We believe that exposing students to the outdoors and teaching respect for the natural world not only benefit the planet but, makes the student a better person. The outdoor elective curriculum provides opportunities for students that are unique and interdisciplinary in their approach. All courses are trimester in length.
Outdoor Leadership is an elective offered by Blue
Ridge School’s Outdoor Education Program. The class goal is
to introduce students to information, resources and most importantly,
experience needed for leadership in the outdoor education field.
Class participants will identify soft skills needed in facilitating group
exercises and participate in various leadership models – focusing
primarily on developing elements of group dynamics (i.e. trust,
communication and teamwork). A major project in this class is
developing a biographical sketch on a leader in the education,
conservation or recreation field. Students who desire the
opportunity to learn about leadership styles and gain practical
experience in facilitating group activities should take this class.
Outdoor
Leadership II
Outdoor Leadership II is an elective offered by Blue Ridge
School’s Outdoor Education Program. This class is a continuation
of Outdoor Leadership I and focuses primarily on program planning.
The goal is to provide students with the practical experience in the
development, implementation and evaluation of recreational
programs. Class topics emphasize needs assessment, logistics, risk
management and debriefing. Major projects in this class include
developing actual recreational programs for student body participation
and creating a proposal for a four-day backcountry expedition.
Students who desire hands-on experience in recreational programming are
encouraged to take this class. It is recommended that students
complete Outdoor Leadership I prior to registering for this class.
Outdoor
Living Skills
Outdoor Living Skills is an elective offered by Blue Ridge
School’s Outdoor Education Program. The course goal is to
introduce students to the principles of recreation and leisure as well
as the fundamentals of back-country travel. Class participants
will specifically develop hard skills essential to outdoor recreation
pursuits; including mountain travel, camping, cooking, and
orienteering. Major projects will
include a overnight camping trip on campus and a paper discussing
recreation philosophy. Students
who appreciate the challenge of wilderness pursuits and who desire to
learn how to be better prepared for outdoor activities are encouraged to
take this class.
Advanced
Outdoor Living Skills
This class’ goal is to introduce students to
fundamental survival skills and issues related to ecosystem
management. Major projects for
this class include a debris shelter overnight and research paper on a
conservation issue effecting wilderness areas. Students who have an interest in
primitive living and ecology are encouraged to take this class.
Outdoor
Service Learning
This fall course will examine the act of service and
its impact on our world. Students will be engaged in a service
project on the campus while exploring a variety of issues in the service
field. Both local and global non-profit organizations will be studied.
With the reading and discussion of our book we will examine our personal
impact on the environment.
Outdoor
Appreciation
This course offered in the spring trimester examines
our personal and societies relationship to nature. The beginning
of the conservation movement, The National Park System and weekly
experiences on the BRS property will be our avenues of learning. A
project that involves sustainability takes up the majority of our time.
Appalachian
Experiences
This winter course will examine a variety of topics and
issues in and around the Appalachian Mountain Chain. Cherokee
culture, Blue Ridge School history, the Appalachian Trail, environmental
issues, mountain culture and others will be researched and discussed. We
will also spent some time on BRS school history which includes a study
of archives. A major hands on activity that takes place is the
painting of a Cherokee gourd mask that appears in the art shop in the
spring.
Wilderness
& Remote First Aid (coming soon)
Outdoor
Leadership
Outdoor Leadership is an elective offered by Blue
Ridge School’s Outdoor Education Program. The class goal is
to introduce students to information, resources and most importantly,
experience needed for leadership in the outdoor education field.
Class participants will identify soft skills needed in facilitating group
exercises and participate in various leadership models – focusing
primarily on developing elements of group dynamics (i.e. trust,
communication and teamwork). A major project in this class is
developing a biographical sketch on a leader in the education,
conservation or recreation field. Students who desire the
opportunity to learn about leadership styles and gain practical
experience in facilitating group activities should take this class.
Outdoor
Leadership II
Outdoor Leadership II is an elective offered by Blue Ridge
School’s Outdoor Education Program. This class is a continuation
of Outdoor Leadership I and focuses primarily on program planning.
The goal is to provide students with the practical experience in the
development, implementation and evaluation of recreational
programs. Class topics emphasize needs assessment, logistics, risk
management and debriefing. Major projects in this class include
developing actual recreational programs for student body participation
and creating a proposal for a four-day backcountry expedition.
Students who desire hands-on experience in recreational programming are
encouraged to take this class. It is recommended that students
complete Outdoor Leadership I prior to registering for this class.
Outdoor
Living Skills
Outdoor Living Skills is an elective offered by Blue Ridge
School’s Outdoor Education Program. The course goal is to
introduce students to the principles of recreation and leisure as well
as the fundamentals of back-country travel. Class participants
will specifically develop hard skills essential to outdoor recreation
pursuits; including mountain travel, camping, cooking, and
orienteering.Major projects will
include a overnight camping trip on campus and a paper discussing
recreation philosophy.Students
who appreciate the challenge of wilderness pursuits and who desire to
learn how to be better prepared for outdoor activities are encouraged to
take this class.
Advanced
Outdoor Living Skills
This class’ goal is to introduce students to
fundamental survival skills and issues related to ecosystem
management.Major projects for
this class include a debris shelter overnight and research paper on a
conservation issue effecting wilderness areas.Students who have an interest in
primitive living and ecology are encouraged to take this class.
Outdoor
Service Learning
This fall course will examine the act of service and
its impact on our world. Students will be engaged in a service
project on the campus while exploring a variety of issues in the service
field. Both local and global non-profit organizations will be studied.
With the reading and discussion of our book we will examine our personal
impact on the environment.
Outdoor
Appreciation
This course offered in the spring trimester examines
our personal and societies relationship to nature. The beginning
of the conservation movement, The National Park System and weekly
experiences on the BRS property will be our avenues of learning. A
project that involves sustainability takes up the majority of our time.
Appalachian
Experiences
This winter course will examine a variety of topics and
issues in and around the Appalachian Mountain Chain. Cherokee
culture, Blue Ridge School history, the Appalachian Trail, environmental
issues, mountain culture and others will be researched and discussed. We
will also spent some time on BRS school history which includes a study
of archives. A major hands on activity that takes place is the
painting of a Cherokee gourd mask that appears in the art shop in the
spring.
Wilderness
& Remote First Aid (coming soon)
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