K-12 Programming

Where the Classroom Has No Walls

Some lessons can only happen outside a building. Some experiences only stick when a child is standing knee-deep in a cold mountain stream, holding a mammal skull, weaving their own cloth, or sitting still in an old-growth forest at dusk listening for owls. Pine Mountain Settlement School has been offering those experiences to Kentucky students since 1972 — and today, more than 3,000 students make the trip each year.

We offer immersive, overnight field trips for students in grades K–12, built around three interconnected areas of learning: Environmental Literacy, Appalachian Arts and Culture, and Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems. Together, these three areas address what we believe education is really for — helping young people understand their relationship to the natural world, to their community, and to themselves.

Programs run 3, 4, or 5 days and are fully customized to your group, your grade level, and your curriculum.

How It Works

Your group arrives at our National Historic Landmark campus in the mountains of Harlan County, Kentucky, and for the next few days, this becomes your school. Students live together in our West Wind Dormitory, eat farm-fresh meals in the historic Laurel House dining hall, and spend their days — and some of their evenings — moving between our campus buildings, our working farm, and the 348-acre James E. Bickford State Nature Preserve that adjoins our property.

Every experience is led by our trained instructors, all of whom hold Wilderness First Aid certification. Every program is aligned to Kentucky Academic Standards and designed to build critical thinking, curiosity, and discovery alongside teamwork and genuine human connection.

What We Offer

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Pine Mountain Program Catalog

