Bobcat Stories

In late January, Bosque School co-hosted the 20th annual Winter Institute for the Independent Schools Experiential Education Network (ISEEN). The theme of the conference was “What’s Our Impact: Relationships as the Future of Experiential Education.” In collaboration with Sandia Prep, Bosque hosted 160 educators from across the globe so that they could learn more about how we are a leader in experiential education not only in the Southwest but also across the nation. Part of the ISEEN Winter Institute requires host schools to lead workshops where participants can get a glimpse of how students experience our educational model. Teachers Sasha Custer, Kim Fike, Aaron Morales, Dan Shaw, and Erin Zavitz led these workshops and covered topics that ranged from Art and Social Justice to the amazing work Bosque does through our Field and Community Science program. The workshops were not limited to the Bosque campus, as some groups went to the Albuquerque Museum and even as far as Jemez to learn more about how Bosque approaches experiential education. Many of the facilitators recruited student leaders to help lead the workshops. Participants noted that the students who participated were the highlight of the ISEEN experience and showcased what amazing student leaders we have here at Bosque.

 

As part of hosting the Winter Institute, Bosque had to help coordinate speakers for the opening and closing sessions. Bosque was fortunate enough to have the founder of the Keres Children's Learning Center, Trisha Moquino, and former Bosque staffulty member J’Shon Lee, serve in these critical roles to help frame the theme of the institute. Both  Trisha and J’Shon took time to discuss the importance of incorporating Indigenous worldviews into curriculum design and what it means to meaningfully and ethically engage with Indigenous communities as part of this process.

 

Bosque closed out the Winter Institute by hosting a dinner that celebrated the 20th anniversary of the founding of ISEEN. This was a particularly special event, as Dr. Jessie Barrie was one of the original founders of ISEEN. The dinner allowed participants to learn more about all the great work ISEEN has done over the past two decades while also looking to the future. The dinner was also a great way to honor Dr. Barrie and her enduring commitment to advancing experiential education in the independent school world.