About WMAES

Learning is in our nature!

Our History

Ever wondered what it’s like to snowshoe through a maple forest or bake homemade pizza in a wood-fired mud oven? At West Michigan Academy of Environmental Science, our students don’t wonder, they experience it.

Since our founding, we’ve believed that children learn best when learning comes alive. Our 62-acre campus provides a living, breathing classroom where students transition from desks to dirt and discover the world around them through hands-on exploration. Working gardens, nature trails, forests, wetlands, and prairies support every child’s curiosity and spark a lifelong love of learning.

Beyond our outdoor spaces, students benefit from strong academic programs rooted in STEAM, character education, differentiated instruction, accelerated learning, and a positive school culture, all hallmarks of a high-performing charter school. Every day, our #EnviroKids are building the knowledge and character needed to create a better tomorrow.

Children explore a sunny autumn path, guided by a caring adult, enjoying nature together.

Our Mission

West Michigan Academy of Environmental Science strives to provide an environment that will foster creativity, promote academic achievement, and develop sound character and citizenship principles emphasizing responsibility to the environment and society while maintaining and improving each child’s self-esteem and self-concept.

Learning Out Side the Classroom

At WMAES, outdoor learning isn’t a bonus, it’s part of who we are. We begin with Michigan curriculum standards and expand them into the diverse ecosystems of our campus. Students are encouraged to explore, measure, track, plant, grow, run, and investigate the natural world as part of their daily learning. This approach supports multiple learning styles and helps students build confidence, independence, and resilience. Every teacher has access to these spaces, and classes are encouraged to step outside—whether that means reading under the birch trees, conducting science experiments at picnic tables, or taking a mindfulness moment in the prairie to re-center.

A Place That Feels Like Home

West Michigan Academy of Environmental Science is more than a school, it’s a community. Our students experience a learning environment that feels safe, supportive, and connected to the natural world. Whether tapping maple trees for syrup, caring for the garden, or exploring the trails, students deepen their understanding of themselves, their community, and their responsibility to the environment.

Here, education is both rigorous and joyful. Here, sunlight replaces fluorescent lights. And here, families feel the relief of knowing they’ve given their child the best possible learning experience.

Authorizer and ESP Information

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About West Michigan Academy of Environmental Science

West Michigan Academy of Environmental Science strives to provide an environment that will foster creativity, promote academic achievement, and develop sound character and citizenship principles.

Find Us

Phone Number

(616) 791-7454

Fax Number

(616) 791-7453

Hours

Elementary
8:00 a.m. – 3:15 p.m.

Secondary
8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

© 2025 All Rights Reserved

Hours

Elementary
8:00 a.m. – 3:15 p.m.

Secondary
8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.