|
 |
We have tons of programs for schools. All of our programs can be tailored to fit your school's needs. We can do as much of the planning as you want - all of it if you need!
Our programs are primarily designed to strengthen relationships between individual students, between students and teachers, between guests and staff, and between people and the environment. Each activity is designed to reflect specific objectives from MA, CT and NY State curriculum frameworks.
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:
|
- Leadership Development Program
Educational programs for schools, colleges, youth groups and adult groups that emphasize teamwork, cooperation, communication and leadership skills, through physical, mental and emotional challenges and risk-taking. These activities take place in a cooperative, community environment and emphasize the relationship between self and the group. This is our most popular program. (more)
|
-
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)
|
-
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)
|
- 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)
|
- 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 teambuilding and debrief activities, designed to supplement the test prep and break up the day, are run by our Outdoor Center staff. (more)
|
- 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)
|
- 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)
|
- 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)
|
- Berkshire Schools Staff 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)
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
