Academy at SOAR Brochure

ACADEMY AT SOAR

Academic Adventure School

soarnc.org 1

www.academyatsoar.org • 828-456-3435

Overview Our Mission

To provide academic instruction, experiential education, interpersonal life skills development and outdoor adventure-based programming to youth living with Learning Disabilities, and/or Attention Deficit Disorders through their participation in the Academy at SOAR.

Learning to Thrive

The Academy at SOAR is an adventure-based school for grades 7–12 that offers a unique combination of academics, adventure, and life skills development to prepare students academically, socially, and emotionally for adulthood. Our student-centered model provides students with the tools and experiences needed to experience success in the following components: Academics, Adventures, Self-Advocacy, Life Skills, Project-Based Learning, Field Studies, Community, and Empowerment. Emphasis is placed upon applying knowledge to real situations, developing the whole person, and rolemodeling the competence to thrive in society. As a result, students enter their future with an empowered sense of self-awareness, a zest for learning, and self-sufficiency unknown before.

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Opportunities to Succeed

“Being parents of a child with an alternate learning style can be frustrating for both parent and child. It is difficult to watch your child struggle in a world where there is minimal understanding of the problem.

The Academy at SOAR has been an answer to our search for understanding and education for our child.

The staff revitalized him and created a learning environment that celebrates uniqueness, improves self-confidence, and teaches students they can overcome any obstacles they encounter.�

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Unique

We promote the gifts and strengths of every student by providing challenges that build self-esteem, self-confidence, and self-reliance. Each student is challenged in a variety of academic and adventure activities and pushed past perceived limits with the necessary support and encouragement. Our instructors play an integral role in the success of each student by utilizing teachable moments to coach students through making decisions, interacting with their peers, and expressing themselves. Because our students thrive in a small group setting, each team has a maximum of 8 students. Each student is empowered to take responsibility of their daily life and make positive choices with the understanding that their choices impact the entire team.

Academics

Academics

The Academy at SOAR operates on a 4-week cycle: two weeks on campus and two weeks on expedition field study. This combination provides an alternative learning environment and differentiated instruction that helps to engage students in the learning experience.

Many students have experienced difficulty in traditional academic settings, stemming from a variety of factors including, but not limited to, ADD/ADHD, other learning disabilities, negative feedback from peers and teachers, inability to self-advocate, peer influences, and poor academic performance.

We seek to modify the student’s perception of him or herself as a student through differentiated instruction, allowing them to become aware of their unique strengths, abilities, and challenges, along with techniques to overcome academic hurdles. Flexibility in instructional methods and course-work offerings is necessary to meet the needs of each student. In addition to traditional instruction, the Academy at SOAR seeks to implement multi-sensory and project-based learning whenever possible to make learning experiences more relevant and meaningful.

4:1 Student to Staff Ratio

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Math

Social Studies 7th & 8th Grade Social Studies Civics & Economics World History US History 1 & 2

Middle School Math Pre-Algebra Algebra 1A & 1B Algebra 1 Algebra 2 Foundations of Math Business Math Geometry Pre-Calculus

Science

Language Arts English 7-12

Electives

7th Grade Science Earth/Environmental Science Physics Physical Science Biology Chemistry

Learning Environment

It is our desire for every student to be part of a safe, accepting learning environment that allows them to make mistakes and experience success. This goal is achieved by creating an environment of respect and kindness between students and their peers and teachers. Positive feedback that focuses on areas of strengths and areas of growth is critical in the development of young minds. We also encourage students to provide feedback to themselves and take ownership of their successes and challenges, rather than relying on others for praise and criticism.

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Adventure Studies 7th & 8th Grade Teen Life Skills 7th & 8th Grade Lifestyle Fitness & Health Independent Living 1 & 2 Outdoor Leadership 1 & 2 Physical Education & Health 1 & 2 College & Career Prep

www.academyatsoar.org • 828-456-3435

Academics

Course Offerings

Adventure

Expedition Academics

the area. Although teachers do not go on expeditions with students, they do prepare lessons and activities for students to complete while in the field. Instructors are responsible for facilitating instruction, remediation, and ensuring students complete work. Mainstays in the academic structure of the program include expedition letters home, blogging, journaling, weekly budgets, and final academic and journey presentations.

Expedition curriculum follows each child’s course of study but is adapted to remain relevant to each expedition locale and meaningful for students. For example, students backpacking in Nantahala National Forest will read Cherokee folktales about the region, learn about Civil War battle sites nearby, calculate average daily miles per hour, plot their course on a grid, and study deciduous trees commonly encountered in

“After attending the Academy at SOAR for 2 wonderful semesters, my 13 year old asked to participate in an 8 week Spanish Immersion work/study program...They visited the Galapagos Islands, the Amazon.

