BRAND NEW WEEKLONG OUTDOOR EDUCATION LEADERSHIP PROGRAM FOR 5TH-8TH GRADERS
The mission of the Avid4 Adventure Outdoor Education School Intensive Program is to introduce students to non-competitive active outdoor lifestyles using experiences that provide personal development (physical, social, and emotional), environmental understanding and stewardship, memorable adventures, and teambuilding, while addressing the needs of schools.
What is it?
This five-day (during each school day) outdoor experiential education program is filled with team-building, problem-solving and leadership activities, and of course our action-packed adventure activities such as kayaking, canoeing, hiking and mountain biking. All of this is incorporated into a cohesive curriculum that framed within a non-competitive and supportive atmosphere led by our experienced and professional staff. All specialized equipment is provided by Avid4 Adventure, as is all instruction and safety management. Therefore no previous experience or purchasing of specialized equipment is necessary on the part of the participants. We will begin and end each day at school providing the students with a familiar base from which to initiate and close their transitional experiences.
In addition to the outdoor activities, Avid4 staff will work with each school’s administration to develop a curriculum that is specific to them. In the past schools have selected specific themes such as communication, integrity, and maintaining a positive attitude. Avid4 Adventure staff then design a curriculum and sequence of initiatives that is related to the chosen characteristics. In addition, Avid4 Adventure staff will be happy to work with your school’s teachers so that educational material that is being studied in school can also be tied into the activities each day. For example, a day out at a climbing site can make an excellent, hands-on lesson in geology and natural science.
Avid4 Adventure has found the incorporation of teambuilding activities with outdoor adventures to be particularly effective in experientially creating positive learning environments. We accomplish this through the integration of problem-solving story lines with outdoor instruction. One example of this can be illustrated by our kayaking day exercise. Here is an excerpt of the information that each group will receive at the start of the day:
The Situation:
Your school needs your help! The rare 24-hour “Teacher Sleeping Virus” has infected only the faculty members at the school. It seems that this short-lived virus somehow found its way into the school this morning and now all of the faculty members are asleep at their desks. Apparently, the teachers will wake up in a day, but in the mean time there is no supervision for all the lower grade kids at school. Other teachers are afraid to go into the school because they will likely succumb to the virus as well. As the upper-class students, you are the school’s only hope! They need you back at the school as soon as possible to supervise the little kids and run the school.
The Challenge:
You have found out about this virus while you are here at Chatfield Reservoir. In order to make it back to school you must navigate with your team, using your kayaks, and completing several challenges along the way. Time is of the essence, but your team must make it to school as a group because everyone will be needed to help with the younger kids.
The First Step:
You can retrieve your next instructions regarding how to get back to school by moving your team to the location marked on the map. But, the two tallest members of your team have just temporarily lost their sight due to the stress of hearing about the Teacher Sleeping Virus. It is likely that they will regain their ability at the next check point, but you must figure out how to get your group as a unit to your next location.
The second Step:
Good work! The calming effect of the journey has set in and your team members have regained their sight. In order to find out your next location, the youngest member of the team must perform the sacred “Anti-Virus Maneuver” (see diagram below). They may not swim during this process or your team will be delayed by 15 minutes.
- Increase cohesiveness, cooperation and communication within the 6th grade.
- Provide a unique outdoor learning environment to experientially anchor important group process and communication proficiencies.
- Enhance student’s skills in various outdoor environments and activities including kayaking, climbing, hiking, biking and canoeing.
- Expose participants to a variety of non-competitive, active, outdoor activities that can keep them fit and engaged for a lifetime.
Faculty
Through participant awareness and education, and high staff-to-student ratios of 1:7, the crew at Avid 4 Adventure is able to promote safety as a top priority while at the same time providing a fun learning environment. All of our staff is certified in a minimum of Wilderness First Aid (WFR) and CPR, Red Cross Small Craft Safety Certified for Kayak and Canoe Instruction, trained in defensive driving, are over 21 and background checked. Each team member has lots of experience working with kids and, as their students will attest, has proven to be great role models.In addition, all staff is proficient in their area of instruction, and participates in an extensive pre-season staff training and orientation. In addition to Avid4 Adventure staff, your 6th grade faculty members will participate.
- Deliver a program theme consistent with the goals of each individual school.
- Provide activities that develop students' judgment, personal responsibility, self-esteem and confidence.
- Follow an educational curriculum that is aligned with Colorado standards.
- Enable students to develop friendships and interact with each other in new, engaging ways.
- Create a group setting that promotes teambuilding and new opportunities for social development.
- Enhance environmental understanding and stewardship.
- Increase physical and outdoor skills.
- Introduce students to non-competitive active outdoor lifestyle pursuits.
