Enviroventure

Mark Gaynik
mgaynik@scdsb.on.ca

Enviroventure  

www.nssenviroventure.weebly.com

Grade/Focus

This grade 12, 4-credit integrated curriculum program combines the following credits- English, Environment and Resource Management, Recreation and Fitness Leadership, and Nutrition and Health. The program is very experiential with a major focus on environmental stewardship, character development and leadership. It is also a Specialist High-Skills Major Program (SHSM) under the Environment focus.

Twenty four students apply to participate each year during Semester 2. The majority of the students are in Grade 12 with a handful of Grade 11’s each year. They are together all day for the entire semester.

How we shape the learning experience:

• We have an independent space from the rest of the school that is a transient and inviting classroom space- no desks, beanbag chairs, carpeted, coffee/tea station, with artifacts from alumni around the room. Often coined “the coolest classroom” kids have been in. 
• Every day is a different day without the limitations of the school bells, the flexibility of natural breaks in our learning, and the mutual respect that we are learning together alongside each other as students and teachers.
• I teach 3 of 4 credits, with another staff member teaching the English portion. We have it planned that our prep periods offset in the morning, so that she can naturally finish her learning plans either early or later depending on our day, without the wasted time between transitions. We get a lot done!!
• A huge scaffolding of the leadership unfolds over the course of the semester- more and more release of responsibility as the semester goes by, both academically and experientially on trip.
• Learning is highly experiential with 15 or so trips over the course of the semester, with one major winter expedition on the 3rd week into the semester. 
• The SHSM is integral to the functioning of our semester with built in experiences and certifications, as well as a financial offset to the overall fees related to the program.

Results/Impacts

• Seeing the growth in students, personally and academically. is a privilege over the course of a semester. 
• They feel comfortable with us as staff, and often refer to us as “one of them”. 
• The SHSM accreditation and experience through the program enables graduates excellent job opportunities, both directly into environmental/outdoor related fields, and indirectly through leadership gained on expeditions. 
• Alumni have a huge interest in the program. Many return to share their advice and support of current Enviro students. 
• Classroom management, discipline, etc. is very rarely an issue due to the trust and respect that we develop.  Students see us as fellow learners. When you are together for a long period of time in a semester, they see you as a person, ask about your family, etc. and see the passion you have and the investment you make to enable their success. This is something they don’t necessarily get to see a lot of because of the structure of 75 minute ‘normal’ classes. 
• Students leave with confidence and preparation for the real world of learning beyond high school, and a realization that learning doesn’t all come through one method, or medium.

Benefits/What am I working on? 

• It is a constant struggle to convey to prospective students what we exactly do and how we learn in the Enviro semester program.
• There is always a battle between perceptions and reality- we don’t just go camping. We learn about the planet, our impacts, each other, and definitely about oneself.
• We have been involved in the New Pedagogies for Deeper Learning (http://npdl.global/)  and are working to implement an alternative grading system. The core elements are the 6-C’s of Creativity, Collaboration, Critical Thinking, Citizenship, Character and Communication.
• Overall this is the most rewarding, most meaningful, albeit hardest work of my teaching career. I look forward to seeing my students every day, and seeing them grow through the program. I get to have fun in my classroom every single day.