Experiential Education
Camp’s educational approach is very different than the usual classroom experience. Our main concern is attitude and problem solving. Over the years of wilderness camp history, boys who often were way behind in school, will usually return to school and test back into their appropriate grade level. What is the educational program that is so effective? Is it the plans that the boys write each week? Is it the writing of menus which involve writing, addition, multiplication, and division? How does a boy who was unable to comprehend the concept of division, grasp and enjoy division?
Boys come to Camp full of fears. Often, they have not done well in school, nor believe they can, but at Camp when they write a pizza menu, cook it in their Dutch oven, and enjoy the results, they cannot deny their success. When they look up an interesting history story, teach the rest of the group, and write it on the time-line chart, they have learned something more than facts. School work takes on purpose; it has a cause and effect relationship, from the plans they write to the things they do. Their school work becomes important. At camp, school is not a place to go, but something boys are involved with all the time.
Theme study
Often the whole camp has a theme for the six week session. This can be from bugs to birds to History to math. The Library is a resource for study into fascinating subjects. The boys together study these themes then write articles to appear in their newsletter at the end of the session. The following is an article from a boy when the camp had a theme of History:
Learning History
By Wayne
This session we started learning about American History. We learned about the Titanic, George Washington, Abe Lincoln. The Pilgrims, WWII, the gold rush, Pearl Harbor, Neil Armstrong, the French and Indian War, the civil War, the battle of Gettysburg, Johnny Appleseed, the Louisiana Purchase, the Silent Services, D-Day, V-E Day, and the Declaration of Independence. It has been awesome working on learning all this cool stuff and having Study Buddies, book readings, and games. I have learned a lot more about history and I have enjoyed learning.
Field Trips
At Camp, groups will occasionally take field trips as part of their experiential education. They visit historic sights, wildlife refuges, factories and scenic areas. Generally these trips are taken by van or canoe and may be day trips or from two to five weeks in length. The boys write articles for their newspaper which becomes their experiential education journal. Off campus trips give opportunity for growth. The group will utilize the wide variety of skills they have acquired as they work on a single project, which draws the best from each of them. Opportunities for learning are abundant as the group visits each place.
Character Building
The program at Gator Wilderness Camp School is designed to develop positive changes in character, behavior, and academic attitude. Most of the troubled teenage boys coming into Camp have a negative self-image that not only affects them mentally and emotionally, but also affects their physical appearance. Having a clean campsite and keeping oneself clean and neat is one of the first steps towards a positive self-image. Responsibility is taught by group participation in building and maintaining their own home shelter, planning weekly menus that are within the budget, and organizing trips for the group.
Life skills are acquired by properly making a bed, keeping footlockers neat, sweeping floors, cleaning lanterns, raking trails, and other daily chores. Boys are encouraged to be creative and develop skills with tools and making crafts. Every week the group sits down with their counselors to make up a schedule, which includes daily work, recreational activities and special off-campus excursions. This is troubled boys working together and taking responsibility for the every day aspects of their lives.
All groups attend on-campus chapel services on Sunday morning as well as Wednesday night vespers. They include group participation such as Bible reading, skits, and sharing in devotions and singing. Camp teaches Christian principles from the Bible and is non-denominational.