th An academic semester school for 10 graders th and select 11 graders SACS Accredited The Outdoor Academy of the Southern Appalachians Curriculum Guide 2010-2011 “Experiential education for young people, promoting the natural world, and the betterment of human character” Wouldn't It Be Wonderful If I Could Go To A School… Where I engage my whole self: my mind, my body, my spirit? Where I hike, climb, and paddle into the wilderness so that I might know its beauty? Where I learn to be a stronger leader, an active supporter, a better student, and a young teacher? Where I become an active, educated link in the global chain of environmental and social concern? Where I delve into music, theatre, and the fine arts in a free, artistic environment? Where I take on the responsibility of hard work and the accountability of living in community? Where I create meaningful, lifelong friendships? Where I am free to become the self I have always yearned to be? Where I belong? It Would Be Wonderful To Go To School… Where I can find all these things, while I thrive academically and prepare for my future. ______________________________________ “The people of the desert,” says Laurens van der Post, “speak of two hungers, one small, the other great. The small hunger concerns food for the belly and the other is the great hunger for meaning. The Bushman dances, sings, paints, tells stories; such is the food that feeds this hunger.” Wholehearted learning has been the wisdom of Eagle's Nest for over 80 years. Working with young people, we seek to nurture and build character, explore the natural world, live the arts, and replace fear with love. In the holistic tapestry of community life, we awaken and learn to remember the value of each person. Students at The Outdoor Academy excel in their preparation for college – adding life experience and hands-on know-how to rigorous academic study. For such an experience, there seems to be no better time than the middle of high school – honoring the sophomore, the in-betweener, who deserves a come-alive year at The Outdoor Academy. Noni Waite-Kucera Mark Meyer-Braun Executive Director Head of School 1 ACADEMIC PROFILE The Outdoor Academy is an accredited, academic semester school for 10th and select 11th graders. Accreditation with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) certifies that the school meets curricular and institutional standards of excellence, and that credits earned at The Outdoor Academy are honored at secondary schools and colleges throughout the country. This unique, semester-long program offers the opportunity for academic enrichment and personal growth within an intellectually rigorous and nurturing small community. The Outdoor Academy distinguishes students for college and lifelong learning. Students who have attended the program have later enrolled at prestigious colleges and universities, including Bates, Bowdoin, Brown, Cal Tech, Cambridge, Colorado College, Dartmouth, Davidson, Duke, Middlebury, Oberlin, Reed, Smith, Stanford, Swarthmore, UNC, Wellesley, and Wesleyan, among others. Arising from a long tradition of experiential education at Eagle’s Nest Foundation, we combine a college preparatory curriculum with environmental education, regional studies, arts programming, and outdoor leadership training. The Outdoor Academy accepts up to 35 students to attend for one semester – fall or spring. In a close- knit community, students and faculty develop a sense of responsibility and generosity. Here everyone pitches in to make hard work rewarding, studies challenging and friendships real. The Outdoor Academy takes advantage of its setting in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina. Classes in English, mathematics, science, history, environmental studies, foreign language, visual and performing arts, and music are taught both in the classroom and in the forest. Our outdoor program teaches hiking, backpacking, canoeing, rock climbing, and caving as time permits. School Calendar and Classroom Time: One semester is generally sixteen weeks in length. All classes meet the equivalent of five hours per week. Regular classes meet Monday through Friday in 45, 60, or 90-minute time blocks, depending on the subject. Saturdays provide time to work in the arts, developing independent hands-on projects. The number of class days per semester is approximately 90. Admissions Information: Over the past decade, The Outdoor Academy has enrolled over 500 high school sophomores, along with a smaller number of juniors. We have worked with students from over 200 public and private schools, as well as some who are normally home-schooled. Admissions decisions are based on an applicant’s motivation, intellectual curiosity, academic record, and commitment to hard work. Students who attend The Outdoor Academy are highly motivated and are eager to be challenged academically. We seek students who have demonstrated self-determination in their academic work. Those who apply generally express a desire to live and learn in a close, caring community, set in the rich natural world of the Appalachian Mountains. Curriculum: All students take the following academic courses: English: Writing the Landscape Natural Science: Filed Biology of the Southern Appalachians Mathematics: Algebra II, Geometry, Pre-Calculus, Trigonometry, Advanced Math, Integrated Math, or other French (levels I-IV) or Spanish (levels I-IV) (Other languages may be available through private arrangement.) Environmental Seminar or World History Physical Education and Outdoor Leadership Art, Music, and Appalachian Craft (students select among half and full semester offerings) In addition, students participate in Work Crew, Community Service, and Wilderness Leadership Activities. Students receive community service hours for their volunteer work on campus and in the larger community. 