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COURSE SUMMARY:
This thirteen-week expedition offers a wide diversity of learning experiences as we journey along the Appalachian Trail. Educational opportunities abound as we explore America both on and off this historic pathway. This educational adventure focuses on the history, literature, flora, fauna and geology of the region. Students rotate between academic instruction at our Balsam Base Camp and experiential adventure opportunities as they hike sections of the Appalachian Trail. Typically groups visit Philadelphia, Harper's Ferry, and Washington, D.C. as they explore this country's rich history. Students have other adventure opportunities as they move through each unique phase of this program. Additionally, this course includes a significant service learning component, allowing the students to give something of themselves to the different areas they choose to visit
EXPERIENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES SPECIFIC TO THIS COURSE
Review the development of America's most historic pathway: the Appalachian Trail Discover the impact of Water Morphology on rivers like the Nantahala and Ocoee Touring national monuments and the Smithsonian Museums in Washington, D.C. Creating a Timeline of the Civil War and touring many of its historical sites:
* Gettysburg
* Harpers Ferry
* Appomattox
Examine the impact of human intervention on wildlife found along the eastern seaboard.
Conduct a Tourism Impact Study of Smoky Mtn. National Park Survey the Flora and Fauna found along the Appalachian Trail.
Record the Geological differences in areas visited:
* Linville Gorge
* Whorley's Cavern
* The Bluffs of the Shenandoah's
ADVENTURE OPPORTUNITIES
* Outdoor Living Skills
* Backpacking
* Bouldering
* Flat Water Kayaking
* Orienteering
* Whitewater Rafting
* Rock Climbing
* Mountain Biking
* Survival Skills Review
* Technical River Crossing
* Caving
If interested in a Semester Course, Contact Admissions Department at 828-456-3435 or admissions@soarnc.org
Quick Facts:
Dates: 9/7/10 – 12/4/10
Students: 7
Days: 90
Tuition:$17,800
Ages:13-18
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Philosophy: SOAR believes all individuals identified with learning disabilities (LD) and attention deficit disorder (AD/HD) possess inherent talents and gifts. These abilities can mean incredible success in adulthood once these students negotiate the challenging obstacles of childhood, adolescence, and a traditional education system, usually unable to respond to individual learning styles.
Therefore, the SOAR model is based on two fundamental principles. First, youth with LD and AD/HD flourish when they are encouraged to focus on their strengths in an experiential setting. The second principle acknowledges that success can be generalized by encouraging our students to develop and utilize strategies, enabling them to compensate for those challenging characteristics of LD and AD/HD. To this end, SOAR staff strive to ensure success for each student across a wide range of experiences. Such success, in turn, builds essential self-esteem and self-confidence.
Based on these two foundations, SOAR participants develop problem solving skills, effective communication strategies, increased self-awareness, and social skills. Program activities include a broad base of wilderness adventure experiences that empower students to make healthy choices, learn more about themselves, overcome challenges, and establish relevance from these experiences to other aspects of their life.
SOAR's Specialty Courses are open to SOAR alumni and students with the maturity and experience level to be successful on the course. Acceptance is conditional on the approval of the course director. Most specialty courses are led by one of SOAR's year-round staff including Jonathan Jones, John Willson and Logan Walters.
SOAR’s programs are designed to allow students the opportunity to increase their independence while away from home. Independence is gained through self-motivation and life skills instruction. With this in mind, we involve our students in many decision making processes, such as setting individual goals, developing group guidelines, as well as trip and meal planning. This also comes into consideration when developing SOAR’s communication policy, detailed in our Parent Handbook.
SOAR is dedicated to serving the needs of individuals with learning disabilities (LD) and attention deficit disorder (AD/HD) and is proud to be the finest: