mangrove crabs and, of course, red mangroves. On Day Two, students snorkel in Grass Flats to find organisms for Show and Tell on the boat. Organisms that were found this year include a sea cucumber, a tulip snail, sea urchins and many more. Students then visit the Turtle Hospital on Marathon Key. This year, students were able to give a large donation each day for their mission, which the students earned by organizing a basketball tournament and bake sale. At the Turtle Hospital, the students learn about the different types of sea turtles, see the Operating Room, and visit with the long-term and short-term residents of the Hospital. On Day Three, all students snorkel or SCUBA dive on Looe Key. Later that day, students visit Key West, where they celebrate the Sunset Festival at Mallory Square, eat dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe and take a Ghost Tour of Historical Key West.

» Eighth Grade Encounters Historic Boston Sites


Eighth graders visit historic Old North Bridge.		Students experience colonial times at Plimoth Plantation.

Each year in the fall, 8th graders board a plane for the annual trip to Boston. Students spend four days touring New England for a history trip like no other.

Mr. Fowler's history classes trace the roots of the American Revolution by walking Boston's historic Freedom Trail. Major stops include Bunker Hill, Old North Church and Paul Revere's home. Students visit the towns of Lexington and Concord where the first battles were fought, and take time for reflection at Walden Pond where Henry David Thoreau wrote his masterpiece Walden.

In the town of Salem, students visit the Salem Witch Museum, the Salem Witch Memorial and the spooky House of the Seven Gables. On the last day, they are transported to the year 1627 and live the life of a pilgrim at Plimoth Plantation. The jam-packed trip brings history to life as students encounter sites and scenes straight from their textbooks.

TBO.com ran a story about our Boston trip and its broad reach: http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/nov/12/tampa-prep-history-students-visit-boston/news-breaking.

» Experiential Learning to the Nth Degree: The Junior Pisgah Trip

View the 2009 Pisgah slideshow to see each of the 10 groups.

The Junior Class trip to Pisgah National Forest helps develop skills not necessarily formed or tested in the classroom. Each year, the picturesque mountains of Pisgah National Forest become the background for the juniors to move outside of their comfort zones to grow physically, mentally and emotionally.

Students work together to cook meals, put up tents, follow trails, build campfires and rock climb. Each member of the group experiences life-changing lessons as they discover themselves and learn the importance of encouraging and supporting each other. They begin the school year with new friends and a deeper bond from their shared experience.