Dunavant Academy provides engaging, live online geography classes for students from elementary through high school, designed to spark curiosity and inspire a lifelong love of learning. Led by Amber Huffman, a dedicated educator with a BA in Geography from the University of Mary Washington and an MS in Geographic and Cartographic Science from George Mason University, the academy combines academic expertise with a passion for exploration. Amber’s international experiences in Cambodia and Guatemala, along with years of teaching in the homeschooling community and at Northern Virginia Community College, bring real-world context to each class.
The academy offers flexible, interactive courses via Zoom, running from September through May each school year. Classes include Elementary courses such as Intro to Geography and Nature Studies, designed for foundational knowledge and hands-on learning. Upper elementary students (4th–6th grade) can participate in US Geography, introducing more advanced skills and gradually building toward middle school readiness. Middle school students can explore Cartography, MS World Geography, and Physical Geography, with optional lab components and access to ESRI ArcGIS software for professional-standard map-making. High school students can deepen their understanding with Cartography, HS World Geography, AP Human Geography, and advanced Physical Geography courses.
Dunavant Academy emphasizes affordability and accessibility, offering sliding scale tuition options and keeping overhead minimal to provide quality education without unnecessary fees. Classes are structured to encourage consistent attendance, but recordings are provided for absences due to illness, field trips, or other circumstances. Families can also join a waitlist for full classes and are encouraged to subscribe to the academy’s email list for early registration notifications.
Through engaging lessons, interactive projects, and hands-on activities, Dunavant Academy helps students develop critical thinking, spatial awareness, and a comprehensive understanding of the world’s people, places, and physical landscapes. Whether exploring local ecosystems, mapping continents, or analyzing human-environment interactions, students gain the tools to become informed, curious, and confident learners prepared to understand and impact the world around them.