A First-of-its-kind Partnership Shaping the Future of Experiential Learning
We are proud to announce a pioneering partnership with Uptown International School (UIS), the first school to join hands with Aventura in creating a new model of learning that connects education with the natural world.
This collaboration marks a transformative step forward for both institutions: uniting Aventura’s 35,000 sqm Ghaf tree forest and expertise in outdoor experiential education with UIS’s commitment to holistic, inquiry-based learning.
Together, we aim to empower students to learn in nature, from nature, and for nature, fostering the curiosity, resilience, and responsibility needed to become future leaders and stewards of the planet.
A Shared Vision for Learning Beyond the Classroom
Rooted in the belief that the best lessons are learned through experience, this partnership reflects a shared vision between Aventura and Uptown International School: to inspire learning that extends beyond textbooks and classroom walls.
UIS is the first school to embrace this forest-school partnership model, creating tangible connections between environmental awareness, academic growth, and personal development.
Through this initiative, students will experience how education can be immersive, hands-on, and deeply meaningful, preparing them not just for exams, but for life.
The Three Pillars of the Partnership
At the heart of the collaboration are three educational pillars designed to blend real-world learning with environmental consciousness:
Internship Programs
Students aged 14–17 will gain first-hand experience at Aventura through structured internships, working alongside professionals in education, operations, communications, and guest services. These internships cultivate leadership, teamwork, and accountability, offering practical
insights into the working world while nurturing personal growth, confidence, and purpose.
Forest School Programs & After School Activities
UIS students will participate in co-created forest school programs, where nature becomes both the classroom and the teacher. Delivered within Aventura’s Forest, these sessions align with the school’s curriculum, focusing on sustainability, problem-solving, and holistic growth across multiple literacies: ecological, creative, emotional, and physical.
A highlight of the partnership is UIS’s dedicated 6x6m forest plot within Aventura Parks, a living lab for biodiversity mapping, regenerative gardening, and renewable energy projects. Here, students and educators can explore, experiment, and innovate together in a fully immersive environment.
Events & Community Building
Aventura will also serve as a hub for UIS community activities, from team-building and leadership days to environmental workshops, overnight camps, and school celebrations.
These shared experiences strengthen relationships across the UIS community, helping students build resilience, collaboration, and a sense of belonging.
Learning Beyond the Classroom
Research consistently shows that nature-based learning improves academic performance, social development, and emotional wellbeing. By integrating outdoor, hands-on experiences into the school journey, UIS and Aventura are setting a new benchmark for how education can nurture both the mind and the heart.
This partnership also resonates deeply with the IB Learner Profile, encouraging students to become inquirers, thinkers, communicators, and caring global citizens who take principled action.
