See Where We Grow at SIA’s own
Humblebee Farms!
We believe in doing things differently—with intention, with passion, and with the children at the center of it all. Every detail here reflects that mindset. When you tour Samana International Academy, you'll immediately feel the difference. Our campus isn't just a collection of classrooms—it's a vibrant ecosystem where learning happens everywhere. You'll meet our peacocks basking in the morning sun, watch students tending to chickens, and collect fresh eggs. Walk past our koi pond, where science lessons come alive. You can visit the coops our students help maintain... discover our additional 40 different fruits and vegetables, see students getting their hands dirty in our gardens where they grow the food that ends up on their lunch plates. From the structures built using materials from our own land to the treehouse and zip line taking shape for future adventures, every corner of our Samaná campus tells a story of what education can be when we strip away the unnecessary and focus on what truly matters: curiosity, responsibility, community, and a deep connection to the natural world.
This is where childhood and learning become one beautiful, muddy-boots experience.
Our Living Campus, Humblebee Farms.
Where the Land Teaches
Our school sits on expansive Dominican land where every corner becomes a classroom. Here in Samaná, we've built more than just a school—we've created a living, breathing learning environment where children discover education through the natural world around them.
Learning from the Ground Up
At Samana International Academy, our students don't just read about sustainability and agriculture—they live it. From the moment they arrive, children become active participants in maintaining and growing our campus. Using materials from the land itself, we've constructed our facilities through hands-on projects that teach engineering, problem-solving, and resourcefulness. Every building, every structure tells a story of what's possible when we work with nature, not against it.
Meet Our Animal Family
Our campus is home to a vibrant community of animals who serve as both companions and teachers:
Proud peacocks who bask in the sun, displaying nature's artistry
Goats that demonstrate curiosity and agility
Chickens that provide fresh eggs and lessons in daily care
Loyal pups who remind us of friendship and protection
Koi pond residents teaching patience and ecosystem balance
Curious cats who bring joy and independence to our days
Honeybees teach us about collaboration and the sweetness of hard work
Each animal offers unique lessons in biology, behavior, empathy, and stewardship.
Hands-On Projects
Our project-based curriculum includes:
Daily Chores & Responsibility Students rotate through feeding schedules, tending the garden, turning compost, watering and caring for seedlings, collecting and selling organic free-range chicken eggs, coop cleaning, animal care, library organization, and learning that a community thrives when everyone contributes.
Coffee Cultivation From tending our coffee trees to learn about harvesting beans, students experience the complete journey of one of the Dominican Republic's most important crops. They learn about agriculture, economics, and the value of patience.
Growing Our Own Food as a HANDS-ON initiative, students grow and care for gardens that provide fresh, nourishing produce while exploring botany, nutrition, and food security. From planting seeds to tending crops and harvesting vegetables, students experience the full growing cycle, culminating in sharing the food they've grown together at lunch.
Building & Creating Using natural materials from our land, students engage in projects that teach practical skills and environmental stewardship.
Coming Soon: Treehouse & Zip Line
We're expanding our outdoor classroom with an adventure learning zone featuring a treehouse and zip line—where physics lessons meet pure joy, and students learn about physics, safety, engineering, and courage while surrounded by nature.
Why Land-Based Learning Matters
In our modern world, many children have lost touch with where their food comes from, how ecosystems work, and what it means to care for living things. At Samana International Academy, we reconnect them to these fundamental truths. When students harvest coffee beans they've watched grow, collect eggs from chickens they've fed, or build structures from materials they've gathered, they develop a deep respect for hard work, natural cycles, and their own capabilities.
This is education that sticks—because it's rooted in real experience, real responsibility, and real results.
