Sustainability in the Curriculum

Teacher and students work in greenhouse

NMH’s academic sustainability courses ground students in a deeper understanding of their role in at least two of the three elements of a sustainable system (social well-being, economic prosperity, and environmental health).

The following sustainability courses empower students to become more informed and conscientious global citizens of a changing world. There is no requirement to be met; only an opportunity. NMH strives to make sustainability opportunities available to all students at all levels of study through these courses, in addition to the Collaborative Curriculum Project (which brings campus operations into classroom study), the annual cross-curricular Farmers’ Market Teach-In, and many other individual classroom projects.


Humanities
• ENG 453 Senior English: Literature and the Environment 

• HIS 211 Topics in World History 

• HIS 473 New Zealand History 

• Humanities II: China 

• Humanities II: South Africa

• IND 890 The Rhodes Fellowship Course in Social Entrepreneurship 

• IND 210B Water and Humanity 

• REL HIS 7 Global Inequities and Climate Change: 21st Century Responses 

• REL 111 Humanities I: Introduction to Religious Studies 

• REL 426 Theology of the Oppressed: Voices from the Margin 

• SOC 412 Economics 


Science
• ENV 411 Environmental Studies 

• ENV 415 Environmental Studies: An International Perspective 

• ENV 419 The Science of Farming 

• ENV 511 Advanced Placement Environmental Science 


World Languages
• FRE 411 French IV: Contemporary Issues in the French-Speaking World 

• FRE 421 Honors French IV 



NMH Collaborative Curriculum Projects

Each year, NMH sponsors a collaborative curriculum project. Developed jointly by a teacher and a member of the operational staff, each project offers students an opportunity to see classroom theory embedded in the practice of campus operations and gives them a deeper understanding of the systems that sustain us.

The project started as a collaborative effort between the institutions of the Eight Schools Association and was funded by an E. E. Ford Foundation grant. Recent projects are listed below.

  • Digital Design. Students explore graphic design and branding concepts, with NMH branding as the subject of study. Taught by Pam Lierle and Harry van Baaren of Communications, and Lauren S. Corwin of Visual Arts. Read the course's final report.
  • “Who’s Gonna Stop It?”: Environmental Ethics and the Curious Case of the Radium Girls Created by Elizabeth Patterson (then theater program director) and Tim McKinney (environmental safety coordinator). Read the project’s final report. Read a news story about this project.

  • Conversations with Objects: Transcendence of Place Created by Jen Keator (Humanities I teacher) and Sara Karz Reid (archives). Read the project’s final report. Read a news story about this project.

  • Greens for a Day Created by Mary Hefner (Science of Farming teacher) and Erin Kassis (then NMH farm co-manager) Read the project’s final report. 

  • Digestion and Nutrition Unit Created by Craig Hefner (Human Physiology teacher) and Carrie Quimby (assistant director, dining services). Read the project’s final report.

  • What Does it Take to Feed a School? Created by Eleanor Conover (Video as Visual Art teacher) and Jennifer Sutton (writer/content editor, communications).

  • Historical Perspective on the Global Food System and Its Impact on NMH Created by Sean Foley (World History teacher), Rich Messer (director of dining services), Liam Sullivan (then NMH farm director), and Peter Weis (archivist). Read the project’s final report.

A bird's eye view

Get an interactive view of our 215-acre campus

Rob Werner ’79

This environmental lobbyist wants to talk to you about climate change.

Gretel Schatz

I want dance students to engage their own memory and intellect.

Becca Malloy

Science isn't just talk, but it certainly helps.

Mary Hefner

I love teaching AP Bio. The kids are highly motivated.

Faculty Profiles
Mitike

This past summer, I increased my awareness of my identity by reconnecting with my native country, Ethiopia.

Ryan

“I don’t think I would be anywhere near the person I am today if it wasn’t for NMH. It’s enlightened me about so many different things, and I’ve met people from everywhere you can imagine.”

Josh

In my old school, I never saw myself as someone who could be a Division I player one day. Now I can.

David

"One of my biggest influences has been my math teacher. He built this love of math in me—specifically, the idea that math can be used to interpret the world." 

Lila

"The fact that everything is here at my fingertips has really helped me grow."

Ismini

"Almost all of our classes are conversation-based, which means that you're totally engaged in classroom discussion."

Noah

"I enjoy helping my friends, and it's given me a new respect for teachers. I may even go into teaching myself one day."

Isaac

"In VOTES, I learned how to prepare and present—skills I drew on in Washington."

Yvonne

 "This year, I'm field hockey captain. I enjoy giving advice and support."

David

“I like that you can start completely new things. You can reinvent yourself.”

Maggie

Dance has taken this creative learner on an artistic journey. 

Xiaoxian (Lily)

 “My teachers told me to use my own voice, and they pushed me to think about what I really believed in.”

Abby

"The curriculum here is hard, but it’s the right amount of hard."

Ngone

“The academics are extremely rigorous, but because of the way teachers present things, it’s like, ‘I have school today!’”

Eli
Eli

“The learning you can do in a study-abroad program can outweigh anything else you can do even at a school like this.” 

Kevin

“NMH encouraged me to explore new things, try everything, and see what’s best for me.”

Isabella

“You’ll always find a place here as long as you just be yourself.”

Melvin

“There is a community here that cares about you.”

Student Profiles