The Oxbow approach to education is not textbook-driven or simply theoretical, but is based on creating situations where students learn by discovering on their own. An example is Oxbow’s garden-to-classroom-to-kitchen program, which spans the gamut from environmental science and organic farming to nutritional health.

The hands-on experience drives home the interconnectedness of subjects such as ecology, botany, water cycles, soil science, climate, and even the role of earthworms. What students grow is turned into delicious meals by Oxbow chefs, who emphasize daily menus that feature organic and seasonally fresh produce and other locally sourced ingredients. Students record their insights and observations in journaling assignments and read materials that explore where nature and culture intersect.