Academy for Global Exploration

Infobox Private School
background = #f0f6fa
border = #ccd2d9
name = Academy for Global Exploration

| motto = The world is our classroom
slogan = What did you learn at school today?
established = 2002
type = Private, Boarding, Traveling school|Traveling]
enrollment = 12 per destination| ratio = 3:1
class= 3 studentscampus = 80 acres, international
athletics = skiing, snowboarding, rock climbing, bouldering, kayaking, surfing, backpacking, camping
religion = No religious affiliation
head_name = Head of School
head = Greg Guevara
city = Ashland
state = OR
country = USA| homepage = http://www.AGExplore.org

Academy for Global Exploration (AGE) is a college preparatory school traveling high school for grades 9 through 12 based in Ashland, Oregon, U.S. AGE spends half of each semester overseas in such countries as Greece, Japan, South Africa, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Peru and others.

Overview

Basic Information

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 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.

Academic Overview

While operating in compliance with the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools, and with a commitment to experiential learning opportunities, Academy for Global Exploration's fully accredited curriculum provides students with an education that is both relevant and meaningful. AGE's teachers align their curricula around the Oregon Content Standards and the guidelines set forth by the NAAS for each subject area. 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 visiting of museums, theaters, historical sites, and geographic areas. AGE's 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. While in Ashland, AGE students have access to the Southern Oregon University Library as well as the Ashland Public Library.

AGE maintains a 3:1 student-teacher ratio, in a way that 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.

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). 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.

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 AGE's Cultural Studies class, co-taught by all AGE faculty members, as well as the students. The course content is a blend of process-oriented and country-specific topic lessons.

Outdoor Adventure

AGE's Outdoor Education program promotes outdoor activities that 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.

ample 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.

Admissions and Enrollment

Academy for Global Exploration accepts students in grades 9 through 12 as well as one year of post graduate study. AGE operates on a rolling admissions basis.

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.

Academic Requirements and Credits

Students must enroll in a minimum of five academic classes per semester and cannot enroll in more than seven. Students are awarded a 1/2 credit per semester upon successful completion of course requirements (full-year courses are awarded one credit). By assigning credits in this way, AGE aligns with the Northwest Association of Accredited schools, the Oregon State Education system as well as most US school systems. AGE requires a minimum of 25 credits for a standard diploma. As a college preparatory program, AGE models its distribution and graduation requirements around the general expectations of colleges and universities.

References

"Overview" quoted from "AGE at a Glance" from school webpage [http://www.AGExplore.org www.AGExplore.org]