October 30, 2026
Beyond the Classroom: How WMAES Connects Learning to Real-World Adventure
At West Michigan Academy of Environmental Science (WMAES), learning has never been confined to four walls and a whiteboard. Here at WMAES we...

“Hi! I’m Nathan VanDuinen, and I’ve been serving West Michigan Academy of Environmental Science as Elementary Principal for quite some time now. Some of my favorites are as follows:
Animal – German Shepherd
Color – Black
Sport: Track and Field, Weightlifting
School Subject: Social Studies
Food: Cheeseburgers and Good Coffee”
West Michigan Academy of Environmental Science (WMAES) is a tuition-free pre-kindergarten through 12th grade public charter school in Grand Rapids, MI that is focused on environmental education and open to ages 4 years old and up.