Pine Mountain Settlement School Programs

Experience	Description	Category	Grade	On Campus	School Visit	Residential	Length	Notes	Standards
Stream Ecology	View Description Collect, study, and compare biological, physical, and chemical indicators from the streams on campus. Through scientific inquiry and data collection, students become stream scientists and discover the health of stream ecosystems. Wading boots are provided and students should expect to get wet.	Environmental Literacy	K-12	●		●	1.5/3 hrs	Students will get wet	View Standards K-LS1-1, 2-LS4-1, 3-LS3-2, 5-ESS3-1...
Animals of Pine Mountain	View Description Students will interact with a variety of animals native to Pine Mountain. Students will be able to identify the species of the animals they encountered in class, describe their basic characteristics, and discuss their role in the ecosystem. (1.5 hours)	Environmental Literacy	K-8	●		●	1.5 hrs	Weather plan	View Standards K-LS1-1,K-ESS3-1...
Guided Hikes	View Description Travel through our nature preserve and see all it has to offer. An old-growth forest has so much beauty at all times of the year. Travel the split rock loop for an easy short hike with lots of sights to offer. Traverse the spicebush trails and see the enormous boulders laid between the mountains. For the seasoned or truly adventurous, take on the summit hike, our most strenuous! This trail climbs over 1000ft in approx. 1.25 miles! Guided hikes lead your group along the trail through amazing scenery and fantastic views. Proper footwear is recommended.	Environmental Literacy	All Ages	●		●	1-6 hrs	N/A	View Standards K-LS1-1...
Evening Hike	View Description Travel through our nature preserve and see all it has to offer. An old-growth forest has so much beauty at all times of the year. Travel the split rock loop for an easy short hike with lots of sights to offer. Traverse the spicebush trails and see the enormous boulders laid between the mountains. For the seasoned or truly adventurous, take on the summit hike, our most strenuous! This trail climbs over 1000ft in approx. 1.25 miles! Guided hikes lead your group along the trail through amazing scenery and fantastic views. Proper footwear is recommended.	Environmental Literacy	4-12			●	1 hr	N/A	View Standards 5-ESS1-2,MS-ESS1-1
Forest Trekking	View Description Wander through the James E. Bickford Nature Preserve and explore the natural world around you. You have three options that let you explore. (1.5 hrs.) 1. HabiTrekking - Look around and find evidence that wild animals are around you. During this trek, you’ll be looking for tracks, scat, skulls, fur, midden, and scrapes. 2. EcoTrekking – During this trek, explore the flora and fungi of Pine Mountain 3. GeoTrekking – Develop an understanding of what makes Pine Mountain and the rocks and boulders on its slope special	Environmental Literacy	K-12	●		●	1.5/3 hrs	N/A	View Standards K-LS1-1...
Forestry	View Description Students identify trees and learn strategies to properly manage a forest. Students will use forestry tools to determine tree size and height and calculate harvestable board feet. (1.5 hours)	Environmental Literacy	4-12	●		●	1.5 hrs	N/A	View Standards 4-LS1-1...
Cornhusk Flowers	View Description With roots in Appalachian Culture, agriculture and art, this class is fun for all ages. Students learn about resourcefulness and how to turn corn husks into beautiful decorative flowers. (1.5 hours)	Arts & Culture	4-12	●	●	●	1.5 hrs	Weather plan	View Standards VA:Cr2.3.2
Weaving	View Description In this class students will learn the history and process of weaving, where materials come from, how they’re processed and how it’s important to Appalachian history. Next they’ll step into our beautiful loom room that’s full of antique floor looms, one of which is original to the building. They’ll learn how a loom works, then choose their own yarn and experience making their own weaving. (1.5 hours)	Arts & Culture	4-12	●	●	●	1.5/3 hrs	Weather plan	View Standards VA:Cr2.1.7
Sewing	View Description A class favorite for all ages, students learn basic hand sewing skills while making a personal, decorative pillow. They choose their own fabric, learn to thread a needle, make knots and sew small stitches while making a pillow and discussing the importance and history of this skill. (1.5 hours)	Arts & Culture	4-12	●	●	●	1.5 hrs	Weather plan	View Standards VA:Cr2.1.7
Indigenous Peoples	View Description This class has been carefully crafted to share the story, to the best of our knowledge, and honor the Indigenous peoples of the United States, past and present. Students discuss stereotypes and learn the documented timeline of events for Indigenous people from the fourteenth century to present day. We discuss the history of Indigenous people at Pine Mountain Settlement School and envision what life would have been like on the land, pre-colonization. Students are introduced to the ways in which early communities connected with the land and each other through stories (1.5 hours)	Arts & Culture	4-12	●		●	1.5 hrs	N/A	View Standards 4.G.HI.1...
Early Settlers	View Description Students will learn a bit of history about early settlers in Appalachia and take a tour of our historical campus. They will step inside the cabin of William and Sally Creech, built in the late 1800’s and still furnished with the everyday tools they used. The instructor and students will discuss how different life was and how people made or obtained the things that were needed. This is a hands-on experience where students can use tools used during the time of early settlers (1.5 hours)	Arts & Culture	K-12	●		●	1.5 hrs		View Standards 2.H.CH.1...
Woodcarving	View Description Students gather in our industrial woodshop to make a wooden mixing spoon. They learn to use hand and power tools safely and customize their spoons with carving knives, dremels and wood burners. Students leave this class appreciating the time and skill that go into wood working and have reported a feeling of accomplishment, turning a wooden blank into a finished functional product. (1.5 hours)	Arts & Culture	4-12	●		●	1.5 hrs	Weather plan	View Standards VA:Cr1.2.7
Appalachian Play Party Games	View Description These games, one dare not call dancing, were a reward to many old timers and kids alike after a week of hard work. Explore the rich history of Appalachian play party games and get the backstory of the traditions surrounding them while getting to take part in the games for yourself. (1.5 hours)	Arts & Culture	K-12	●	●	●	1.5 hrs	Weather plan	View Standards 3.G.KGE.1
