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Our goal is to facilitate, educate and involve
students in a variety of activities that foster
personal growth, team skills and appreciation
for the natural environment. Working with students in small teams is
a key component of our educational programs.
You can choose to let our staff randomly divide
your students in small teams when you arrive
or you can pre-divide your students prior to
your program.
Randomly Divided Teams
We find that randomly assigned teams tend to be more effective than pre-divided
ones. If you would like us to divide your students, this is how we do it.
Upon arrival, you will hand your completed/signed Medical/Liability Release
forms to the member of our staff who is waiting to greet you. While your
students receive orientation at the "benches", our staff randomly
sorts the forms into teams. The forms are then quickly checked for any medical
concerns and to assure a balance of male and female participants on each
team. Each facilitator then uses the forms to call out his/her team's members.
All teams remain near the "benches" until each student is assigned
to a team. Teachers have a final opportunity to separate or rearrange any
behavioral concerns.
Pre-Divided Teams
If you plan to pre-divide your students, note this on your Group Information
Sheet when you confirm your numbers. We will then notify you of the number
of facilitators assigned to your group. Try to divide cliques and separate
obvious behavior problems. Otherwise keep your small teams as random as possible.
When you have identified your teams, divide the Medical/Liability Release
forms according to teams. Be sure to bring the forms on the day of
your program. We don't recommend telling the students about their
team assignments for several reasons.
1. They will begin to form attitudes and opinions
about their teams before they arrive. This
can have a significant impact on their ability
to stay open to the challenges and learning
experienced here at Hemlock Overlook.
2. On rare occasions, we may have
one less facilitator or one more than originally
planned to staff your group. This may require
forming a new team from the previously arranged
ones or dispersing one team among the others.
We make every effort to assure that you group
arrives at Hemlock Overlook apart from any
other group. However, on occasion your arrival
time and that of another group may coincide.
In which case, depending on the size of each
group we may ask you to assist us by pre-dividing
your students. Cooperative efforts like this
makes the arrival process go a bit quicker
and assists other educators with less flexible
schedules.
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