They went ice climbing and sand surfing. John came home with a far greater sense of self confidence and a much greater capacity for cooperating at the family level. Having experienced another culture and the many different levels of socio/economic communities that he took part in, he has a far greater appreciation for the things he has at home. www.academyatsoar.org • 828-456-3435

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Adventures May Include: Canoeing on Lake Jocassee, SC Rocking Climbing at Seneca Rocks, WV

Adventure

Backpacking in Shenandoah National Park, WV Backpacking in Big Bend National Park, TX Exploring Carlsbad Cavern, NM Exploring Historical Philadelphia, PA Exploring Historical Washington, DC Canoeing on the Suwannee River, FL Scuba Diving & Sea Kayaking in the FL Keys Exploring Mayan Ruins, Belize Snorkeling Off Tobacco Caye, Belize Hiking in the Ozarks, AZ Canoeing the Buffalo River, AZ Exploring Volcano Arenal, Costa Rica Surfing in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica

Each school year we rotate the expedition schedule so that students will benefit from a variety of experiences.

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www.academyatsoar.org • 828-456-3435

Life Skills

Life Skills Development

As part of our mission to develop the whole child, the Academy at SOAR helps students develop life skills that are essential for success in and out of the classroom. Students are challenged and encouraged to take responsibility for all aspects of their life, and to develop life skills through involvement in food planning and preparation, hygiene, budgeting and financial accountability, and daily exercise. Many of our students struggle with executive functioning skills, therefore we operate on a very structured schedule that allows students to plan effectively and be prepared for each

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day. Each student has a planner to help them manage their academics. At the end of class, students document the day’s homework assignment in their planner for an instructor to review before leaving. Time is set aside at the end of each day to reflect and discuss the next day’s schedule, including student roles. Students are assigned specific roles for each day that give them an opportunity to lead their peers with the support of their instructors and hold others in their group accountable.

For example, one student will be responsible for making sure everyone is ready and on time for class.

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Life Skills

Self-Advocacy

Courses begin with all distractions removed from the environment. Once students are making progress on their goals, they can advocate for additional needs or desires by developing proposals. The Proposal System empowers students to advocate for themselves while attending the academy and throughout their lives as adults. The Proposal System is designed to give students an appropriate way to request desired changes or privileges. In a written document, students are responsible for developing a request clearly stating what they are requesting, why they feel the deserve this, potential reasons why their request may face opposition, arguments addressing these potential concerns, and guidelines they will follow if the request is approved. Students present their proposal in a professional manner and are expected to conduct themselves with maturity. This process allows students to get their needs and desires met in a reasonable way, while helping them develop a skill that can be used in their relationships at home and as they transition into a college or workplace setting.

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“He has learned to see things from multiple perspectives, not just his own, which is of course one of the key social skills he needed to learn!

Through the physical and psychological challenges of the SOAR program, our son has learned to advocate for his needs and work through challenges with people other than his parents. Our son has always been completely safe and we have fully trusted the highly trained staff, who are supportive but do not coddle our kids as parents are sometimes apt to do.�

www.academyatsoar.org • 828-456-3435

FAQ

How Do I Know the Academy at SOAR is the right fit for my Child?

Will my Child Receive a Quality Education at the Academy at SOAR?

Our students often have lowered self-esteem and lack of motivation for learning. They may struggle with social skills, impulsivity, inattention, and disruptive behaviors.

Despite these challenges, SOAR students typically possess average to above average cognitive skills.

The Academy at SOAR is a fully accredited institution by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).

Upon completion, your child will receive a high school diploma. Should your child only complete one or multiple semesters, they will receive full academic credit. Prior to attending the Academy at SOAR, we will carefully examine your child’s academic progress with you and his or her educators to determine the appropriate course load for each student based on their grade level. Provided that your child is motivated to learn and completes all of their coursework, we are confident that your child will be successful academically at the Academy at SOAR.

The additional presence of depression, anxiety, Asperger’s, and other similar conditions is common.

Most importantly, while some students demonstrate minor non-compliance or present avoidance mechanisms, all students choose to participate in the Academy at SOAR. It is important to note that the Academy at SOAR is not a therapeutic program, and we are unable to accept students with: Suicidal ideation/attempts, psychotic symptoms, acute/chronic violence, drug addiction, or severe behavioral and conduct disorders.

Our students generally enjoy the outdoors, are adventurous, and thrive in a small group environment.

www.academyatsoar.org • 828-456-3435

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Application Process 1.

Complete the Academy at SOAR Application located at soarnc.org/admissions. A $100 Application Fee is required with submission. Please submit the following documents with your application*.

Academic Transcript and Current Grades IEP or 504 Plan (if available) Pyschological Evaluation (if available)

2. Once your application is received, we will review it and contact you to schedule an interview with you, your child, and our Program Director.

Want to schedule a visit?

Contact our Admissions Office at 828-456-3435 or email us at admissions@soarnc.org to schedule a campus visit!

*Please note that a final decision cannot be made until all documents have been received. A deposit is due upon acceptance.

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www.academyatsoar.org • 828-456-3435

Apply

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The Academy at SOAR P.O. Box 388 Balsam, NC 28707 828-456-3435 Fax: 828-456-3449

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BALSAM, NC PERMIT #1

www.academyatsoar.org

About SOAR

SOAR is a non profit boarding school, summer camp, and GAP year program dedicated to providing e xperiential education, life skills development, and adventure programs to youth and young adults diagnosed with ADD / ADHD and LD. SOAR was founded in 1977, by an adult with a learning disability, who believed that focusing on an individual’s strengths, rather than their deficits, was critical in ensuring success. For over 35 years, our programs have been adapted around the specific needs of the LD and ADHD youth we serve.

connect with us! @soaradhd