By Kenny Harris - Sixth Grade Teacher - Renaissance Expeditionary Learning Outward Bound School
We’re an educational forum with heart, expertise, and wildness, and these qualities help us facilitate powerful, authentic experiences.
At Renaissance our highest endeavour is to impart within each of our students a compassionate and curious sense of self and a resolute belief in one's potential and purpose. We empower children to believe in the tangibility of their dreams. As mentors we own the responsibility of encouraging the young to take an optimistic view of their future. We make time to explore why, within each of our unique and special talents, exists the extraordinary potential for success.
Together, students and teachers create a class-scape that nurtures a deep respect and appreciation for individuality and diversity. Students work collectively to define parameters that guide how their learning environment best serves expressing differences of opinion, adversity, joy, and original ideas. Our spaces of learning are always designed with an awareness that students learn best from one another in a caring community.
At the Renaissance Expeditionary Learning School, Learning Expeditions are dynamic platforms for accessing Humanities. We delve deeply into the complexity of local social and science related events or issues important to Colorado residents. To begin, we creatively build a foundation of deep understanding and skill that we use as a platform to grapple with the unknown. We travel to local natural and social environments to collect data and work with community members and professional experts to learn firsthand knowledge.
The relevance of a local issue motivates students to think critically, make connections, empathize with diverse perspectives, formulate strong conclusions and seek solutions. High quality products and performances are forged from responsible learning, collaboration, ingenuity, and shared with local audiences and established institutions. Learning Expeditions engage students in active learning because they foster a faculty of wonder and an ethic of service.
Through purposeful fieldwork, Renaissance builds bridges between classroom-based experiences and meaningful community service. Service Learning is an intentional approach to cultivate civic responsibility and strengthens relationship to community, all the while championing kids to become active and compassionate citizens.
We are a school that respects and upholds character development as an essential and necessary part of education. Twice a year, K-6 crews disembark on an emotionally raw journey of physical and mental dexterity. The wilderness becomes our learning environment. Backpacks, tarps and snowshoes, our gear. Communication, courage, compassion and reflection, our tools. Adventure Education is a cornerstone of Renaissance's educational framework. We recognize that experience with challenges that require students to step beyond the scope and comfort of his or her daily life provide a unique insight into the student’s internal self and offer valuable opportunities for growth and character development.
In addition to time spent in the wild, Renaissance also implores a variety of rigorous pursuits, ranging from team building to rock climbing. No matter the medium, the purpose is to serve student growth. Insight gained can be transferred and applied to students’ everyday existence, providing tangible benefits such as increased self esteem, leadership qualities, perseverance, a sense of social and environmental stewardship, and a willingness to challenge oneself and take risks.
Renaissance students rise to an occasion, not because teachers set fire beneath yet because teachers have stoked the fire within.
We’re an educational forum with heart, expertise, and wildness, and these qualities help us facilitate powerful, authentic experiences.
At Renaissance our highest endeavour is to impart within each of our students a compassionate and curious sense of self and a resolute belief in one's potential and purpose. We empower children to believe in the tangibility of their dreams. As mentors we own the responsibility of encouraging the young to take an optimistic view of their future. We make time to explore why, within each of our unique and special talents, exists the extraordinary potential for success.
Together, students and teachers create a class-scape that nurtures a deep respect and appreciation for individuality and diversity. Students work collectively to define parameters that guide how their learning environment best serves expressing differences of opinion, adversity, joy, and original ideas. Our spaces of learning are always designed with an awareness that students learn best from one another in a caring community.
At the Renaissance Expeditionary Learning School, Learning Expeditions are dynamic platforms for accessing Humanities. We delve deeply into the complexity of local social and science related events or issues important to Colorado residents. To begin, we creatively build a foundation of deep understanding and skill that we use as a platform to grapple with the unknown. We travel to local natural and social environments to collect data and work with community members and professional experts to learn firsthand knowledge.
The relevance of a local issue motivates students to think critically, make connections, empathize with diverse perspectives, formulate strong conclusions and seek solutions. High quality products and performances are forged from responsible learning, collaboration, ingenuity, and shared with local audiences and established institutions. Learning Expeditions engage students in active learning because they foster a faculty of wonder and an ethic of service.
Through purposeful fieldwork, Renaissance builds bridges between classroom-based experiences and meaningful community service. Service Learning is an intentional approach to cultivate civic responsibility and strengthens relationship to community, all the while championing kids to become active and compassionate citizens.
We are a school that respects and upholds character development as an essential and necessary part of education. Twice a year, K-6 crews disembark on an emotionally raw journey of physical and mental dexterity. The wilderness becomes our learning environment. Backpacks, tarps and snowshoes, our gear. Communication, courage, compassion and reflection, our tools. Adventure Education is a cornerstone of Renaissance's educational framework. We recognize that experience with challenges that require students to step beyond the scope and comfort of his or her daily life provide a unique insight into the student’s internal self and offer valuable opportunities for growth and character development.
In addition to time spent in the wild, Renaissance also implores a variety of rigorous pursuits, ranging from team building to rock climbing. No matter the medium, the purpose is to serve student growth. Insight gained can be transferred and applied to students’ everyday existence, providing tangible benefits such as increased self esteem, leadership qualities, perseverance, a sense of social and environmental stewardship, and a willingness to challenge oneself and take risks.
Renaissance students rise to an occasion, not because teachers set fire beneath yet because teachers have stoked the fire within.