Experiential Education
Based on the premise that outdoor field experiences greatly enhances classroom learning, Oakley organizes students' recreational learning into Module Programs. These programs explore service opportunities, the arts, and outdoor education adventures. Here, students master various skills, improve natural abilities and are motivated to share their capabilities with others.
Oakley's experiential education program is designed to offer several in-depth immersions in a variety of skills, passions, and opportunities to give back to the community (each recreational learning module taking seven weeks). The experiential program is given 16 hours of course time each weekend.
Each experiential module has components of community service, skill building and immersion in maintenance and repair of equipment, and lots of fun and enjoyment. It is Oakley's aim that each student can take any of these new found passions and implement them into their daily or weekly lives once they are young adults and creating their own independent, balanced life during and after college.
Oakley School offers a choice of up to ten different options each seven week block with courses falling into three main focus areas:
- service opportunities
- fine arts
- outdoor education adventures
Students are asked to participate in at least one 7 week course from each of the three focus areas. Change to: Students are asked to participate in at least on 7 week fine arts course, one 7 week community service course, and at least two 7 week experiential courses. After fulfilling these requirements the students are free to explore and enjoy the many choices available to them each session.
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Oakley's outdoor education options include and are not limited to kayaking, rock climbing, mountain biking, river ecology and fly fishing during the spring, summer, and fall. The majority of our student body takes advantage of 'the greatest snow of Earth' through alpine, telemark and Nordic skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing during the winter season.
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Oakley's fine arts options include ceramics, sculpture, photography, print making, furniture making, puppetry, 3D design, and public art. Students spend time on campus in Oakley's art studios, but they are also out on snowshoes with their cameras taking pictures, down in Salt Lake City touring museums, attending art shows and taking part in fundraising and community involvement through the arts.
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Oakley's community service options include working with city elementary schools teaching English or reading, equestrian services with children of disabilities, volunteering at the recycling center, cooperative home building, trail maintenance with the Forest Service, women’s and youth shelter support, substance abuse and recovery programs. Students also apply physical skills within the community through active volunteering and racing in mountain bike races, triathlons, foot races and winter sports events.
Community service hours are counted and documented on the student transcripts for each trimester of credit.
page last update Jun 03, 2011
