Polar Husky Boot Camp

What: A FREE 4-day institute on adventure learning and GoNorth! programs

When: Fall

Who: K-12 teachers nationwide, specifically registered GoNorth! (PolarHusky.com) teachers

Where: Minnesota

Earn: 32 Continuing Education Units

How: Submit your Profile Here >>

The annual “Polar Husky Boot Camp” Fall Institute is a FREE workshop devoted to the unveiling of the current GoNorth! adventure learning program and the successful implementation of the GoNorth! curricular materials and multimedia approaches in today’s K-12 classrooms.

Polar Husky Boot Camp provides the opportunity for teachers from throughout the nation to experience adventure learning, in order to become adventure learning leaders prepared to successfully teach and inspire others.

The goal during this four-day teacher workshop is to introduce the principles and history of adventure learning while providing hands-on learning opportunities to explore the framework of our Online Classroom Expeditions. As we look at how to best integrate these comprehensive curriculum and technology tools in the K-12 classroom, participating teachers create their own “adventure learning experiences,” incorporating the material learned during the workshop. Joined by GoNorth! expedition team members, we evaluate the most recent online classroom experience, while enjoying exciting, first-hand accounts from the trail.

Graduating as Polar Husky Lead Teachers, participants earn a workshop certificate and 32 continuing education units (ceu’s) from the Department of Curriculum & Instruction, College of Human Development and Education, University of Minnesota.

1st “Polar Husky Boot Camp” Fall Institute 2004

Class of 2004

November 11 – 14, Eagle Bluff Environmental Center in southeastern Minnesota was the setting for the first Polar Husky Boot Camp. 20 teachers from throughout the nation had been invited to participate in the 4-day work shop to explore adventure learning.

Workshops were scheduled from 9 AM – 4 PM and 8 – 10 PM daily for three days. Each day was divided into morning, afternoon and evening sessions with three workshop modules to include adventure learning foundation, application and integration strategies. On day four the Boot Camp was wrapped up with a fun teambuilding activity – a high ropes course - and a Polar Husky ceremony, where each of the graduating Polar Husky Lead Teachers received their graduation certificate.

 

 

Polar Husky Boot Camp Fall Institute 2004 was made possible through generous support by Best Buy Children Foundation.

Polar Husky Boot Camp Sessions include:

Curriculum Integration

Get tools to successfully use adventure learning in the K-12 classroom: Ranging from full integration to enrichment strategies, teachers learn how to make an adventure learning the foundation of a successful curriculum.

Online Learning Environments

Get tools to successfully use an adventure learning online learning environment in correlation with the activity based curriculum: From collaboration zones, multimedia and moderated online chats to the trail updates, teachers learn the foundation of a successful adventure leaning environment that model best practice in multimedia teaching and training techniques.

Technology Integration

Get tools to successfully integrate technology into your classroom to improve student learning: For example geographic information system (GIS) is a technology that can truly provide an added value to learning within an adventure learning project. Teachers learn what GIS is and how students get excited about learning using GIS.

Learning Community

Get tools to be inspired and inspire others with adventure learning!: Experiencing the adventure first-hand, sharing with explorers and fellow teachers, teachers become part of a learning community that provide support for adventure learning integration within their classroom, school and district, as they network partaking in sharing sessions, outreach planning and team planning opportunities among educators from across the learning community.

Research & Development

Get tools to influence the development of the GoNorth! adventure learning experience in your classroom: With an overview of current and upcoming GoNorth! programs and associated multimedia components, teachers have the opportunity to shape future adventure learning programs through evaluation and research participation.