Philly Students: Experiential Learning in American Southwest
We need 7 Grand Canyon Youth Wilderness Explorer trip registrations - 10 days in Utah and Arizona, hiking, rafting, in pursuit of science and stewardship.
Jose, Marcus, Talib, Austin, Errion, Alicia, Grace and Leyitha are adventurous trail blazers as the founding members of the 1st graduating class at our school. As they were looking into their college and career paths, many were looking to expand their world view. This opportunity delivers on that goal.
Students researched what excursions our sister school had pursued in the past and looked to build on the opportunity to explore the natural world of the Southwest canyons and rivers. Many of the juniors have been involved in projects at school that ask them to expand their world view, take initiative in their own learning and reach for new experiences. This project developed out of that overall pursuit of new experiences that expand and inform their world view.
This type of project is the essence of college and career ready - students will be researching the area they will be traveling to and through in order to build the background knowledge of the American Southwest from a cultural, geological and geographical perspective. In addition, the students will need to collaborate as a team to accomplish the many new experiences on the trip like putting up tents, cooking outside, rigging and de-rigging boats, conducting research in nature. The overall experience pushes them to be resilient in a situation that provides many new challenges while requiring a healthy amount of effective collaboration and team work along the way.
In Their Own Words
Our idea for the outcome and beneficial experiences that will result from this Grand Canyon Youth project is to provide lifelong knowledge and appreciation for the American Southwest. Our goals are to pursue our school’s core values of inquiry, research, collaboration, presentation and reflection in new places. Our community benefits by allowing us to spread awareness of National Parks and rivers. Your support will be immeasurable if you decide to help us.
We will make this trip possible by being prepared to serve the community. We will do tasks such as mowing shoveling, raking, washing cars, etc. Also, fundraising by selling food, and different collectibles and gifts using the tools from our makerspace (workshop). We will conduct outside research on the places we will visit and prepare to do new things like sleep outside, hike and raft. We are determined to make this trip happen and we will stay focused on our goals until we depart.
This project is really important to our community because it gives our school an opportunity that we have not had being since we opened the school in 2013 as the first graduating class of 2017. Going on this trip will also strongly support our STEM-focused school. Once our community sees our experience, it will inspire them to take risks in with future opportunities. That energy, and that excitement is what make our school positive and vibrant!
Nearly all students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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