Adventure Travel Program - Academy for Global Exploration

Costa Rica

San Jose:
North Western Region:
Central Pacific Coast:
Monteverde:

Greece

Athens:

Japan

Tokyo:
All Other Areas:

Nicaragua

San Juan del Sur

Panama

Boquete

Peru

Cusco:
Lima:
All Other Areas in Peru:

South Africa

Cape Town:

United States

Ashland, Salt Lake City

Description: Academy for Global Exploration is a traveling high school spending approximately half of the academic year abroad. When in residence in the United States, AGE calls Ashland, Oregon, home. Nestled in the foothills of the Siskiyou Mountains, 15 miles north of the California border, this picturesque community of about 20,000 residents is famous throughout the west for its acclaimed Oregon Shakespeare Festival. AGE's Southern Oregon base camp is the 81 acre Valley View Ranch located 10 minutes from downtown Ashland; far enough from town to enjoy the necessary privacy and space, yet close enough to take advantage of Ashland's many cultural and educational opportunities.

Academic Overview
While operating in compliance with the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools, and with a commitment to experiential learning opportunities, Academy for Global Explorations fully accredited curriculum provides students with an education that is both relevant and meaningful. AGEs teachers align their curriculums around the Oregon Content Standards and the guidelines set forth by the NAAS for each subject area. A primary and unique feature of AGE is the ability to provide students with an international travel experience that enables them to study other cultures first-hand. Students at AGE are given the opportunity to be active learners in each subject area. While traveling, students are stimulated through their interactions with local cultures, as well as new physical environments, and through the additional benefit of visiting museums, theatres, historical sites, and unique geographic areas. AGEs curriculum is designed to complement students travel and cultural experiences; it is also equipped and committed to providing students with the key components of each core discipline. AGE aims to see 100% of its graduates enrolled in college. To that end, the coursework is rigorous, the schedule demanding, and the teachers challenging and supportive. While in Ashland, AGE students have access to the Southern Oregon University Library as well as the Ashland Public Library.

Academy for Global Exploration is committed to providing a personalized education for each student. AGE maintains a 3:1 student-teacher ratio. In such a small and intellectual community, teachers are able to develop partnerships with each student, assessing their progress through traditional and alternative methods of testing, and also through regular writing opportunities, presentations and discussions. Students have around-the-clock access to their teachers during which, at any time, they can seek extra help. This enables students to not only succeed but to excel in their studies. By living and traveling together, students and teachers develop relationships defined by mutual respect, inspiring greater learning.

The academic experience for students at AGE is extremely challenging. Small classes challenge students to be accountable for their work, both in terms of completion and quality. The expectation creates a bond among the students who encourage each other and work hard together. Collaborative-learning takes place spontaneously, enhancing the students understanding of course material, while also fostering the development of productive study habits and interpersonal skills. AGE students support one another; it is an environment where students celebrate each other's successes.

The academic calendar is based on a two-semester model, with each semester sixteen weeks long. Classes are held five days a week using a rotating daily schedule (block schedule). With one day in between class meetings, students are better able to process information and also prepare adequately for subsequent discussions and activities. When students are not in academic classes, their time is dedicated to cultural exchange, physical activity, designated study hours and volunteer/community service. Weekends sometimes involve travel from one site to another, so students cannot necessarily rely on those two days to catch up. As a result, students quickly learn to effectively manage their time and materials. Although teachers are available to assist students when necessary, the highly structured nature of the schedule enables them to develop necessary study skills on their own.

International Travel
Each semester Academy for Global Exploration spends eight weeks visiting a different international destination, providing students the opportunity to learn from and about other cultures, as well as experience world-class adventure sports. While on expedition, students and faculty travel together and the normal academic schedule is maintained. Trips are designed to allow students the opportunity to both familiarize themselves with and participate in the local community and culture. Homestays, cultural events, school visitations, and community service projects are incorporated into each semester's curriculum and itinerary.

