School Groups > Program Options

Program options
for school groups

Challenge courses – and more
Outer Edge Performance offers ropes courses for school groups in either an urban setting (Littleton, Colorado) or at a nearby, forested site (Larkspur, Colorado). Depending on whether it's a day or multi-day program, the challenges can include ropes, ropes plus rock climbing, or ropes, rock climbing and an adventure race with navigation and orienteering.

Ropes courses can also include these optional elements:

• Field science track – a variety of 90-minute classes on topics such as solar energy, freshwater ecology and wildlife ecology.
• Pre-program at your school – We'll introduce the program, set the stage for relationships and learning, and get everyone acquainted and in line with program objectives.
• Post-program reintegration – We can help with specific programs and/or follow-up at specific junctures such as three six or nine months to bring students back to community and the values they learned about.
• Evening entertainment for overnight ropes courses – We can arrange stand-up improv comedy (the kids love it), campfires, singing and skits, talent shows, movies under the stars, storytelling, night hikes and more.
• Wolf education and Native American culture programs

Wolf education programs
Our connection and relationship to wolves and other animals is an excellent avenue for teaching children about human relationships, empathy, care and concern and other important lessons. That's why Outer Edge Performance often works with Mission: Wolf to provide remarkable educational experiences for our clients, young and young adult. All of the wolves and wolf-dog crosses that live at Mission: Wolf share a common trait – they were born in a cage. Due to their connection and bond with humans, these wolves are so imprinted by people that they are not acceptable candidates to be released in the wild.

Visits to the Mission: Wolf refuge itself are very limited. However, when the students can't go to the wolves, we arrange for the wolves to come to them in a special wolf bus. Students have an opportunity to learn about wolves up-close and even enjoy safe interactions with them. This program curriculum includes:

• Introduction to the world of wolves and wolf hybrids
• Wild wolf issues in the Rocky Mountains, Eastern U.S. and Mexico
• The Trophic Cascade – Lessons from Yellowstone National Park
• Captive wolf status and wolf hybrid ownership experiences
• Wolf communication and behavioral comparison to dogs
• Current status of wild wolves in North America
• This year's wolf ambassadors – Magpie, Abraham and Illiamna

Native American culture: the sacred medicine pouch
In Native American cultures, the medicine pouch is a sacred place in which to store objects that tell your "story." Counselors teach students how to make their own pouch out of leather and sinew, how to take care of them, why they are important and how they relate to Native American culture. Each day of the program, the students are awarded transitional objects that can range from "animal stones," arrowheads and four-directional medallions to the stem from a bike tire tube and rocks. The importance of each object is how it relates to the student that receives it. For example:

• A rock with rough edges may represent a youth who has a tendency to be abrupt or non-approachable. However, the same rock may have a softer, smoother side, opening the way to a discussion about potential.
• "Animal rocks" relate animal traits to character traits in the students. Throughout the day, counselors look for kids who are showing respect, being kind and exhibiting other positive behaviors and award them an object at the end of the day.

The program's closing ceremony is built around the medicine pouch and its contents. Students tell their stories, one object at a time. When they return to school, teachers can provide a place in the classroom where the pouches hang, daily reminders of the experience.

This element can be incorporated into any Outer Edge Performance school group program to add meaning that goes beyond adventure activities.