by Jeff Frigon, Project Adventure Youth and College Programs Specialist
Galvin Middle School Unit CF came to the Project Adventure Challenge Course at Moraine Farm, a group of 7th and 8th graders looking to welcome new students and build community.
Many of the students had experience with adventure from camps and other schools, but as a school, Galvin was new to adventure. The teachers did a great job priming the students for their day at Project Adventure, and everyone arrived prepared for a day outside and knowing what to expect.
The kids had fun playing, learning together and co-creating Full Value Contracts to be used throughout the day and to bring home with them to school. Laughter, belay commands, and sunshine mixed in the late-season air to make for a great day for all of us!
As coordinator for the day, I stood in the middle of the ropes course and spun around, seeing group after group in all the various moments of their day: belaying, climbing, playing, debriefing, reassuring a nervous climber, celebrating their successes and working through their challenges.
On their walk back to the busses, the teachers were already talking about how to bring the learnings from today back to their classrooms and how to make next year even better.
A day as rewarding for me as facilitator as it was for the client, Galvin Middle School!
Project Adventure offers a wide range of field trip programs for schools, agencies and camps. Programming is offered at Moraine Farm in Beverly MA or at your site - 7 days per week. Our Youth and College Trainers are amoung the best in their field and participate in extensive professional development and challenge course training.
Sample pricing, guidelines and program samples are available - also long term contracts.
To bring your class, group or camp program to the Challenge Course at Moraine Farm, contact Jeff or PA at info@pa.org or 978-524-4558. We are booking now for November and Spring, Summer 2009.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Sunday, November 16, 2008
California Master's Degree Cohort Starts with Portable Adventure
The first session of the California / Project Adventure Master's Degree Cohort began Friday night in Aliso Viejo, California. Kristen Okura, Physical Educator at Don Juan Avila Middle School is the coordinator of the six workshop series.
The first workshop, Portable Adventure, started on Friday at 5:30 p.m. with pizza and paperwork. Then PA trainer Topaz Murphy Terry jumped right in with activities and teaching the core components of adventure facilitation.
On Saturday morning when I checked back in with the group at mid morning, they were discussing the first 8 activities they had already learned!
One of the discussions I had the benefit of sitting in on was "Boundaries". Topaz talked about a new twist on using cones or boundary ropes or verbal prompts to remind students were the boundaries are. She talked about using "in the action" and "out of the action" to describe to prompt students.
"Are you in the action?" "What does it feel like to be in the action?" "What did it feel like when you were out of where the action is happening?".
She talked about using with a group of fifth graders who quickly learned that being "out of where the action happening" became boring, lonely and not so much fun. Their desire to be "in the action" or within the boundaries became predicated on their own experiences and learning...and not on Topaz repeatedly saying, "Susie, remember to stay in the boundaries".
A large discussion began and the group talked about ways to apply this new language and places where it really wouldn't be applicable.
We did a brief check in on the next workshops coming up. Participants talked about how these workshops are so relevant to the actual work they are doing. And how the projects, that they will work on with the Plymouth State advisor, Jamie Hanon, will be truly meaningful to their day-to-day teaching.
At this point, regretfully, it was time for me to pack up and head out. But I was delighted to hear the group talking about how they were going to communicate between workshops, possibly begin a study group, share and discuss projects and more.
If you are interested in learning how you can start or participate in a Master's in Education with a focus on Adventure through Plymouth State University and Project Adventure in your area ... email bwonson@pa.org or call 978-524-4619.
The first workshop, Portable Adventure, started on Friday at 5:30 p.m. with pizza and paperwork. Then PA trainer Topaz Murphy Terry jumped right in with activities and teaching the core components of adventure facilitation.
On Saturday morning when I checked back in with the group at mid morning, they were discussing the first 8 activities they had already learned!
One of the discussions I had the benefit of sitting in on was "Boundaries". Topaz talked about a new twist on using cones or boundary ropes or verbal prompts to remind students were the boundaries are. She talked about using "in the action" and "out of the action" to describe to prompt students.
"Are you in the action?" "What does it feel like to be in the action?" "What did it feel like when you were out of where the action is happening?".
She talked about using with a group of fifth graders who quickly learned that being "out of where the action happening" became boring, lonely and not so much fun. Their desire to be "in the action" or within the boundaries became predicated on their own experiences and learning...and not on Topaz repeatedly saying, "Susie, remember to stay in the boundaries".
A large discussion began and the group talked about ways to apply this new language and places where it really wouldn't be applicable.
We did a brief check in on the next workshops coming up. Participants talked about how these workshops are so relevant to the actual work they are doing. And how the projects, that they will work on with the Plymouth State advisor, Jamie Hanon, will be truly meaningful to their day-to-day teaching.
At this point, regretfully, it was time for me to pack up and head out. But I was delighted to hear the group talking about how they were going to communicate between workshops, possibly begin a study group, share and discuss projects and more.
If you are interested in learning how you can start or participate in a Master's in Education with a focus on Adventure through Plymouth State University and Project Adventure in your area ... email bwonson@pa.org or call 978-524-4619.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Oh, the things Project Adventure teachers will do
Mark Michaud, a Project Adventure teacher from Newtown Middle School in CT has a hand in creating a trebuchet...a midieval military device for tossing heavy loads. Michaud and others used the device to offer up the opportunity to community members to toss pumpkins for charity.
And of course, like any good PA educator, Michaud and students combined math, physics and history with active learning to create, test and now figure out a real life application for thier trebuchet.
Photos and full article!
And of course, like any good PA educator, Michaud and students combined math, physics and history with active learning to create, test and now figure out a real life application for thier trebuchet.
Photos and full article!
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Independent School Adventure Network (ISAN) Institute
The 4th Annual Independent School Adventure Education Network (ISAN) Institute will be held January 21-24, 2009 at the Lawrenceville School (New Jersey).
ISAN was founded in 2005 and is sponsored by Project Adventure, Inc. The goal of ISAN is to provide a place for independent school administrators and staff who share a common vision and commitment to the use of active, experiential and outdoor education methodology to "talk shop" and learn from each other.
The founding schools of the ISAN Institute are: Albuquerque Academy, The Lawrenceville School, Phillips Andover Academy, The Westminster Schools, and the Westtown School.
Each year the ISAN is hosted by a different member school providing an opportunity to see programs and programming up close. Also, presentations by industry experts as well as sharing of program strengths and challenges are part of the agenda. And of course, networking and fun.
"I gained more from this ISAN three days than from years of other larger conferences. I came away charged, filled iwth appropriate facts and details, and renewed in my belief that what we are doing really matters, both in our own lives and in the lives of our students". Jim Brady, Assitant Head, Santa Barbara Middle School
To find out more info or to register go to www.isaninfo.com
ISAN was founded in 2005 and is sponsored by Project Adventure, Inc. The goal of ISAN is to provide a place for independent school administrators and staff who share a common vision and commitment to the use of active, experiential and outdoor education methodology to "talk shop" and learn from each other.
The founding schools of the ISAN Institute are: Albuquerque Academy, The Lawrenceville School, Phillips Andover Academy, The Westminster Schools, and the Westtown School.
Each year the ISAN is hosted by a different member school providing an opportunity to see programs and programming up close. Also, presentations by industry experts as well as sharing of program strengths and challenges are part of the agenda. And of course, networking and fun.
"I gained more from this ISAN three days than from years of other larger conferences. I came away charged, filled iwth appropriate facts and details, and renewed in my belief that what we are doing really matters, both in our own lives and in the lives of our students". Jim Brady, Assitant Head, Santa Barbara Middle School
To find out more info or to register go to www.isaninfo.com
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