2 Second Languages and Mathematics: Since students come to The Outdoor Academy from a variety of academic backgrounds; they are carefully screened for appropriate placement. Each applicant’s regular Math or second language teacher completes a detailed assessment form during the enrollment process. These forms ensure that comparable material will be covered while at The Outdoor Academy. This is essential to preparing a healthy transition back home for each student. Our small class sizes and regular student-teacher contact outside of class enable us to challenge each student at his/her level of aptitude and prior knowledge. Honors: For most courses, honors credit is available to applicants who are normally enrolled in honors or advanced placement classes at their home school, though we do not offer advanced placement credits. Students seeking honors credit should indicate this during the enrollment process. Physical Education, Work Crew, and Wilderness Activities: Students earn a Physical Education credit through regular participation in sports activities and our wilderness leadership program. Specific activities include rock climbing, whitewater paddling, backpacking, Ultimate Frisbee, soccer, basketball, volleyball, and swimming. In addition, all students participate in Work Crew for up to five hours each week. During Work Crew, students and faculty work side-by-side on service activities and important community jobs such as gardening, trail maintenance, and splitting firewood. Student transcripts reflect the number of hours they have devoted to work crew and other forms of community service. Standardized Tests: The PSAT and SAT are available to students upon request and are administered at our local high school. Those requiring special accommodations in taking the test must present documentation during the enrollment process or on opening day. Documentation must be obtained through the College Board. Attendance: Students are expected to attend all classes. Occasional exceptions are made for illness or family commitments. Family plans that interfere with class attendance should be arranged with the school administration well in advance. Any student who is unable to meet his or her academic commitments at The Outdoor Academy will be asked to leave the program. Grading: The Outdoor Academy uses the following grade scale: A+ = 97, 98, 99, 100 D+ = 67, 68, 69 A = 93, 94, 95, 96 D = 63, 64, 65, 66 A- = 90, 91, 92 D- = 60, 61, 62 B+ = 87, 88, 89 F = 0 - 59 B = 83, 84, 85, 86 B- = 80, 81, 82 C+ = 77, 78, 79 C = 73, 74, 75, 76 C- = 70, 71, 72 This information is provided to each sending school along with student transcripts at the conclusion of the semester. 3 THE FACULTY Mark Meyer-Braun, PhD Education Head of School Brown University, Ph.D. Ethnomusicology Music Wesleyan University, M.A. in Ethnomusicology Wesleyan University, B.A. in Music Vassar College Experience Dean of Students and Faculty Member, The Outdoor Academy Education Consultant, Cablevision and Topics Education Group Lecturer and Research Fellow, Brown University, Excelsior College, and University of Ghana Mark was a member of the founding faculty of The Outdoor Academy in 1995. He has served as Dean of Students and taught Music, History, and Environmental Studies over his years with the school. During his time away, Mark has worked with community-based music education programs in the United States and abroad. Most recently, he completed doctoral studies in education, expressive culture, and community. He is delighted to be at The Outdoor Academy with his wife Lisa and daughter Lucy. Susan Tinsley Daily Education Dean of Students Tufts University, M.A. in Teaching Environmental Seminar Swarthmore College B.A. in English & Environmental Studies Experience Education Director, Course Director, and Instructor, North Carolina Outward Bound School Adjunct Professor, Warren Wilson College Adjunct Professor, San Quentin Prison University Project Middle and High School Teacher: English, History, Environmental Seminar and Outdoor Leadership Outdoor Academy, English Teacher Trip Leader, Where There Be Dragons, Thailand and Tibet Tinsley is thrilled to be back at OA, after teaching for many years around the country and leading trips for teenagers abroad. She has been working in the field of Outdoor Adventure and Education for nineteen years, including fifteen years with Outward Bound. Tinsley’s passion is working with teachers and students to bring experiential education into the traditional classroom, and has facilitated diversity workshops in schools and conferences around the area. When not at work, Tinsley can often be found walking the trails on campus with her husband Michael and son Noah. 4 Christopher Arbor Education English and Math Teacher Currently enrolled in: The Bread Loaf School of English at Wilderness Leader Middlebury College, M.A. Candidate in English University of North Carolina in Asheville, B.A. in English Warren Wilson College The Outdoor Academy (Spring 1996) Experience Enrichment Specialist and Tutor, AmeriCorps Substitute Teacher, Asheville Buncombe School System Cabin Counselor, Eagle’s Nest Camp As it turns out, you can go home