STURBRIDGE, Mass. - In August, a new charter school will open in Worcester operated by Old Sturbridge Village. While opponents have been critical of the Worcester Cultural Academy, those in favor of the school believe it will bring an innovative model of education to the city for prospective students and their families.

The school's supporters draw their confidence from the success of OSV's existing charter school, Old Sturbridge Academy. In a Spectrum News 1 visit to the school, teachers and students showcased what they believe to be an alternative and immersive way to learn.  

First-time visitors would likely be struck by the amount of time kids spend out of the classroom, which is part of an education curriculum known as EL Learning. The hands-on approach lends itself to the school's home of Old Sturbridge Village, where K-8 students have room to roam. 

“Honestly my favorite part of going to school here has to be the village and all the animals and all the nature around," said student Jade Ofori. "I’m a person that really appreciates nature and the beauty around nature.”

Students like Ofori delve into the hands-on work of farming, pottery or taking care of animals in addition to a traditional classroom education. 

“We have our first two classes in the morning and then our LTP block where we get to go into the village and learn about either what life was like in the 1830s, or do something to help the village," said student Wyatt Neill.

“The way I explain it to parents is the four walls of the classroom open up and expand into the over 300 acres of the Village," said principal Lisa DeTora. "They seem to like that because it’s getting everything that they need and then that hands-on learning which is a true pinnacle of our public education system.”

As Old Sturbridge Village prepares to open Worcester Cultural Academy, some elements at the new school will be slightly different, but the project-based learning will continue in a more urban environment. 

Dean of Students David Burris (grades 5-8) said both schools’ strongest commitment will be to character, and students have been focused on helping their community. 

“I’ve been helping this person named Jasmine Rivas, we’re pretty much fixing the community," said student Elijah Ofori. "I’m also in a youth voice group for the town of Southbridge.”

“As a person, how do you want to leave your legacy? Not just in the moment, but in the future," Burris said. "We also talk about our climate here and how teachers, students and parents interact amongst each other.”

When you spend some time around staff and students, you’ll probably hear them use the phrase "crew" - a metaphor which sums up their team-oriented way of getting things done. 

“We are a crew together, and we’ve got to realize we’re paddling to the same destination, and no matter how much those seas may try to disserve us, our overall goal is to reach our destination and I think as students start to get older, they really take more pride into that," Burris said.

“The kids show it, the families show it, the teachers show it, we’ve created this culture," DeTora said. "We are a public school, but we do this in our own way.”

The state board of education approved the Worcester Cultural Academy late last month.