STUDENTS OF LIFE
From the Adventure Store
WHO WE ARE
We are much more than a store. We are a place that provides an alternative approach to education outside the conventional means. We believe that a hands on and experiential approach best equips our kids to meaningfully engage with the world and learning throughout their lives. Rather than sit in a classroom and learn about things outside the classroom, we take our kids places and provide spaces for our students to see, interact, and experience the things that they learn about. Each student is unique and, therefore, we also structure our learning in a way that helps students explore and pursue his or her goals and dreams. We care about our students and the education they receive, and below explains what we believe best sets up our students for success.
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ACADEMICS
TO DEVELOP AN INDIVIDUAL LEARNING PLAN FOR EACH STUDENT WITH THE STUDENT AND FAMILY INVOLVED IN SETTING AND ACHIEVING GOALS. WE WILL LOOK AHEAD AND SEE WHERE EACH STUDENT WANTS TO BE AND THEN REVERSE ENGINEER BACK TO HIS/HER PRESENT LEVEL AND STANDING. THE ACADEMICS WILL BE PULLED OUT OF THE EXPERIENCES AND WILL BE INTEREST, PASSION, AND COMMUNITY DRIVEN. WE WILL BUILD THE SCAFFOLDING THAT EACH STUDENT NEEDS TO GET TO WHERE HE/SHE WANTS TO BE. THE ACADEMIC PORTION WILL INVOLVE SHADOWING, APPRENTICESHIPS, AND INTERNSHIPS. IF FAMILIES HAVE A PARTICULAR HOMESCHOOL PROGRAM THEY WOULD LIKE FOR THEIR CHILD TO PARTICIPATE IN, WE WILL FACILITATE AND ENHANCE IT.
COMMUNITY
TO HELP STUDENTS SEE THAT THEY ARE PART OF A COMMUNITY. THAT THE BENEFITS AND PROBLEMS BELONG TO THEM, ALONG WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY OF TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE BENEFITS AND BEING PART OF THE SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEMS. WE WANT THEM TO BE AWARE OF WHAT IS AVAILABLE TO THEM IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITY THROUGH RELATIONSHIPS WITH INDIVIDUALS, ORGANIZATIONS, BUSINESS OWNERS, AND THE PLACE ITSELF. WE WANT STUDENTS TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE NOT JUST BYSTANDERS AND SPECTATORS WHO MAY "ONE DAY" BE ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE. THEY HAVE THE OPTION TO BE ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS NOT ONLY WITH EYES, EARS, AND NOSES, BUT ALSO WITH HANDS AND MOUTHS.
CONNECTION
TO GROW IN STUDENTS THE CONNECTIONS THAT ALL HUMANS SEEK. A CONNECTION TO PEOPLE AND PLACES THAT GROUNDS US AND DEFINES OUR IDENTITY. STUDENTS WILL BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO GROW IN RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR PEERS, NATURE, AND ALL OF THE OTHER ROLE PLAYERS IN THEIR WEB. BY SENSING THAT THEY ARE NOT ALONE AND THAT THEY CAN DEPEND ON OTHERS AS WELL AS SERVE OTHERS, THEY WILL POSSESS A HEALTHY PERSPECTIVE OF SUCCESSES AND FAILURES. STUDENTS WILL HAVE THEIR EYES OPENED TO THE SUPPORT THAT IS ALL AROUND THEM, WHETHER FOUND IN PEOPLE, NATURE, OR THE CREATOR. THEY WILL REALIZE HOW EVERY ACTION AND EVERY WORD EFFECTS THOSE AROUND THEM, AND DEVELOP THEIR ABILITY TO INVEST IN THOSE CONNECTIONS.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
TO GIVE STUDENTS UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN AND PRACTICE ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS. WE WANT TO GIVE STUDENTS THE ABILITIES NECESSARY TO BE ABLE TO GO OUT AND MARKET THEIR OWN IDEAS, AND NOT JUST GET A JOB MARKETING SOMEONE ELSE'S IDEAS. WE WANT THEM TO SEE HOW TO TURN AN IDEA INTO REALITY AND HOW TO SUSTAIN THAT REALITY. THROUGH LOCAL INTERNSHIPS AND APPRENTICESHIPS STUDENTS WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN BUSINESS AND FINANCE ON THE FRONT LINES. ENTREPRENEURSHIP IS THE ESSENCE OF HAVING A GROWTH MINDSET. BEING ABLE TO TAKE RISKS, PROCESS FAILURES, AND HANDLE SUCCESSES WILL GIVE STUDENTS A HEAD START IN THE WORLD. PRACTICING BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL AWARENESS AND LEARNING THROUGH FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCES WILL GIVE THEM THE CONFIDENCE OF ENGAGING IN THE PROCESS. STUDENTS WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE IDEAS AND DEVELOP THEIR PUBLIC SPEAKING SKILLS IN FRONT OF REAL AUDIENCES.
