What makes Explorations unique is our focus on context: The context of the school environment, the context of our local area and region, and the context of global systems are each directly incorporated into our curriculum. In this way we are educating young people for our contemporary changing world.
Explorations has been fully accredited by the Northwest Accreditation Commission since 1998, and in 2010, became a candidate member of the Pacific Northwest Association of Independent Schools.
Mission Statement
Global Community Institute and its program, Explorations Academy, ignite a passion for learning that inspires participants to collaborate effectively and take responsibility for positive global change. Our vision is to cultivate diverse communities of healthy, creative, and engaged learners and leaders, working toward a socially just and ecologically balanced world.
Location and Size
Explorations Academy is located in downtown Bellingham, Washington, a city of over 80,000 people. Bellingham is the largest city in Whatcom County - a county of immense beauty, diverse ecosystems, plentiful opportunities for outdoor leisure and adventure as well as a thriving sense of urban and rural community and an active arts and entertainment scene.
Our facility is an historic building located along the banks of Whatcom Creek. It comprises about 3000 square feet of classrooms, library, offices and project areas. However, much of an Explorations Academy education takes place outside our building; students average about one day per week on field outings, including local, regional, and international expeditions.
School enrollment has been increasing every year and a target student population of 30-36 expected for the 2011-2012 school year. Our student population is approximately 26 and we have four full-time and five part-time staff. Our curricular program is based on interdisciplinary clusters of courses which follow a common theme, with class sizes typically of ten to twelve. We run three academic terms from September to June, and offer optional summer, intersession, and independent study courses.
Check out this video to learn more about Explorations Academy's education.

