OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM Adventure parks create programming for kids who are home from school. Barefoot Academy programming is split into two parts: 1) A science-based STEM curriculum that’s focused on South Carolina standards; and 2) An outdoor adventure-based program geared toward teaching adventure and outdoor skills. The curriculum was put together using state standards, and the Barefoot team worked with an educator to make sure they had some checks and balances in place.
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BY APRIL DARROW
As educators across the country navigate an array of approaches to the new school year, adventure parks are amending operations to accommodate the “new norm” of remote school and work. Parks have come up with a number of creative responses, from providing quiet places to study to creating experiential science classes that meet state standards. BAREFOOT ACRES
In upstate South Carolina, the Barefoot Acres adventure farm has created educational programming to complement home school. Co-owner Troy Prosser
says the science-based Barefoot Academy program is structured around helping traditional homeschool kids, as well as kids who are home this fall due to COVID, meet state requirements. Barefoot Acres, a 52-acre farm as well as an adventure park with a high ropes course and racing zip lines, opened just three months ago. The original intent was to draw folks in with the adventure side and eventually use the farm for education. However, the pandemic brought that goal to fruition sooner than planned. “My wife and I have 12-year-old twin boys that were all of a sudden home from school,” says Prosser. “We realized we needed to do something, and do it now.”
The curriculum, which targets grades K-8, consists of 9- to 10-week semesters. Classes run three hours a day, and alternate between science and adventure programming. One day might be earth science and soil sampling, the next plant life and ecosystems. After four days of varied learning, the fifth is an elective day, where students decide what they want to do. Depending on kids’ school schedules, they can come every day during the week or float in and out throughout the semester. Parents are required to attend with their child or a group of kids so they can report back to the school that the requirement has been fulfilled. The inaugural Barefoot Academy kicked off on Sept. 24, with classes taught by several staff members who have backgrounds in environmental education and natural resources. Twelve families were enrolled at press time, accounting for about 30 kids.