Participation Type
Roundtable
Session Title
Place-Based Experiential Learning and the High Rocks Teaching Model
Session Abstract or Summary
This presentation will illustrate ways of addressing the emotional and educational needs of children growing up in rural Appalachia, namely through the successes and challenges of High Rocks Educational Corporation’s involvement with teenage girls and community members. Founded in 1996 and based in Pocahontas County, High Rocks’ mission is to educate, empower, and inspire the young women of West Virginia. The organization has worked to fulfill this mission through various approaches over the years, including service learning, college access, residential summer camps, involvement in the local school system, community outreach, and weekly afterschool opportunities. This year, High Rocks is expanding our afterschool enrichment programming to welcome boys as well as girls in the tri-county area, reflecting the need for alternative education for all youth in the region. Presenters will include several High Rocks girls who can speak to the current educational needs of West Virginia youth. Through highlighting High Rocks pedagogical methods, the presentation will explore the paramount question of how to address the changing landscape of education and learning in the region and across the country, showcase community involvement and youth advocacy as a vital component of personal and educational growth, and provide Appalachian youth with the tools necessary to succeed in their schools, homes, communities, and beyond.
Presentation #1 Title
Place-Based Experiential Learning and the High Rocks Teaching Model
Presentation #1 Abstract or Summary
This presentation will illustrate ways of addressing the emotional and educational needs of children growing up in rural Appalachia, namely through the successes and challenges of High Rocks Educational Corporation’s involvement with teenage girls and community members. Founded in 1996 and based in Pocahontas County, High Rocks’ mission is to educate, empower, and inspire the young women of West Virginia. The organization has worked to fulfill this mission through various approaches over the years, including service learning, college access, residential summer camps, involvement in the local school system, community outreach, and weekly afterschool opportunities. This year, High Rocks is expanding our afterschool enrichment programming to welcome boys as well as girls in the tri-county area, reflecting the need for alternative education for all youth in the region. Presenters will include several High Rocks girls who can speak to the current educational needs of West Virginia youth. Through highlighting High Rocks pedagogical methods, the presentation will explore the paramount question of how to address the changing landscape of education and learning in the region and across the country, showcase community involvement and youth advocacy as a vital component of personal and educational growth, and provide Appalachian youth with the tools necessary to succeed in their schools, homes, communities, and beyond.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #1
Alice Beecher, High Rocks Educational Corporation, alice@highrocks.org-- After graduating from Oberlin College and getting her B.A. in Politics and Creative Writing, Alice moved to West Virginia to serve as an Americorps member with High Rocks. She is currently working on High Rocks Academy for Girls programming in Pocahontas County and creating college access workshops for the community at large.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #2
Sarah Riley, High Rocks Educational Corporation, sarah@highrocks.org --After graduating from the county high school and graduating from Harvard University, Sarah returned to West Virginia to help found the High Rocks, where she has been working for the last 15 years. Sarah is dedicated to improving opportunity and access for young people and is a classic social entrepreneur in the region, growing High Rocks from a start-up to a $700,000 per year non-profit with 22 employees.
Place-Based Experiential Learning and the High Rocks Teaching Model
This presentation will illustrate ways of addressing the emotional and educational needs of children growing up in rural Appalachia, namely through the successes and challenges of High Rocks Educational Corporation’s involvement with teenage girls and community members. Founded in 1996 and based in Pocahontas County, High Rocks’ mission is to educate, empower, and inspire the young women of West Virginia. The organization has worked to fulfill this mission through various approaches over the years, including service learning, college access, residential summer camps, involvement in the local school system, community outreach, and weekly afterschool opportunities. This year, High Rocks is expanding our afterschool enrichment programming to welcome boys as well as girls in the tri-county area, reflecting the need for alternative education for all youth in the region. Presenters will include several High Rocks girls who can speak to the current educational needs of West Virginia youth. Through highlighting High Rocks pedagogical methods, the presentation will explore the paramount question of how to address the changing landscape of education and learning in the region and across the country, showcase community involvement and youth advocacy as a vital component of personal and educational growth, and provide Appalachian youth with the tools necessary to succeed in their schools, homes, communities, and beyond.
