As you explore the world around you, you discover more about yourself!
Expeditionary & STEM
Overview of Electives
Expeditionary Learning and STEM will be replacing Innovations and Discovery. Families can pick a program along with the times/day that works best for them.
We are also excited to introduce the new elective option of our Arts Academy! Families can pick classes in a block time (morning or afternoon) from several different classes. The Arts Academy is specifically designed for families to build the schedule and electives that fit your child’s learning and passions. It is going to be AMAZING, and we look forward to parent input as we make final decisions of the year one electives being offered!
CGA is building a new campus at 3046 W Maple Loop Drive in Lehi. This building will not just house Epic and Secondary students but will be the hub of our CGA Arts Academy! All epic students will have the option of choosing one of the options below for semester one and make a second choice for semester two. All elective programs are optional.
Choice 1: Expeditionary Learning off campus (similar to what Discovery was) – This semester-long elective will take your child out into nature and the world around us to experience hands-on learning! Some of these activities could be fishing, paddleboarding, nature hikes, skating, pickle ball, snowshoeing, climbing walls, outdoor sports, etc. This will be a very experiential class for your child that will not be held on campus, but rather will be out and about.
Choice 2: STEM at PG (similar to what Innovations was) plus one elective at the Arts Academy per semester. STEM will include 21st century technology experiences in the Smart Lab, exploring while learning in the Space Center and Planetarium, and excitement of farm participation through our Homesteading experiential class that will be an interdisciplinary program connecting students to the food system through planting, pruning, gardening, nutrition/meal planning, cooking, and canning with project based activities in our Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. It will also include time on the farm with the animals and taking care of them. Your child may also choose one elective from the Arts Academy which could include things like piano, dance, choir, art etc. (final class choices forthcoming).
Choice 3: This is a fullArts Academy (in Lehi) elective where you can choose up to 3 electives per semester. As mentioned, these could range from the fine arts to group piano lessons, dance, choir, karate, theatre etc. We will be sending out a parent survey to finalize the most desired electives to launch the Arts Academy.
A Google form will be sent to all enrolled students so you can choose your elective for the semester. Choose the day to attend and elective for the semester by the registration deadline. Program choices will be filled on a first come first serve basis. If a program is full please choose from what is still available.
Expeditionary Learning (for students grades 2-6)
This semester-long elective will take your child in grades 2-6th out into nature and the world around us to experience hands-on learning while trying a wide variety of activities.
A more detailed plan of activities will be sent to those who enroll for the semester, but examples of activities include fishing, paddleboarding, nature hikes, ice skating, pickleball, snowshoeing, climbing walls, tumbling, and outdoor sports. This will be a very experiential class for your child, held off campus rather than on campus.
Drop-off and pick-up will be at the PG campus. All students will ride the bus to the activities. The length of activities will vary; some will be just one week, and others will be multiple weeks. If a waiver is required for an activity, links and a “sign by deadline” will be sent to participants. Parents must sign the waiver by the deadline to ensure their student can participate.
STEM
We have filled our Pleasant Grove campus with unique resources. STEM is located at our PG campus to utilize these resources. STEM will include 21st century technology experiences in the Smart Lab, exploring while learning in the Space Center and Planetarium, and excitement of farm participation through our Homesteading experiential class. For this semester-long program, students will rotate through all three of the classes each week. Your child may also choose one elective from the Arts Academy in Lehi (see description below). You will select the day and time your student will attend this art class which will be distinct from when they will attend STEM.
Smart Lab: Building, engineering and hands-on learning happens in the Smart Lab. Each semester will offer different learning experiences. Some of the options are 3-D printers, Videogame Making, Cadding, retro platforming and Digital Coding and Art Creation.
Space Center: Our space center provides collaborative problem solving missions while our students man their stations on our space ship and work together to complete the mission. In addition to these “outer space” adventures this class will also use our Planetarium and other hands-on experiences to explore the cosmos and wonders of astronomy.
