Upland Hills School encourages genius in outdoor classrooms

Alik Sifford, 11, of Shelby Twp., reads a book in front of an Army tent in The Holler, an outdoor classroom.

Adriana Oleksy, left, and Violette Harvat, both 10 and of Rochester, show school director Rob Himburg, of Lake Orion, the flags they made with their names and something that represents them in The Holler, an outdoor classroom.

Adriana Oleksy, left, and Violette Harvat, both 10 and of Rochester, show off the flags they made with their names and something that represents them in The Holler, an outdoor classroom. Adriana's flag has a heart showing how much she loves to draw hearts and Violette's flag shows a green tree sapling and red piece of candy showing how much she loves to climb trees and eat candy.

Deborah Byrd, of Addison Twp,, teacher of the 9-11 year olders, displays her students hand-made flags on the wall of her Army tent in The Hollar, her outdoor classroom.

School director Rob Himburg, of Lake Orion, talks with Adriana Oleksy, 10, of Rochester, as she leans against a hammock in The Hollar, an outdoor classroom.

Violette Harvat, 10, of Rochester, draws, 'Welcome,' in chalk on the side of the Play Fort Tree House in The Hollar, an outdoor classroom.

Violette Harvat, 10, of Rochester, draws, 'Welcome,' in chalk on the side of the Play Fort Tree House in The Hollar, an outdoor classroom.

Deborah Byrd, of Addison Twp,, teacher of the 9-11 year olders, walks through her Army tent in The Hollar, her outdoor classroom, as she passes essentions, including, bug spray, gloves, colored pencils and a lantern, among other items.

Deborah Byrd, of Addison Twp,, teacher of the 9-11 year olders, sits in her lawn chair at the bottom of The Hollar, her outdoor classroom, as she teaches.

Teacher's aid Olivia Zeiman, right, of Clarkston, rubs the back of six-year-older Daphne Harvat, of Rochester, during nap time in the tent of teacher Melissa Gervais, left, of Oxford.

Melissa Gervais, teacher of six-year-olders, takes her daughter, Evelyn Kuhn, 3, and student Lane Brennon, 6, all of Oxford, to the bathroom before they head to Prince Lake for the rest of the afternoon.

Students, 20 years ago, decided they did not enjoy walking through mud and water in this valley, so they built The Bridge.

Six-year-old students cross The Bridge en route to Prince Lake for the afternoon. The Bridge was built almost 20 years ago by students at the school.

Alec Pineau, 10, of Oxford, climbs a tree in Woodville next to their make-shift fort that houses their wood-selling business called, 'John's Lumber.'

Alec Pineau, 10, of Oxford, expresses after climbing a tree in Woodville next to their make-shift fort that houses their wood-selling business called, 'John's Lumber.'

Gavin Hill, 9, of Romeo, climbs a tree in Woodville next to their make-shift fort that houses their wood-selling business called, 'John's Lumber.'

Samantha Young, 7, of Rochester, reads a book as teacher Robert Crowe, of Lake Orion, assesses her reading skills among his classroom, which is a tent encampment.

Marley Baldiga, of Oakland, balances as she walks barefoot on logs in her tent-encampment classroom.

Marley Baldiga, of Oakland, watches as Daniel Buckner, of Rochester Hills, balances on a see saw log in their tent-encampment classroom.

This is one of the new 12-foot by 32-foot, heavy-duty canvass, four-season tents that is raised off the ground. These tents will replace the old Army tents currently in use.

The tent-encampment classroom of teacher Robert Crowe, of Lake Orion.

Marley Baldiga, of Oakland, balances on a log as her teacher Robert Crowe, of Lake Orion, watches in front of his tent, the largest in his tent-encampment classroom.