Spring Unit: Bringing Math to Life at Yellowstone 

Spring Unit has long been a highlight of the GSB Upper School experience, with the course catalog’s release eagerly awaited by students each year. 

While it might seem like these exciting offerings appear out of thin air, the truth is they take months of careful planning. For Upper School Math Teacher Anita Kurisko, creating a meaningful experience for her students meant going far beyond research—it meant trekking across snowy tundra, tracking bison herds, and sleeping in a rustic cabin in freezing temperatures. 

“Over Spring Break last year, I was selected for a fellowship with Ecology Project International (EPI) at Yellowstone National Park,” Kurisko explained. “My goal in applying for this professional development experience was to find ways to connect math to real-world applications and to make it more relevant to my students.” 

EPI is a global leader in conservation ecology and wildlife management. During an action-packed week at Yellowstone, Kurisko joined scientists from Yellowstone and the National Park Service in service work and field research. She contributed to studies on habitat health, herd migration patterns, and even helped collect samples (yes, including bison poop). 

“I was the only math teacher among a group of scientists,” Kurisko said. “It was so energizing to work with people deeply passionate about their work and to contribute to an ongoing research project. Right away, I knew this experience would inspire an incredible Spring Unit for GSB.” 

Kurisko’s experience showcases the practical connections between math and science. “Math is everywhere in physics, chemistry, and biology,” she said. “But if we teach in silos, those connections are lost. Breaking down those walls helps students see how math supports what they’re learning in science.” 

This year, Kurisko is thrilled to return to Yellowstone with EPI, and she is even more excited to bring GSB students along to experience it for themselves. 

“EPI builds a network of educators and learners,” Kurisko said. “That perfectly aligns with GSB’s core values. After all, The World is Our Classroom.” 

Introduced over 50 years ago, Spring Unit is a GSB tradition born from the merger of The Gill School and St. Bernard’s School. It allows students to dive into new subjects and learning experiences outside the traditional classroom. From immersive travel to artistic exploration, service projects, and unique internships, Spring Unit celebrates learning at its finest. 

Explore this year’s opportunities on the GSB website.