Mixed Media Art	View Description Students are simply provided space, materials and inspiration for this mixed media painting class. They use supplies such as paint, newspapers, decorative paper and ribbon etc. to create an original piece of art. This is a wonderful class, different from traditional structured workshops, where students are encouraged to explore creative freedom with no expectations or guidelines other than to create. (1.5 hours)	Arts & Culture	K-12	●	●	●	1.5 hrs	Weather plan	View Standards VA standards
Block Printing	View Description Students will learn about Appalachian Block printers and Pine Mountain Settlement School's history with Block Printing. Students will also learn about the process of Block Printing from start to finish by creating their own design, carving it into a block, and printing their design. Students get to keep their blocks and prints.	Arts & Culture	K-12	●	●	●	1.5 hrs	Weather plan	View Standards VA standards
Appalachian Music History	View Description Let us call upon the finest Appalachian musicians in the area to educate and entertain you. Celebrate our rich mountain heritage of lively tunes and heartfelt singing, while learning the history of these tunes and instruments. Tap your feet or swing your partner to the sounds of banjo, fiddle, guitar, and more. (1.5 hours)	Arts & Culture	K-12	●		●	1.5 hrs	Weather plan	View Standards 3.G.KGE.1
Folk Dance	View Description An after-dinner experience! Students will learn folk dances and party games that have brought joy and connection between communities for hundreds of years (1.5 hours)	Arts & Culture	K-12	●		●	1 hr	Weather plan	View Standards DA standards
Exploring Appalachian Identity	View Description The reality of Appalachian existence is far from the stereotypes presented in the cultural mainstream. Instead of the homogeneous caricatures popular in television and movies, Appalachia is made of diverse beliefs, faiths, and traditions. In this experience, we dive into the art of Appalachia to better understand the messages we, as a cultural group, are sending out into the broader world. What does it mean to be “Appalachian”? How do we communicate “Appalachian-ness”? How are we changing and what traditions and values remain integral to our identities? What challenges do we face as we navigate stereotypes? Various forms of art including memes, paintings, jewelry, stickers, and t-shirts will enable students to find themselves and their voices in this thought-provoking workshop. (1.5 hours)	Arts & Culture	6-12	●		●	1.5 hrs	Weather plan	View Standards VA standards
Storytelling	View Description Storytel ling is a traditional form of entertainment, but it is also an important part of communicating and maintaining cultural norms and expectations as well as expressing personal experience and identity. You may choose to participate in the storytelling process through a story circle or listen to traditional Appalachian tales told by a storyteller. (1 hour)	Arts & Culture	K-12	●		●	1.5 hrs	Weather plan
Appalachian Foodways	View Description Food is more than just calories, it is foundational to connection and culture. In this experience, students will learn the stories and meaning attached to food and prepare a traditional dish to share with each other.	Agriculture	K-12	●	●	●	1.5/3 hrs	Menu by age	View Standards 3.G.KGE.1
All About Bees	View Description Humans rely on bees to pollinate the plants we eat. Students will identify what they know about bees and expand that knowledge as they visit beehives and learn about the lives of bees. We will discuss strategies to ensure bees can thrive with humans. Students will make candles from beeswax and end their experience with taste-testing local honey (1.5 hours)	Agriculture	K-12	●		●	1.5 hrs	Bee allergies	View Standards K-LS1-1...
Compost the Most	View Description Composting is key to a sustainable food system. Students will learn about the microbes and nutrients needed for a fertile environment while making a compost tea for the garden. We will discuss the principles of composting and model the flow of energy and matter in a sustainable food system.	Agriculture	K-12	●	●	●	1.5 hrs	N/A	View Standards K-ESS3-3...
Planting Party	View Description Planting has traditionally been a group activity. Communities and/or families would join together to plant the food that would sustain them throughout the year. Depending on the season of your visit, students will join in planting seeds that will, in turn, grow into food that will be served in campus meals or preserved. Students will learn about the family of plants (Brassicaceae, Solanaceae, Cucurbitaceae, and Amaranthaceae), their growth needs/seasonality, and how their structures make them useful to humans. This experience is limited to August, February, March, April, and May. (1.5 hours)	Agriculture	4-12	●	●	●	1.5 hrs	Seasonal	View Standards 1-LS1-1...
Plants and Potions	View Description Plants are the basis for so many things, including products we use everyday. Students will learn about the properties of plants used in traditional medicine and make lip balm from beeswax and essential oils and natural insect repellent made from essential oils. (1.5 hours)	Agriculture	4-12	●		●	1.5 hrs	Weather plan	View Standards 2-PS1-2...
Tea Time	View Description Tea is significant throughout world history. In this experience, students will learn to identify the plants used in herbal teas and learn about the properties that make them so important. Students will learn the etiquette of engaging in the social experience of having tea by preparing and sharing tea and refreshments with each other. (1.5 hours)	Agriculture	K-12	●		●	1.5 hrs	Allergies	View Standards CCSS.ELA...
Natural Dyes	View Description Plants are used in dyeing wool and cotton to create beautiful fabrics. Students will use plants to create dye that they will then apply to natural fibers. We will discuss the transformation of the plants into colors and discuss the chemical processes involved in creating colors. (1.5 hours)	Agriculture	4-12	●		●	1.5/3 hrs	N/A	View Standards 4-LS1-1...
Portal 31 Trip	View Description Let us direct you to or shuttle you to the legendary US Steel Portal 31 Mine in Lynch, Kentucky. Located just 20 miles from campus, the underground mine tour takes visitors on a coal car deep into the mountain, making stops at exhibits that explain the process and history of mining in the area. Additional Cost Per Person $17.95 per student $22.95 per adult	Off Campus	K-12			●	3 hrs	Additional cost	View Standards 4-ESS3-1, MS-ESS2-2, HS-ESS2-6