DISCIPLINE
TO GUIDE STUDENTS TO A MORE DISCIPLINED LIFESTYLE. MANY TIMES DISCIPLINE CARRIES A NEGATIVE CONNOTATION WITH IT IN SCHOOLS. WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE HEALTHY, SELF-LED DISCIPLINE. WE HAVE SEEN THAT A STUDENT'S MOTIVATION TO SUCCEED USUALLY LIES ON A SCALE BETWEEN INSPIRATION AND OBLIGATION. SOME STUDENTS ONLY DO THEIR BEST WHEN THEY ARE INSPIRED WHILE SOME STUDENTS ONLY EVER FEEL OBLIGED TO DO WHAT THE TEACHER ACCEPTS AS THEIR BEST. MANY TIMES IN SCHOOL WE TRY TO MOVE STUDENTS ALONG ON THIS SCALE. WE TRY TO MAKE THEM FEEL MORE OBLIGED TO DO BETTER, OR WE TRY TO FIND WAYS TO INSPIRE THEM MORE. THIS MAY WORK SPORADICALLY OR TEMPORARILY, BUT WE BELIEVE THERE IS A BETTER WAY. WE BELIEVE DISCIPLINE LIVES ON A PLANE ABOVE THE INSPIRATION AND OBLIGATION SCALE. IF A STUDENT KNOWS THAT HE/SHE DOES THE BEST WHEN INSPIRED, THEN HE/SHE HAS TO BE DISCIPLINED ENOUGH TO PUT THEMSELVES IN SITUATIONS THAT INSPIRE THEM. IF A STUDENT KNOWS THAT HE/SHE IS DRIVEN BY OBLIGATION THEN HE/SHE HAS TO DISCIPLINED ENOUGH TO ALLOW THEMSELVES THE TIME TO FIND THE ENJOYMENT IN THE TASK. WE WANT TO HELP STUDENTS SEE THAT THEY DO NOT NEED TO CONSTANTLY MOVE LATERALLY ALONG THE INSPIRATION/OBLIGATION SCALE. WE WANT TO GIVE THEM THE TIME AND RESOURCES TO MOVE VERTICALLY INTO A TRUER, MORE DISCIPLINED, VERSION OF THEMSELVES.
ENGAGEMENT
TO EQUIP OUR STUDENTS WITH STRATEGIES THAT WILL ALLOW THEM TO NAVIGATE FUTURE SETBACKS AND CHALLENGES. THROUGH PURPOSEFUL ENGAGEMENT STUDENTS WILL PRACTICE TECHNIQUES THAT BRING OUT THEIR STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES, AND MAKE THEM AWARE OF THEIR INDIVIDUAL NEEDS AND ABILITIES. THEY WILL LEARN HOW TO APPROACH A PROBLEM AS AN OBSTACLE TO BE OVERCOME AND NOT AS A DEAD END. THEY WILL GAIN THE PERSPECTIVE NEEDED TO RECOGNIZE THAT LIFE HAS MOUNTAINS AND VALLEYS IN IT, AND THEY WILL BE ABLE TO ASSESS, REASSESS, AND MOVE FORWARD. INDIVIDUALLY, THEY WILL BE ABLE TO CONQUER SELF DOUBT AND PERSONAL FEARS. AS PART OF A SMALL GROUP THEY WILL PRACTICE COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF MOVING FORWARD. EACH PERSON WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AS STUDENT AND TEACHER AS THEY GAIN NEW STRATEGIES AND PERSPECTIVES AND THEN PASS THOSE ON TO OTHERS.
PASSION
TO ALLOW STUDENTS THE TIME AND RESOURCES TO IDENTIFY AND PURSUE INDIVIDUAL PASSIONS AND INTERESTS. MANY TIMES THE TRADITIONAL SCHEDULE DOES NOT PERMIT THESE PURSUITS. WE BELIEVE IT IS CRUCIAL, HOWEVER, FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO SPEND REAL TIME IDENTIFYING AND INVESTING IN THEIR INTERESTS. THROUGH JOURNALING AND QUIET REFLECTION AS WELL AS CURIOSITY DRIVEN INVESTIGATION, STUDENTS WILL BEGIN TO REALIZE THAT THEIR NATURAL GIFTS CAN BE PART OF THEIR PURPOSE. TODAY MORE THAN EVER, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR STUDENTS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT DRIVES THEM, WHAT BREAKS THEIR HEARTS, AND WHAT THEY ARE WILLING TO DO ABOUT IT. STUDENTS WILL HAVE THE FREEDOM AND MOBILITY TO DIVE INTO KNOWN INTERESTS SUCH AS THE ARTS, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, HUSBANDRY, SPORTS, SERVICE, AND CIVICS WHILE ALSO BEING EXPOSED TO SITUATIONS THAT WILL BRING OUT PREVIOUSLY UNKNOWN OR HIDDEN GIFTS AND TALENTS.
TRAVEL
TO GIVE STUDENTS THE GIFT OF PERSPECTIVE UNDER THE BEST TEACHER POSSIBLE, TRAVEL. TO TRAVEL IS MORE THAN BEING A TOURIST. TRUE TRAVEL EXPERIENCES CHANGE US FOREVER. WHETHER THEY ARE FOR ONE DAY OR A YEAR, WE ARE NEVER THE SAME AFTERWARDS. WE WANT TO GIVE STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE TRUE TRAVEL. STUDENTS WILL LEARN TO ACCEPT HOSPITALITY AND HOW TO OFFER HOSPITALITY WITH HUMILITY. STUDENTS WILL OBSERVE AND PARTICIPATE IN OTHER COMMUNITIES AND CULTURES RESPECTFULLY AND BE ABLE TO TRANSFER THOSE THINGS BACK INTO THEIR OWN COMMUNITY. STUDENTS WILL BECOME INTIMATELY AWARE OF THE COMMONALITIES THAT UNITE US AS INHABITANTS OF THE SAME PLACE AS THEIR SPHERE OF INFLUENCE GROWS AND EXPANDS. WITH EACH ADVENTURE STUDENTS WILL GAIN AN ACUTE APPRECIATION OF THE FACT THAT DIFFERENCES ARE TO BE CELEBRATED.