The outdoor classroom provides a unique environment for students to develop and practice leadership skills. Each student works on perfecting good "Expedition Behavior" in the field. Expedition Behavior is a combination of actions that benefit the group and personal responsibility for one's self, belongings and peers. All Polaris students are expected to be "crew and not passengers" on an adventure trip. Students put up their own tents, keep track of their own gear, and help with group tasks like cooking, dishes and camp clean-up.
The natural adversity of being outside contributes to character development. On adventure students have real consequences for their actions or inactions. Topics are taught, modeled for students, practiced and then students are expected to perform on their own. If a student has been taught to pitch a tent, but does not take the time to do it proficiently herself, then the student is likely to get wet if it rains at night. This type of real world challenge helps students develop the coping skills necessary to deal more effectively with the stresses and decision making of urban teenage life.
Students are given feedback from the instructor throughout the trip on their Expedition Behavior. This is an important part of helping students to work both as a team and independently. After adventure is over, students are asked to do a written self-assessment of their performance. Students will are also given a written evaluation of performance from the instructor team. This helps students track their character development, teamwork and leadership skills over a series of trips.
Many of the skills learned on adventure benefit students when they return to school.
Self reliance, organizational skills, increased confidence and good expedition behavior all help students better cope with daily tasks in the classroom. In addition many students say they return with better trust of their peers, more friends, and a better understanding of their teachers. They also have an elevated sense of what their crew can accomplish when faced with a good challenge.
Many of the topics taught during adventure are directly tied to Colorado Learning Standards. Students study geology, geography, flora, fauna, cultural and natural history, and weather on many adventures. In addition, students spend time reflecting discussing and writing about their learning while on adventure. Since several Polaris teachers attend each adventure, they are able to guide students in skills transference back in the classroom.
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