Everyone knows the typical Physical Education classes at Grandview: PE, weight training, and team sports. It’s also probably common knowledge that Adventure Education is offered here. However, many don’t actually know what happens inside this unique class.
Adventure Ed teacher, Will Dodd explains that in Adventure Ed 1, they focus on “team building and developing problem solving skills, trust building both for each individual, but also with the people you’re working with. And then just leading into basic rock climbing.”
Mr. Dodd said that Adventure Ed 2 is a little different.
“Adventure Ed 2 is more outdoor education. So, we expand on rock climbing. We do a white water paddling unit in the pool teaching white water safety, rescue, how to kayak,” Dodd said.
Adventure Ed 2 students have the opportunity to experience a variety of outdoor activities–more than Adventure Ed 1 by a longshot.
“I’ve started doing a mountain bike unit outside. Just basic bike maintenance skills, and then a little bit of riding. Sometimes we’ll incorporate a back packing unit. We’ve done map and compass before. So it’s just more outdoor education with more variety of activities,” said Dodd.
Mr. Dodd claims that he had a passion for adventure and chose to turn that love into a career.
“When I went to college, I went to school to study outdoor education. I just had a love for the outdoors. You know, anything rock climbing, biking, canoeing, camping, any of that kind of stuff. And just ended up falling into a school like Grandview that had that program.”
Mr. Dodd emphasizes the charm of Adventure Ed for students that don’t find the appeal in regular PE classes.
For kids that other things don’t appeal to them, it’s more outside of the box from your normal PE. Kids get to socialize spend some time climbing encouraging each other. It’s a pretty low key class that kids seem to enjoy.
“For kids that other things don’t appeal to them, it’s more outside of the box from your normal PE. Kids get to socialize, spend some time climbing, and encouraging each other. It’s a pretty low key class that kids seem to enjoy,” said Dodd.
Adventure Education student, Matthew Norrie seems to agree with Mr. Dodd. “I just needed to get some PE credits out of the way, and I heard that Adventure Ed was rock climbing and that seemed really interesting; I really liked the first class, so I decided to keep going,” Norrie said.
Not only do students come out of Adventure Ed without regret, but they also learn a few life lessons.
“It helped me get out of difficult situations [in life]”, said Norrie.
Adventure Ed isn’t just a class, it’s an adventure. Over the the course of a semester, students not only find new friends, but find themselves. They learn a variety of skills to take with them on any adventure life throws their way.