again. Christopher attended The Outdoor Academy as a student in the spring of 1996, and returned to teach in 2004. Since that time, he has worn many hats: backpacking and caving expedition leader; photography, woodworking, and quilting instructor; and English, Geometry, and Algebra teacher. As a Native North Carolinian and OA alumnus, he carries with him a deep-seated sense of place that informs his relationships with the current students. Christopher is currently spending his summers pursuing his M.A. at The Bread Loaf School of English. Christie Etter Education Program Director, ENF Warren Wilson College, B.A. in Outdoor Leadership Wilderness Leader NC Outward Bound School Physical Education Experience Teacher, Good Hope Summer Enrichment Program, St. Croix, USVI Adjunct Professor, Warren Wilson College, Swannanoa, NC Director, Shenandoah Summer Adventure Camp at Sheridan School, Luray, VA Assistant Director, Sheridan School Mountain Campus, Luray, VA Christie has been leading & teaching outdoor programming and team-building for 14 years, with a focus on leadership and group development. She grew up in Maryland and West Virginia exploring the mountain trails and rivers near Harper’s Ferry. She moved to western North Carolina to finish a degree in Outdoor leadership and fell in love with the Southern Appalachians. Christie enjoys hiking with her dog, mountain biking, climbing, and caving. Katie Flanagan Education Head Resident Warren Wilson College, B.S. in Environmental Studies Wilderness Leader Asarun Botanicals, Certificate program in Herbal Medicine Experience Education Coordinator, Virgin Islands Env. Resource Station Environmental Educator, Pickering Creek Audubon Center Farm Hand, Coonridge Organic Goat Farm Katie is glad to be back as a part of The Outdoor Academy faculty. She is a seasoned environmental educator and knowledgeable naturalist. Her leadership experiences are diverse and have taken her to near and distant places of natural wonder. Throughout her work, her personal mission is clearly to engage young people in a relationship with and understanding of natural processes. In her free time, she enjoys working in the garden, knitting and exploring the woods and all of its wonders. 5 Sara Hirsch Education Wilderness Educator Intern Wesleyan University, B.A. in Psychology Experience Head Counselor, Hawthorne Valley Farm Camp (Ghent, NY) Head Counselor, Camp Riverlea (Durham, NC) Residential Advisor, Wesleyan University (Middletown, CT) After hearing about The Outdoor Academy from many OA alumni at Wesleyan University, Sara is thrilled to join the community. In her hometown of Durham, NC and beyond, Sara has spent the past few summers working in camp programs, teaching environmental education, exploration, and athletics. Sara has also worked at a number of community gardens and farms, and can’t wait to get her hands into the dirt at OA. Linda Klein Education French UNC-Chapel Hill, M.A. in French University of Delaware, B.A. in Teacher Education Wake Forest University, B.A. in French Experience French & German Instructor, Brevard College French & German Teacher, West Henderson High School French Instructor, Blue Ridge Community College Two-year Residence in Paris, France Foreign Exchange Student, Belgium A native of Western North Carolina, Linda brings to our faculty a love of Appalachian culture and many years of experience teaching French and German. She is delighted to help OA students expand their knowledge and appreciation of the French language and Francophone cultures in our special setting. She enjoys family activities with husband B.J. and two children and their families, including three grandchildren. Other interests include reading, hiking and the study of Okinawan karate. Hannah Levin Education Art Teacher Western Carolina University, M.A.T in Art Wilderness Leader Kenyon College, B.A. in Studio Art Penland School of Crafts Experience Visual Arts, Language Arts, and Outdoor Leader, Arthur Morgan School (Burnsville, NC) Ceramics Instr., Southwest. Comm. Coll. (Bryson City, NC) Art Teacher, Mountain Discovery Charter (Bryson City, NC) Teaching Assistant and Art Teacher, Duke TIP (Abiqu., NM) Director of Junior Appalachian Musicians (Bryson City, NC) Hannah is excited to join the OA faculty this fall. The daughter of Yancey County artists, she grew up exploring the mountains and creating artwork. Hannah has taught art in a variety of settings and led wilderness trips throughout Southern Appalachia. An avid photographer and potter, Hannah is also a singer/songwriter. Additionally, she loves to travel, cook, play guitar, sing, hike, and practice yoga. Hannah enjoys helping all her students discover the artist inside of them and she embraces the creative process of working with teenagers. 