The Five Core Principles and My Experience
Quality Education: I can assuredly say that Outdoor School gave a quality education to all that went there if they accepted it. ODS was a quality education because of the people who were teaching about the outdoors there. All of the student leaders that were there, were there because they wanted to teach children about the outdoors. Not only that, but the student leaders had training on all of the material that they covered, and also had help if they needed it and were contstanly learning new things and perfecting their teaching styles as they went on.
Inclusive Community: ODS was definitely an inclusive community. One of the first things that we learned as counselors there was about trying to be as gender neutral as possible. This meant that not referring to people like: those girls over there, those dudes, the girl cabins, the guy's cabins, and other phrases like that. This was to provide a safe environment for people who were trying to figure out their gender identity. Also, in the mess hall we there were two small bathrooms that were labeled boys and girls, but were covered so that they were gender neutral bathrooms. Besides gender related issues, ODS was a community was a place where someone could be themselves without judgement. ODS was a place that welcomed all types of people.
Value the Individual: ODS also valued all of the individuals at Arrah Wanna, whether they were campers or leaders. As a student leader, every night I, and as well as other counselors with their own kids, would go around the cabin while campers were settling down of bed and have about a one minute discussion about them about their day. This really solidified the bond between counselor and camper and also made the camper feel that you actually valued them. This is just one of the many things that was done at ODS to value individuals.
Quality Education: I can assuredly say that Outdoor School gave a quality education to all that went there if they accepted it. ODS was a quality education because of the people who were teaching about the outdoors there. All of the student leaders that were there, were there because they wanted to teach children about the outdoors. Not only that, but the student leaders had training on all of the material that they covered, and also had help if they needed it and were contstanly learning new things and perfecting their teaching styles as they went on.
Inclusive Community: ODS was definitely an inclusive community. One of the first things that we learned as counselors there was about trying to be as gender neutral as possible. This meant that not referring to people like: those girls over there, those dudes, the girl cabins, the guy's cabins, and other phrases like that. This was to provide a safe environment for people who were trying to figure out their gender identity. Also, in the mess hall we there were two small bathrooms that were labeled boys and girls, but were covered so that they were gender neutral bathrooms. Besides gender related issues, ODS was a community was a place where someone could be themselves without judgement. ODS was a place that welcomed all types of people.
Value the Individual: ODS also valued all of the individuals at Arrah Wanna, whether they were campers or leaders. As a student leader, every night I, and as well as other counselors with their own kids, would go around the cabin while campers were settling down of bed and have about a one minute discussion about them about their day. This really solidified the bond between counselor and camper and also made the camper feel that you actually valued them. This is just one of the many things that was done at ODS to value individuals.