Through hands-on activities in movement science, technology in recreation, and environmental impact, students explore, experiment, and grow their skills while engaging with science, nature, and creative problem-solving.

Our pilot initiative, the KES Program, blends STEAM learning, outdoor education, and the recreation industry. Students engage in hands-on exploration that connects classroom concepts to real-world applications, local career pathways, and opportunities in higher education.

This interdisciplinary program encourages students to develop a fresh perspective on STEAM careers—one that values people, communities, and the planet.

Escalera Academy, LLC offers this STEAM-based outdoor education program using recreation as the applied context for learning. Through our KES framework—Kinesiology, Engineering, and Sustainability—students discover how science, design, and environmental systems shape human movement and outdoor experiences.

Our hybrid curriculum blends classroom learning with outdoor application, integrating subjects such as biology, geology, and environmental science, making them directly relevant to the spaces in which students learn and move. The KES pillars are intentionally interdisciplinary and interconnected, allowing students to see outdoor recreation as a complete system rather than a set of isolated topics.

• Kinesiology: Students explore movement science, human performance, biomechanics, and nutrition in real-world settings.

• Engineering: Hands-on learning includes performance wear and material science, sewing and construction techniques, and the mechanics behind climbing and mountain biking equipment, including bike systems and maintenance.

• Sustainability: Students examine how systems are maintained over time, including supply chains, resource use, and environmental impact. Topics such as trail design and maintenance, and the effects of human intervention in natural spaces, help students understand how recreation is made possible while also shaping the environments we depend on.

These examples represent just a portion of the curriculum. Learning expands to include any concept connected to a featured activity, reinforcing how human movement, design, and environmental systems are deeply intertwined in the way we engage with wild spaces.

Escalera Academy, LLC provides specialized services to schools, educators, and local talent. Our professional services support program implementation, educator development, and community impact.

Our services include:

• Grant Writing
  Inclusive support designed to uplift community experts and programs across all STEAMM categories—Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math, and Medicine. Strengthens local initiatives, and amplifies community-driven expertise.

• CRM and Data Management
  Implementation and management of systems to improve program/operation outcomes, and donor or partner engagement.

• Professional Workshops for Educators
  Customized training for teachers and school staff that help students explore STEAMM-related career pathways, workshops focus on advances in job application processes and college prep best-practices to ensure student success.

• Wilderness Instruction & Educational Program Support
  On-site or virtual guidance for outdoor learning programs, including experiential activities, and curriculum design. (we are WFR certified)

• College and Career Support
  Advising and mentoring to help students directly explore STEAMM-related career pathways, prepare for higher education, and connect learning to real-world applications.

Escalera Access is our nonprofit arm (pending 501(c)(3) status) that helps us expand access to our programs. Through Escalera Access, we can apply for grants and secure community support to provide scholarships, making it possible for more families and students to participate in our STEAM-based outdoor learning experiences.