Community Programs |
| The Berkshire Outdoor Center's Programs for Schools can be summarized in the following packages. Please choose the package that applies best to your school: |
- Outdoor Education Program
Educational programs for schools that provide teambuilding and low ropes activities, recreational water and land-based activities, opportunities to reinforce lessons learned in the classroom. Aspects of our Environmental Education Programs are typically combined with activities in this package. This is our second most popular program. (more)
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- Environmental Education Program
Educational programs for schools that provide hands-on nature lessons, opportunities to reinforce lessons learned in the classroom and an appreciation for the environment. Aspects of our Outdoor Education Program are typically combined with these environmental lessons. (more)
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- Leadership Development Program
For those participants whose goal it is to become Outdoor Center staff members, but are not yet ready to be on their own as staff, they may stay in the leadership program for as long as necessary to reach the level required of Outdoor Center staff. (more)
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- Berkshire Outdoor Science School Program
Educational programs for schools that wish to encourage interest in science, environmental awareness and other aspects of our Outdoor Education Programs in an intense, academic (outdoor) setting. Programs are primarily academic science, integrating social development through community living. (more)
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- MCAS, CAPT, NY REGENTS Prep Retreat
This is an opportunity for schools to bring students to our facilities where they can prep for standardized tests - distraction free. Test prep is typically run by the school teachers who attend with the students, and then debrief and teambuilding activities, designed to supplement the test prep and break up the day, are run by our Outdoor Center staff. (more)
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- School Recreational Adventure Retreat
Designed for schools that wish to take a relaxing break together. This option is typically good for end-of-year school grade trips, kids that need some debrief time together, or schools that just want to get-away-from-it-all. (more)
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- Design-Your-Own School Program
This option is for schools who wish to mix-and-match, using activities from various programs and tailor them to fit the school's needs. All activities are on the table, and organizers can choose from activities under Outdoor Education, Environmental Education, Adventure Recreation and Leadership Development. (more)
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- CityKids School Funding Program
The CityKids School Program is specifically designed to use the outdoor, natural environment to supplement academic lessons learned at inner-city schools, and to additionally provide valuable teambuilding, peer support development and leadership development skills - life lessons - in a comfortable, safe and friendly environment. Schools must qualify. (more)
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- Berkshire Schools Staff Development Day Retreat
This is a free program for all schools in Berkshire County. We are offering a one-day staff development retreat, including lunch. The retreat can be any combination of your own workshops combined with our staff leadership development activities, such as teambuilding, low ropes, high ropes, Alpine Tower and more. The activities will help unite your staff and bring out self-confidence and self-esteem, plus it is a fun learning day away from the school. (more)
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Our Educational Goals |
- Strengthening relationships - The communication and interaction between peers, between students and teachers, between children and parents, between women and men, between staff and guests, between humans and the environment – are emphasized.
- To encourage students to become more aware of their senses, enabling them to understand and experience the relationship between themselves and the natural environment and to foster an attitude of inquiry.
- Support New England schools to improve student learning through a multidisciplinary curricula that supports Massachusetts, New York and Connecticut Curriculum frameworks and objectives.
- Empower students to become responsible community citizens by emphasizing connections with the real world. Build an understanding of how their actions make a difference.
- Contine to evolve as an organization by regularly assessing the effectiveness of our programs and activities.
- Serve students and teachers in communities that do not have available resources to provide a residential environmental education experience, through our CityKids School Program.
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