Program Logistics
The activities for each day will be designated by the Outdoor Intensive staff in consultation with the school faculty and administration. Every attempt will be made to deliver these specific elements, but if weather dictates another element may be substituted that will deliver the same or similar curriculum objectives.
Avid4 Adventure will provide all equipment, materials and instruction. Transportation will be provided by the school. The emphasis will be on group development, and activities can accommodate those of any ability level (from never-ever to advanced). All activities take place on public land in close proximity to your school.
Outdoor recreation activities such as these involve some level of risk. Parents and students will be accurately informed about the nature of the proposed activities and will review and sign an Acknowledgement and Assumption of Risks & Release and Indemnity Agreement, which includes the parent's consent to allow their student to participate. Students will receive an overall and activity-specific safety orientation that encourages understanding and personal responsibility. All educators have extensive instructional and youth experience, as well as current certifications in first aid and CPR. All of these elements are discussed in further detail in Avid4 Adventure's extensive Risk Management Plan that is available for school or parents review. If you would like to review the plan, please send an email to info@avid4.com or call us at 720-249-2412.
What Students Should Bring
Avid 4 Adventure will provide all necessary outdoor and safety equipment.
- On canoeing and kayaking days, students should come to school wearing their bathing suits underneath other clothes since they potentially could get splashed or wet. Therefore, it is easiest if students are ready to get wet as opposed to having to change on site.
- Sack lunch and a snack packed in a bag with your child's name on the outside.
- Clothing appropriate for the weather to be outside all day. This should include rain gear (poncho, rain jacket, etc.) if there is any chance of rain, and a warm layer.
- Extra set of clothing and shoes packed in a day pack or bag
- Sunscreen
- 2 non-breakable full water bottles
- Closed-toe sneakers or sandals that can get wet
Volunteers or Visitors are Welcome
Avid4 Adventure utilizes parent volunteers to assist with group management and logistics during the Intensive. This provides a great opportunity to support the Intensive and to experience it personally. We will make best efforts to place you with your child's group if this is what you wish, but we cannot guarantee that this will be the case. Alternatively, if you simply want to come by and check out the action without committing to volunteer, friends and family are always more than welcome at our programs. If you would like to volunteer, please send an email to info@avid4.com with:
- Your name
- Your school's name
- The day you can volunteer or visit
- The time you can volunteer or visit
Schedule
Participants will spend one full week participating in the Outdoor Education Leadership Intensive. All this occurs within the school day, thus drop-off and pick-up remains the same. Grades or classes will be divided into groups of approximately 12 students. Each element will be concluded by a group debriefing. Here's a SAMPLE schedule of any given day (times at your school will correspond with your school day):
| 8:30- 9:00 | Small group introductions; Teambuilding initiative |
| 9:00- 9:30 | Travel to local park or reservoir |
| 9:45- 10:00 | Intro of the day; teambuilding activity |
| 10:00- 10:15 | Safety briefing |
| 10:15- 10:30 | Snack |
| 10:30- 11:30 | Teaching and practicing skills essential for activity (kayaking, canoeing, biking, etc.) |
| 11:30- 12:00 | Educational and Teambuilding Activities |
| 12:00- 12:30 | Lunch |
| 12:30- 1:30 | Additional activity time and student-directed team problem solving activity |
| 1:30- 2:00 | Group debrief, educational component, teambuilding activity |
| 2:00 | Bus back to school |
At the helm of Avid4 Adventure is David Secunda, 20+ year veteran of the outdoor industry. He obtained his degree in Outdoor Education while working with Outward Bound and Outdoor Leadership Training Seminars, then went on to become the Director of Outdoor Education for the University of Colorado, running one of the five largest programs in the country (over 200 courses each year with a staff of 50). Following this, he founded the Outdoor Network, still today the definitive professional journal in the industry, before moving on to become the Executive Director of the Outdoor Industry Association, the industry trade association for the United States. He then founded Planet Outdoors, a leading online retailer of outdoor products, which was subsequently acquired by MVP, Inc.
Additionally, Secunda has played a leadership role with numerous non-profits in the outdoor sector. Specific roles have included:
- Leave No Trace, Chairman & Founding Board Member
- Association for Outdoor Recreation and Education, Founding Board Member
- Student Conservation Association, Board Member
- American Hiking Society, Board Member
- American Mountain Guide Association, Accreditation Team Member
- National Outdoor Safety Managers Conference, Founding Committee
Questions
For questions or additional information please feel free to contact Sarah Pekala, Avid4 Adventure School Program Director, at 720-249-2412 or sarah@avid4.com. Or CLICK HERE to download an overview of the Outdoor Education Intensive. In addition, we would be happy to put you in touch with principals or administrators at other schools that have participated in this program.