Amos participating in a camouflage challenge with students.

Amos Pomp, a recent graduate of the EEC class of 2023, is reaching new heights in outdoor education. He’s on the Spanish faculty at the High Mountain Institute (HMI) in Leadville, Colorado. High school students combine academics with immersive backpacking and camping experiences in this unique semester school.

Amos’s role at HMI is multifaceted. He teaches three Spanish courses each semester, leads two backpacking courses, advises a group of students, and contributes to a wide range of other classes. These cover everything from communication and leadership to backcountry skills, land acknowledgment, and conflict resolution.

Amos’ teaching philosophy centers on interdisciplinary learning. He encourages students to make connections between different subjects, whether practicing Spanish during science phenomenon walks or exploring how language learning can foster different ways of knowing. These approaches align with his long-term goals of promoting positive political relationships and re-indigenizing practices.

Amos credits his experiences at IslandWood for shaping his approach to education. The immersive courses and focus on experiential learning provided him with a strong foundation in teaching philosophies, pedagogical approaches, and human development.

As he considers the future of environmental education, Amos muses, “I hope there are more schools like IslandWood and HMI that provide growth-oriented, immersive experiences in more accessible ways and locations.” He adds, “I dream of a multigenerational living and learning community/school where aging folks and high school students tell stories, canoe, and garden together in the spirit of restoring elder culture in the U.S. and connecting aging folks to youth voices.”

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