Cultural Studies
Each semester, all students at AGE take our Cultural Studies class. Co-taught by all AGE faculty members, as well as the students, the curriculum for the class is dynamic, engaging, and supremely relevant to students' experiences in each of our travel destinations. The goals of the class are to inspire meaningful cultural interactions by ensuring that all students are informed cultural observers and travelers, and to foster an intellectual community among teachers and students where true experiential learning can take place. The course content is a blend of process-oriented and country-specific topic lessons.

Outdoor Adventure
The goal of AGE's Outdoor Education program is to promote personal growth and development through outdoor adventure. Each semester, students are empowered with the knowledge, technical skills and experience necessary to participate safely in a variety of outdoor environments. Semester activities vary from rock climbing and bouldering, to skiing, surfing, and kayaking. Fitness is developed and maintained through daily strength training and cardiovascular workouts, as well as through cooperative sports and outdoor challenges. Each student determines his or her own comfort level, and is supported in the process of setting and achieving personal goals.

Sample Semesters
* Rock climbing in Kalymnos, Nafplio, and the Peloponnesus Peninsula in Greece
* Surfing down the Pacific Coast of Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama
* Skiing and snowboarding on the islands of Honshu and Hokkaido in Japan.
* Kayaking the rivers of Northern and Central Costa Rica
* Bouldering and rock climbing in Rocklands and Montagu, South Africa

Regardless of the destination or the sporting activity, students continuously reach new heights of skill and confidence, developing a passion for and proficiency in adventure sports. In addition, the goal is to provide students with a deeper respect for the environment, in the backdrop of the most spectacular land and seascapes in the world.

Admissions and Enrollment
Academy for Global Exploration accepts students in grades 9 through 12 as well as one year of post graduate study. Our admission officers devote careful attention to each candidate, assessing academic potential and records, as well as individual achievements and interests. AGE operates on a rolling admissions basis. It is recommended that you begin the application process as early as possible; four to six months before the desired semester of attendance is ideal.

Daily Life
A typical school day for AGE students begins with the first academic period (zero period) dedicated to physical education, from 7:00 am to 8:15 am. After breakfast, at 9:15 am, students continue with two more academic periods; each period is 75 minutes in duration. There is a break for lunch that lasts 45 minutes. The final two (75 min) academic periods of the day follow lunch. At 3:00 pm, the conclusion of the structured school day, students participate in two to three additional hours of learning opportunities such as outdoor adventure/physical education activities, cultural opportunities in the form of field trips, or cultural exchanges such as community service projects. Dinner occurs at approximately 6:30 pm, leaving time in the evening to fit in an hour-long structured study hall. From 10:00 to 11:00 pm all students are required to be in their own rooms and at 11:00 pm students are to be in bed with their lights out for the night. Students' lives at AGE are highly structured and filled from morning to night with meaningful and exciting learning experiences. It is important to understand that because of AGEs emphasis on cultural studies and outdoor pursuits in addition to the rigorous academic curriculum, each students personal time is limited.

Highlights: Sample Semesters
* Rock climbing in Kalymnos, Nafplio, and the Peloponnesus Peninsula in Greece
* Surfing down the Pacific Coast of Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama
* Skiing and snowboarding on the islands of Honshu and Hokkaido in Japan.
* Kayaking the rivers of Northern and Central Costa Rica
* Bouldering and rock climbing in Rocklands and Montagu, South Africa

Academy for Global Exploration's Mission Statement: Academy for Global Exploration" (AGE) is a not-for-profit, college preparatory and outdoor oriented high school dedicated to the enrichment and growth of each of its students. AGE is a non-traditional secondary school program that challenges its students academically, socially and physically by integrating a rigorous academic curriculum, international travel, and the opportunity to participate in outdoor adventure sports. By fostering individuality, freedom with responsibility, creativity, global awareness and respect for the outdoors, AGE seeks to prepare its students for the challenges of life.