Homesteading: program covers the foundational skills needed for sustainable living and self-sufficiency, starting with organic gardening, soil management, and crop planning. It also heavily features animal husbandry, teaching students how to ethically raise and care for livestock like poultry, goats, or bees for food and materials. We will emphasize vital practical skills, including cooking, food preservation (such as canning, dehydrating, and fermenting). Finally skills like candle making, spinning wool, knitting, basic carpentry will be introduced as skills needed for farm life.
Program Manager
801-810-9141
Jana Stout
Jana loves life, learning and a good adventure. She has four children who somehow keep getting older and older. Led by a deep drive for educating and growing whole humans she has homeschooled and hybrid schooled them for 16 + years. She joined Canyon Grove Academy after creating and running her own homeschool support that taught academics, character education, art, and the chinese martial arts in the Salt Lake valley for four years. Shortly after joining Canyon Grove Academy she helped create the Discovery program and has been running that and loving it ever since. She loves creating opportunities for personal growth and personal accountability through such a wide variety of experiences.
Jana earned a BFA from BYU back in the day. She is a RYT 200 registered yoga instructor and a student of the chinese martial arts. Her love of adventure has led her around the world enjoying various cultures and the great outdoors. With also enjoying photography, she has the pictures to prove it. But her favorite moments are when she is with all of her children in the same room talking about life, teasing each other and enjoying each other’s company.
She enthusiastically looks forward to continuing to learn and grow with the students.
Expeditionary & STEMCommunication
All questions regarding sign up or electives overall can be directed to the following.
Expeditionary and STEM: Jana Stout, jana.stout@canyongrove.com, or 801-810-9141 is a cell phone number for when we are off campus.
Art Academy: Jonathan Goldberg, jonathan.goldberg@canyongrove.com or 801-785-9300
Absences can be excused through Boost.
Rules
Participation: We expect students to try their best and participate in classes and activities. Always participating is a great opportunity to practice having a positive attitude and a growth mindset. If students are refusing to participate then parents will be contacted to come and pick their student up for the day. Parents can work with the Program Manager about participation.
Respectful Behavior: Students are expected to follow our school's motto by being respectful, responsible, and ready while they are participating.
No backpacks, bags, or purses: Students do not need to bring anything for these activities, so leave bags at home. If a student needs to bring feminine hygiene products they may bring that in a bag but leave everything else at home.
No electronic devices: Please have your students leave their electronic devices at home. If we see them in use, students will be asked to put them away. If they do not listen, then the staff will hold the device until the end of the program.
No money or purchases: There is no need for students to have money at these activities. Please make sure they do not bring any. When we are off campus at various locations we do not allow students to make any purchases.
Dress Code: Students are required to wear their CGA shirt/sweatshirt as the top layer and closed toed shoes with no wheels. If your students are repeatedly not following dress code then they will not be allowed to participate and we will call you to come and pick them up.
No Food: No food or eating is allowed during these electives or on the bus. Water is allowed. If your student brings a water bottle please have their name on the bottle.
CGA Students Only: These programs are for enrolled Canyon Grove Academy students only.
Students who arrive late will miss the bus and the activity for that day.
What if my student has special needs?
On the sign up there is a space titled “Comments/Special Needs,” please use this area to list any special needs for the student, which is any information that you feel our staff needs to know. Sometimes that is information on allergies, mental health issues, behavioral tendencies, things diagnosed and not diagnosed, but would be helpful for mentors to know, etc. You will need to submit these with each registration. As mentioned before, parents and unenrolled siblings are not allowed to stay on location with us. If you have a very unique need you can contact us to see if we can find a solution.
If your student has an epi pen or any medication that they will need to bring with them. The school will need paperwork filled out on that and please let me know in the “Comments/Special Needs,” section. All medications and epi pens will need to be handed to staff members when checking in and we will carry it in a fanny pack and have it with the student’s teacher until they are checked out.
