Social and Emotion Learning and Project Adventure

RESPECT is a structured model that uses Project Adventure's proven concepts, strategies and tools to change a school's learning environment. This research-based intervention is expected to improve:
*students' self-efficacy .
*goal setting capacity.
*empower students to better manage their own behavior.
*promote positive interactions among students and staff.

Depending on the scope of the intervention, long-term outcomes include increasing student attendance, reducing the number and severity of students' disciplinary incidents and improving students academic achievement.

The scope and breadth of the RESPECT implementation is determined collaboratively with PA Senior RESPECT specialists and school or district leadership. Depending on available staff development time, fiscal resources and readiness of staff, the design of the intervention can include:

• Retreat for school leadership.
• Physical Education, Health and Fitness professional development.
• Lead teachers/implementation team workshops.
• Whole school orientation.
• Activity and curriculum training.
• On-going support, consulting and technical assistance.

PA's model is differentiated from other models by the activity base. The adventure activity base provides a structure and safe environment for to practice new skills, reflect on those skills and transfer those skills to the classroom, the school or the community environment.

The training, framework and detailed procedures allow educators to bring their own lens and style to the process with affecting the outcomes.

This model has been piloted in Boston Pubic Middle Schools which has allowed the opportunity for test and refine the components in a real-world setting. Preliminary and on-going evaluations conducted by faculty and graduate students from University of NH have documented the practical importance and potential value of the RESPECT intervention to positively influence self-efficacy and social competency skills of participating middle school students. (Gass & Shirilla 2007; Anderson 2007).

The RESPECT model is in the initial phases of being replicated in other settings. A great way to learn more about Project Adventure and Social and Emotional Learning is to take an introductory workshop.

For more information infusing your school or program with a social and emotional competency building program, contact us at info@pa.org or 1-800-468-8898 x4554.