|
|
|
Experiential Learning
Caring ... Honesty ... Respect ... Responsibility
"Tell me and I will forget. Show me and I may remember.
Involve me and I will understand."
- Chinese Proverb
Experiential learning is a teaching methodology through which a teacher or a camp counselor actively engages students in an experience and then provides guidance and focused reflection on that activity.
The camp setting provides a unique venue to teach important learning experiences using this methodology.
By actively engaging campers in an activity, their interest is peaked and they are engrossed in the task at hand.
After an activity, campers are encouraged to reflect upon both the successful and unsuccessful parts of their experience, allowing them to gain new insight.
By providing engaging activities and time for reflection, campers are motivated to learn new skills, increase knowledge, and clarify their values.
Experiential Learning at Camp Echo
|
Camp Echo is a place where children discover a joy for the outdoors, the benefits and challenges of living with others, and a sense of independence.
Camp is also a place where children learn invaluable life skills:
How to stretch and improve physical abilities; how to create and maintain lasting friendships; and how to live responsibly in a community.
Camp Echo staff members use several aspects of the experiential learning method when preparing and implementing programming for campers:
Learning Zones
The learning zone is the space in which we learn at our best.
It is a space in which a camper feels safe and supported, but may be slightly uncomfortable or feel challenged by trying something new.
The learning zone varies for every camper.
For younger campers, being away from home places them in their learning zone because they are making independent choices without their parents.
Older campers may need more intense challenges to enter into their learning zone.
Camp Echo staff members are experts in providing safe and exciting challenges that fit within each camper's learning zone.
For young campers, staff members provide guidance that develop daily decision-making skills.
Campers who are comfortable at camp and want a new challenge can learn to slalom ski, go on our high ropes course, or journey on an adventure to the Pacific Northwest.
Challenge by Choice
Challenge by Choice offers every participant the chance to try a potentially difficult or demanding challenge in an atmosphere that is supportive and caring.
Campers always have the opportunity to "back off" when the challenge becomes too difficult, knowing that an opportunity for a future attempt is always available.
Within this environment, campers learn a respect for individual boundaries and a gain self-confidence by recognizing that the attempt is more significant that the results.
At Camp Echo, all activities beyond basic responsibilities are "challenge by choice."
Campers have the opportunity to do many exciting and new things at camp, but are never forced to -- and are always able to modify or stop an activity.
This may mean asking the boat to slow down while tubing or deciding to come down from the high ropes course.
No matter what a camper chooses, we emphasize that the experience of trying something new leads to a wealth of self-confidence and there is always the option to try again later.
The A.P.P.L.E. Method
The A.P.P.L.E. method is a planning method to use when designing group activities.
The leaders first assess the group dynamic and goals of the group, then they plan an engaging and fun activity that will meet the group's goals.
The leaders prepare for the activity by finding a site or creating materials before they bring in the group and lead the activity.
The final step is to evaluate and reflect upon the group's experience.
Camp Echo staff members use the A.P.P.L.E. method when planning teambuilding experiences on our team elements and high ropes courses.
They carefully consider the dynamics of their cabin group and choose a challenge that will meet the needs of their group.
After guiding campers through the activity, counselors facilitate a debriefing that helps campers reflect upon the choices made during the activity.
From this discussion, campers can gain valuable insight into the personalities and leadership styles of themselves and others in the group.
|
Experiential Learning Goals for Camp Echo Campers and Teens
|
Here's a summary of the goals of Experiential Learning and how they are achieved at Camp Echo:
- Understand motor concepts and demonstrate motor skills.
Campers are encouraged to be active and use their bodies in new and challenging ways throughout the day.
We offer a variety of engaging land-based and aquatic activities that bring out each camper's natural talents.
Teens extend their physical skills on adventure trips as they bike, hike, rock climb, canoe, and kayak.
- Demonstrate responsible social behavior.
Cabin groups design a full value contract that defines appropriate behavior for the group.
By signing the contract, members of the group commit to practicing behavior that abides by the contract.
Campers also experience service tasks each day, becoming responsible members of the community.
- Demonstrate the ability to use effective interpersonal skills.
Campers live in a close-knit community and practice their interpersonal skills throughout the day.
They experience living and eating in a shared space, work out disputes, and practice leadership and listening skills on our team elements course.
- Demonstrate appropriate decision-making skills.
Campers actively explore the decision making process by choosing camptivities, what to do during free periods, or even what to eat.
During taps talks and group discussions, campers reflect upon their decisions and the natural consequences that follow.
Teens are allowed to have more unstructured time, but learn that with more freedom comes more responsibility.
They learn that integrity means doing the right thing, even when no one watching.
- Understand that challenges can be life-enhancing experiences.
Campers are encouraged to challenge themselves by choosing new activities, trying new foods, and creating friendships with new people.
After meeting a new challenge, campers have a feeling of empowerment and self-confidence that encourages them to try yet even more new things.
- Demonstrate an understanding of and respect for differences.
Campers interact with others from a variety of backgrounds throughout their stay at Echo.
Their counselor may be from another country or their bunkmate may speak a second language or practice a different religion.
By interacting with new and different people, campers learn the power of diversity and challenge their own stereotypes.
Back to ...
Summer Camp & Teen Trips
|
|
