Where Learning Moves Beyond the Classroom
Experiential learning challenges students to apply what they know, test what they think, and discover what they’re capable of. Whether through Project Week, field research, collaborative design, or community partnerships, students engage in work that feels real—because it is.
Learning by Doing
Experiential learning at New Hampton is not a single program but an approach embedded across disciplines and throughout the year.
Student experiences may lead them to:
- Conduct field research tied to science coursework
- Travel to deepen cultural and global understanding
- Design and present original projects
The goal is to apply knowledge and connect learning to real-world contexts.
Project Week
Project Week is a signature New Hampton experience that takes learning beyond the classroom and into the world. Each spring, students pause their regular academic schedules and spend a week immersed in hands-on projects focused on exploration, service, creativity, research, and adventure. Traveling in small groups with faculty mentors, students engage directly with new cultures, communities, ideas, and environments—gaining perspectives and experiences that stay with them long after the week concludes.
Adventure is closer than you think.
The Nancy B. Tieken Fund ensures that financial barriers never stand in the way of exploration, opening the door for students to take their Project Week beyond campus. Whether it's discovering a new city, engaging in hands-on research, or embarking on a once-in-a-lifetime experience abroad, this fund makes it possible. Each year, nearly 50 students received a grant award, allowing them to take full advantage of these transformative opportunities.
Project Week provides all students with authentic learning experiences that inspire self-discovery and global citizenship.
EVELYN LARKIN, PROJECT WEEK COORDINATOR
Service Learning
Real-world learning isn't only about what students gain—it's also about what they give. Service learning experiences challenge students to engage with community needs, build meaningful connections, and develop a lifelong commitment to civic engagement.
