Located in Napa, California, the Oxbow School is a 1-semester boarding program for visual arts, critical inquiry, self-discovery, and community. Oxbow's pandemic story concentrates on a series of assignments designed to help students cope with the transition to emergency online instruction amid isolation and uncertainty. The images illustrating…

A hands-on educational module was created to illustrate the scope of chemical engineering. Students are taught fundamental concepts that they integrate in a laboratory experience designing and fabricating a 'plant-on-a-chip' microfluidic device capable of continuous processing of reactive flows. Students gain insight into chemical engineering…

Our current higher education institutional structures have become so ingrained that many of these structures have gone unquestioned for more than a century. While it is true that we have created, to a significant degree, new "functions" for higher education, many of our "structures" endure. Two major disruptors--the influence…

In this article, we present three models of teacher preparation programs that immersed their candidates in experiential learning aimed at bringing together theory and practice. We identify the key components that can be generalized from studying such programs, examine factors that led to their dismantling, and propose a potentially more…

At Concordia Language Villages, language and culture are inextricably intertwined, as they are in life. Participants "live" and "do" language and culture 16 hours per day. The experiential, residential setting immerses the participants in the culture of the country or countries where the target language is spoken through food,…

This paper chronicles the exploration and development of a residential program of the child welfare authority of Renfrew County in Ontario, Canada. Recognizing that virtually its entire population of youth in care was failing to achieve positive outcomes in education, Renfrew County Family and Children Services embarked on a program development…

The transition to independence can be a perilous journey for youth who have faced behavioral challenges. Many have not yet developed the social, emotional, and problem-solving skills to meet the challenges of adult life. But this can be a period of growth and accomplishment when youth can form stable connections and develop life skills. This is…

A former intern at Merrowvista Education Center reflects on her experiences learning to facilitate adventure programs, and discusses the value of interning at a residential center, changes in her attitudes as her skills developed, and the importance of reflection for staff as well as participants. (SV)

Project CAVES (Creative Adventures and Valuable Experiences through Spelunking) is a summer residential program for gifted high-school students, involving lectures, surveying and mapping simulated caves, and exploring and surveying actual caves in Arkansas. The project's development and learning activities are described. (JDD)

Situated in a western mountain range, the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching is a residential facility that houses teachers seeking intellectual refreshment. The center pays all expenses, aiming to advance teaching as an art and a profession via seminars and a relaxed atmosphere. (MLH)

Building a shared vision in an organization that serves children is not a simple task. While the leaders may have an end in mind, it is imperative that all stakeholders feel ownership of that end goal. That can only be accomplished if the process itself reflects the vision. This article explains the process and practical strategies for building a…

Residential, challenging, learning experiences can provide a powerful and essential education in environmental values and interpersonal relationships. Presents a basic-needs planning guide for residential adventure programs that considers the need for water, air, food, clothing, accommodation, waste disposal, health, energy, resources, love of…

"Exploring Career Options in Engineering and Science" at the Stevens Institute of Technology (New Jersey) introduces talented female students (entering grade 11 or 12) from all over the country to engineering and science in a 2-week residential program involving hands-on laboratory work; on-site visits and seminars; and student research.…

Discusses the social education derived from a group living community service program. Outlines the format and philosophy of the program, discusses the house meeting process, highlights the stages of intensifying tension and release, and defines the role of staff in assuring the group progression. (Author/LLL)

Appalachian State University of North Carolina, which draws mostly from nearby rural areas, has opened the Appalachian House in Washington, DC as a temporary residence and research center for faculty and students. The urban location of the house provides students with experiential learning opportunities not previously available. (JMD)