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:
- ARC Interns Participate in Youth Conference. Sagehen News, Oct. 7, 2008.
- Outreach Program Expands to Second NRS Reserve.UCNRS Transect, Autumn/Winter 2007
- Bridge to self-reliance – high school students participate in leadership and literacy summer program. Santa Barbara News-Press, 7-20-07
- Volunteer Corner: Suzie Cordero. Adventure Risk Challenge Summer Literacy and Leadership Program3-6-07
- “Leadership program for teens expanding into Sedgwick Reserve” Santa Barbara News-Press, 8-4-06
- “Grant helps expand UC Natural Reserve outreach” UC Berkeley News, 8-2-06
- “Students trek beyond classrooms and desks” Sierra Sun, 6-2-06.
- “Summer at Sagehen Reserve transforms teens through program of Adventure-Risk-Challenge” UCNRS Transect, Autumn 2005.
- “Leadership and literacy program challenges area youth”
N. Lake Tahoe Bonanza, 7-29-05. - “Literacy program combines books with backpacking”
N. Lake Tahoe Bonanza, 5-29-05. - Additional links to press about the program.
- 2006 ARC animated slideshow.
- National Public Radio: Sagehen’s Adventure – Risk – Challenge summer literacy program, 2005.
- KGO ABC-7 News segment, 9-5-07.
- “Youth Voices” radio program by ARC graduate Tanya Cabrera.
- Sagehen TV.
- ARC videos.
- 2004 course
- Sagehen ARC Blog…Get the latest ARC news
- Sedgwick ARC Blog
Student work:
- Interpretive science material produced for Sagehen Creek Field Station by A.R.C. students.
- Student Writing Memory Books
Research:
- Christine Hooper, Bridging the gap: the union of personal and academic growth. ARC: Delivering literacy and personal growth for English Language Learners through outdoor education. Master’s Thesis, 59 pp.
- Eric Harssema, Examining the effectiveness of a standards-based, outdoor education summer program for English Language Learners. Master’s Thesis. 94 pp.
- Shelley Gorin, Transforming Thought into Words: Using Photography and Dialogue to Help Immigrant Students Write with Voice. Master’s Thesis. 72 pp.
- Lundahl, M., Place, Literacy Learning, and Civic Engagement: A Case Study of Adventure Risk Challenge. 2017, Ph.D., UNR
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.