6 William Lillard Education Wilderness Educator Intern Kean University, B.A. Political Science Experience Trip Leader/Trip Director, Wilderness Ventures (Jackson, WY) Naturalist/Trip Leader, Ventura, CA Will is looking forward to returning to the east coast, after three years of leading backpacking and fly fishing trips for teens in Wyoming, Montana, and Colorado. Will spent his summers growing up in the mountains of North Carolina and is eager to share his love of the outdoors this fall with the Outdoor Academy students. Arrington McCoy Education Wilderness Educator Intern Kenyon College, B.A. International Studies International Honors Program-Rethinking Globalization Tanzania, India, New Zealand, Mexico National Outdoor Leadership School, Teton Valley Semester Where There Be Dragons, India Semester Experience Cabin Counselor, Camp Gwynn Valley (Brevard, NC) Residential Advisor, Kenyon College Originally from Charlotte, Arrington is glad to be calling the North Carolina mountains home now. Arrington’s college years were defined by her study abroad experience with the International Honors Program and her time spent volunteering on a farm near Kenyon. On the farm, Arrington developed her interest in the local food movement. Her love of the outdoors began with family trips to Mt. LeConte, and she has continued to follow this passion working summers in the adventure program at Camp Gwynn Valley. Arrington is very excited to join OA as a Resident/Wilderness Intern this fall. Danny Schiff Education Math Teacher University of Florida, B.A. in Education and Business Wilderness Leader Administration Experience Math Instructor, Donna Klein Jewish Academy (Boca Raton, FL) English Instructor, NOVA Group (Tokyo, Japan) Trip Director, Westcoast Connection Outdoor Adventure Danny is excited to return to his Appalachian Mountain “beach math” classroom at The Outdoor Academy this year. When Danny isn’t deriving the quadratic formula on a portable whiteboard around campus, he loves leading students on rock climbing and backpacking treks in Pisgah Forest. Danny can also be found climbing hills on his road bicycle, composing raps about mathematics, playing the harmonica, or daydreaming about his summers surfing Hawaii, Costa Rica, California and Florida. 7 Rodrigo Vargas Education Spanish University of Costa Rica, B.S. in Chemical Engineering Costa Rican Bureau of Tourism, Natural History Guide Certification Highlander Research and Education Center – Civil Rights Experience Assistant Program Director, Eagle’s Nest Camp Naturalist Guide, Costa Rican Sun Tours International Hante Leader, Eagle’s Nest Foundation Executive Director, El Centro Comunitario Hispano-Americano of Brevard Rodrigo has served as a strong and enthusiastic leader at Eagle’s Nest Camp since 1996. At The Outdoor Academy, Rodrigo has served as Spanish Teacher and in various leadership capacities for many years. In his teaching, Rodrigo actively shares with us the diversity of Latin American culture, his personal love for working with stained glass, and as a Latin-American leader in our local community. Ted Wesemann Education Natural Science Appalachian State University, M.S. in Biology World History Appalachian State University, B.S. in Biology Experience Head of School, The Outdoor Academy Director, Wilderness Southeast Ted was the founding Head of School of The Outdoor Academy. After years of service, he stepped down from his administrative post in order to devote himself to teaching and mentoring students. His knowledge of the land, history, and culture of the Southern Appalachians brings depth and quality to our academic and extracurricular programs. Ted’s personal demeanor gives students and faculty alike a sense of what it means to ‘belong’ to, and care for, a place. Many students appreciate most the way Ted shares his passion for woodworking and other historic Appalachian crafts. 8 FOUNDATION ADMINISTRATION AND SUPPORT STAFF Bonnie Jean Lance Office Manager/Registrar Education North Georgia College & State University East Georgia College Experience Administrative Assistant, Eagle’s Nest Foundation Mortgage Consultant, First Citizens Bank Administrative Assistant, General Motors Acceptance Corporation Her love of the mountains, people, organizational skills, and attention to detail brought Bonnie to command central on the campus of Eagle’s Nest and The Outdoor Academy. All roads lead to her desk in the Salt Mines. Raised mostly in a small town in Georgia, summers found her and her family in the mountains of North Carolina or at her grandparent’s cabin in the near-by woods of Transylvania County, North Carolina. Susan Conley Director of Development Education UNC-Greensboro, M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration Wellesley College, B.A. in Political Science The University of the South, Certificate in Ed. for Ministry Experience Director of Development, Eagle’s Nest Foundation (ENF) Database Manager and Development Associate, ENF Director of Annual Giving, Salem Academy and College Susan has been with Eagle’s Nest since 2000, as Development Director and Database Manager. She has a special love of the craft of writing, and looks forward to being involved in English and Environmental Seminar classes at OA. Susan was a longtime Girl Scout and volunteer outdoor trainer. A choral singer for most of her life, Susan also enjoys the practice of yoga. Susan, her husband Kevin, and their children Madeline and Ethan live in Winston-Salem. Colleen McKown Admissions Officer Education Davidson College, BA in Medieval and Renaissance Studies Experience NOLS Graduate – Wind River Wilderness (Lander, WY) Prologue Communications, Documentary Film Intern Rockbrook Camp, Counselor and Activity Instructor Rockbrook Camp, Office Assistant Colleen is back for her second year as the Admissions Officer. She graduated in 2008 from Davidson College with a self-designed major in Medieval and Renaissance Studies. Colleen is a native of Transylvania County and enjoys running, biking, and hiking the beautiful trails around this area. She also enjoys traveling and has spent time in Western Europe and China. Colleen loves the mission of The Outdoor Academy and excited to be spending another year in the Eagle’s Nest community. 9