2025–2026 Residential School Price Guide

Duration	Includes	Cost Per Student	Teacher/Chaperone*	Extra Adult
3 Days / 2 Nights	9–12 hours of instruction 2 special evening programs 6 meals Lodging with linens provided	$250	FREE	$300
4 Days / 3 Nights	15–18 hours of instruction 3 special evening programs 9 meals Lodging with linens provided	$325	FREE	$375
5 Days / 4 Nights	27–30 hours of instruction 4 special evening programs 12 meals Lodging with linens provided	$400	FREE	$450

* One complimentary chaperone is included for every 10 students.

The biggest thing for me as a teacher was the bonding experience with the students. You get to know them so well and they really gain a level of trust for you that you can’t get in a classroom. So that means they end up working harder for you in the classroom setting. Their behavior is better, you just have a new relationship with them afterwards. I know it might sound cliche but for the students it truly is a once in a lifetime time experience.

Educator
Getting our students out in nature was huge. We are an urban school surrounded by concrete. Having the students outside to learn about ecology, sustainability, and Appalachian culture was amazing. Lady was also a great support dog.

Educator
The experience of being out in nature and away from technology was an eye-opening experience for many of our students. I think it forced them to confront their perceived limits and in many cases push past them.

Educator

Planning Your Visit

Step 1 — Contact us. Reach out to begin the conversation about dates, group size, and grade level. We'll help you identify the right program mix. Book early, dates fill quickly, especially in the Spring.

Step 2 — We build your schedule. Based on your goals, grade level, and the time of year, we create a custom itinerary — typically 4 to 6 experiences per day, including an evening program each night.

Step 3 — We send home the parent letter and packing list. Everything your families need to prepare is ready to share.

Step 4 — You arrive. Everything else is taken care of.

Frequently Asked Questions

Students spend most of their time outdoors, rain or shine. Sturdy waterproof shoes or rain boots, warm layers, a rain jacket, and a reusable water bottle are essential. A full packing list will be provided to teachers when booking is confirmed.
All medications are collected from students at arrival and administered by chaperones, stored in a secure location throughout the visit.
Cell service on campus is limited by design. This is part of the experience. In case of a family emergency, the main office at (606) 558-3571 is always reachable.
Many of our experiences can be adapted for students with limited mobility. Let us know your group's needs when you book and we will make it work.
Students are housed in the West Wind Dormitory, a comfortable, well-appointed building in the heart of campus. Rooms are separated by gender and supervised by chaperones. Linens — sheets, pillow, blanket, towel, and washcloth — are provided for every student.
Meals are served in Laurel House, our historic dining hall, and feature food grown right here on our campus farm, prepared fresh by local staff. All dietary needs and food allergies can be accommodated — just let us know in advance.

Forms and Information

Student Health/ Emergency Information Form

Packing List

Campus Map

Campus Safety, Access and Use Policies