Check in/out
PG Campus Check In:
When we are on campus you can use the carpool lane to let your kids out by the front doors of the school where they will check in with a staff member. If they are late, students will check in at the front office. We will start classes and activities on time.
PG Campus Check Out:
All students must be checked out with a staff member before you take them. Simply drive through the carpool lane with your student’s name sign visible to staff and we will check out students to the first four cars. You can also park and walk up to the staff member with the roll and check out your students before you take them with you. If you are sending someone other than yourself to check out please let us know. We have 10 minutes to get everyone checked out so please arrive on time. If you are late, other groups will be checking out at that time. Your students will be taken to the front office and you will need to park and come in and get them.
Distant Location’s Bus Check In:
If your student is riding the bus they will be checked in and out of the bus. Arrive at the bus location at the time indicated on the sign up. When the bus arrives, students will line up by the door to be checked in. Once checked in they take the first seat available on the bus as directed by the bus mentor. The bus will leave as soon as all students in line are checked in. If the bus is moving when you arrive then you are late and will be responsible for transporting your student to wherever we are going that day.
Distant Location’s Bus Check Out:
At the end of the day when the bus arrives back on location students will remain on the bus until they are checked out. Parents picking up will line up by the door with a sign with their family last name or student’s name on it to show the bus driver. He will announce the name over the loudspeaker on the bus, we will check those students out and excuse them from the bus to go with you. We have 10 minutes to get students checked out so please arrive on time. If you are not there to pick them up within that 10 minutes then your students will have to ride the bus back to PG and you can pick them up at the school. The front office closes at 4:00 pm.
Can I check out my student early?
You may check your students out early from STEM and Arts Academy. Please let the program manager or front desk know in advance so we can have your student ready. Upon arrival to pick up your student, you must show your ID at the front desk. Anyone other than you checking students out early also must show their ID and be on the release list in Aspire for the student.
Transportation
Can we carpool?
Absolutely. We have many families ask about arranging carpools. Due to student and family privacy policies the school can not be a part of arranging carpools but you are welcome to arrange carpools on your own.
Can my student ride the bus?
At this time, we only offer transportation from our South Jordan and Springville locations. It is our hope that enrollment will be enough to also provide transportation from additional locations. These bus assignments are governed through parent choice and majority vote for electives. Currently, the South Jordan bus pickup is on Wednesdays and will be transporting students to the Arts Academy for the morning session. If you are enrolled in the South Jordan program and would like your student to attend the STEM or Expeditionary programs, you will need to provide transportation to the PG campus for that elective. If you are enrolled in Springville and wish to choose the bus for electives, it is currently picking up on Tuesday mornings for the AM STEM elective. If you wish to choose the arts academy or expeditionary, you will need to provide transportation for your student.
What are the bus rules?
Riding the bus is a privilege we are happy we can offer. Here are the guidelines and expectations for behavior for all students using bus transportation. We do not allow food on the bus and expect students to remain seated facing forward for the entire ride. Books to read and coloring supplies are allowed to be used during transit and will be stored on the bus while students are in classes. All other toys or cards, phones, electronics, or gadgets need to stay home. Here is a full listing of the bus rules and consequences. Please be familiar with them as noncompliance can ultimately result in losing bus privileges. When waiting for a bus, please have students stay in their car or waiting well off to the side and holding still while the bus arrives and only approach the bus for check in after it has come to a complete stop. After the bus has stopped completely then students may form a line by the bus door to get checked in.
Where do we meet the bus?
See the maps below. Please note that these bus locations are NOT where you meet for Epic but distinct locations.
Springville
Meet the bus on 700 South on the side of the Deseret Industries located at 645 S. 1750 W. Bus will park on the road next to the sidewalk. Please park in the area of the parking lot marked in blue on the map.
South Jordan
Smith Field Park
About 200 E. 13400 S. Draper. Meet in the parking lot on the north side of the 13400 South. Park near the Pavilion at Smith Fields Park (Google Map pinned location). Park in the area marked in blue on the map.
