Outdoor School Takes Aim at “Nature Deficit Disorder” in Youth

Trout Lake, WA  -  MAY 7^th, 2011- National studies show that American youth are spending more time inside, fixated on the TV, computers, and video games than ever before, and it has a cost. To quote Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods, young people are suffering from “nature deficit disorder.”  Louv links children’s alienation from nature to attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, stress, depression, and anxiety disorders, not to mention childhood obesity.

A new Pacific Northwest outdoor school aims to treat this problem with programs focused on outdoor adventure, leadership development, and service learning.  Cascadia Adventure Education School will offer one to three week programs with instructors skilled in outdoor education and youth leadership for 6^th through 12^th grade students.

Cascadia’s first programs will start in June, 2011, and will focus on things like “Leave No Trace” camping principles, backpacking and boating skills, expeditionary cooking, river reading, GPS navigation, and natural sciences.  The summer line up also includes kayak programs near Trout Lake, where the company is based, and a service trip to Costa Rica over winter break.

“Students travel as a team through beautiful landscapes in Oregon, Washington, Alaska, and Costa Rica,” said Cascadia director Jim Wells. “The curriculum is centered on camping, whitewater kayaking, wilderness travel, and giving back though outdoor service. Additional skills such as leadership training and service project planning will help students make responsible choices about global interaction, and the wellbeing of our communities.”

A service project is a key part of each Cascadia course.  Students will carry out projects ranging from erosion control on mountain trails to using GPS and satellite imagery to aid wildlife biologists. The school’s founders believe that in giving back to the environment, students will gain an understanding of our planets life systems and develop a closer relationship to nature.

“Cascadia’s students are trained to lead these types of expeditions and to keep the spirit of awe and natural splendor alive in their own lives,” said Dan Cassell, program coordinator. “Service ties the students’ learning together and reconnects them to nature.”

In the technology age, there is no end of distraction from the natural world. But the adamantly enthusiastic faculty of Cascadia Adventure Education School believes it is possible for today’s young people to reap the benefits of learning from nature.

“Even if you have never been in a kayak, or camped above tree line on a mountain, and only recognize woodpeckers from cartoons, you will find learning comes easily when led by our dedicated instructors,” Wells said. “All you need to do is get outside and play.”

College Acceptance - Top 10 List

What Colleges are REALLY looking for in Applicants

According to my friends at IECA  a student’s academic performance in high school still tops the list.  While grades are important would taking a Cascadia course help prepare you for college?  Here are a few attributes that I’d like to spotlight from the latest top ten list.  You be the judge!

1. A rigorous high school curriculum that challenges the student and may include AP or IB classes.

2. Grades that represent strong effort and an upward trend. However, slightly lower grades in a rigorous program are preferred to all A’s in less challenging coursework.

3. Solid scores on standardized tests (SAT, ACT). These should be consistent with high school performance.

4. Passionate involvement in a few activities, demonstrating leadership and initiative.Depth, not breadth, of experience is most important.

5. Letters of recommendation from teachers and guidance counselor that give evidence of integrity, special skills, positive character traits, and an interest in learning.

6. A well-written essay that provides insight into the student’s unique personality, values, and goals.The application essay should be thoughtful and highly personal. It should demonstrate careful and well-constructed writing.

7. Special talents or experiencesthat will contribute to an interesting and well-rounded student body.

8. Demonstrated leadership in activities. Colleges want people who will arrive prepared and willing to take leadership of student activities and events.

9. Demonstrated intellectual curiosity through leisure pursuits, reading, school, and more.

10. Demonstrated enthusiasm to attend, often exhibited by campus visits and an interview, showing an interest toward attending the college.

Help us expand our "Galaxy of Friends".

With so much going wrong in the world, some things are going right.  Join us in a “bottom up movement” to inform others of Cascadia course offerings.  Help us network and reach out to parents, teens, and your friends and family.  Choose one or more actions from below – everything you do will be remembered and appreciated.  Here is a short list of easy stuff.

• Use the "Tell A Friend" widget (located bottom left) to easily forward a message to your friends, family, teens and parents.
• ‘Like Us’ on FACEBOOK and post a link to the Cascadia site. 
• Subscribe to our newsletter and receive some cool posters. Place them in a school or the public’s eye. Sign up here.
• Consider forming and leading a group on a course to Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, or Costa Rica. 
• Finally, create a LINK to www.cascadia.org from your website. THANK YOU!

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For more information, or to share your ideas contact us! 
Email: info@Cascadia.org, or drop us a line at 800-608-1073.

News from Trout Lake Washington Headquarters

Costa Rica Exploratory Trip

For two weeks beginning December 1, Cascadia School staff will embark on an exploratory trip to Costa Rica with the goal of selecting and developing the service learning project for the 2011 Alternative Winter Break Trip (December 18 to 29, 2011).  Members of the exploratory team include Sean Kelly, Dan Cassell, Molly Gutfeld and Jim Wells, all former AmeriCorps alumni.

Cascadia Kayak School

Conor Ross, an expert kayaker and teacher extraordinaire, has layed the groundwork for Cascadia's new 'Kayak School'.  Keep watch for new developments in this arena over the next couple of months.