UC Natural Reserve System

For current information about ARC, see their new website at www.arcprogram.org

Sagehen is very pleased to team with Program Founder Katie Zanto, & Program Director Sarah Ottley in offering the Adventure-Risk-Challenge Summer Literacy & Leadership Program (ARC) for minority teens. In 2007, we expanded ARC to students from both northern & southern California with a new program at the Sedgwick Reserve, UC Santa Barbara. 2009 saw the start of a new Yosemite program.

This 6-week summer school program has been designed for motivated, high-level English Language Learner (ELL) students with leadership potential. ARC combines an intensive literacy focus with outdoor education: place-based, experiential curriculum. The issue:

  • Approximately 25% of our student population in the Truckee, Tahoe School District is designated as ELL, 90% of these students are achieving below grade level and will not pass the upcoming High School Exit Exam, and 60% of these students drop out of school before they graduate. Broader California statistics mirror these trends.
  • Motivated, high-level ELL students in California have virtually no summer school opportunities to raise their literacy skills to test out of ELL designation and enter mainstream classes.
  • Research has proven that literacy instruction combined with meaningful outdoor leadership curriculum can raise student grade levels up to 2 grade levels in one 6-week session.

After the intensive summer program, ARC graduates follow through with service projects in their local communities. Graduates also assist with public outreach presentations & new student recruitment. We offer tutoring & reunion opportunities throughout their high school careers. Many of our students are now leaders in their neighborhoods & are college-bound. These students are the first in their families to receive higher education. We couldn’t be prouder!

 2008 A.R.C. Program Information –PDF [28K].

 ARC Curriculum–Word doc [39K].

 ARC Activities–Word doc [109K].

 ARC Student Profile –PDF [1.38M].

 2008 ARC poster & info — PDF [224KB].

2007 ARC flyer & photos — JPG [1.13M].

2006 ARC flyer & photos — JPG [497K].

2005 ARC flyer & photos–PDF [1.4M].

Press:

Student work:

Research:

Make a donation!

For more information about ARC or to become a program sponsor, contact ARC Director Sarah Ottley or use the links at left to make a donation to the program.

ARC is funded entirely through grants & gifts from the community. Learn more about our wonderful program sponsors here.