Afternoon Electives Offer an Opportunity to Choose

During the first six weeks of summer, while mornings are devoted to working and earning personal spending money, afternoons are devoted to individual gift development.  Set up like a high school course schedule, the summer afternoon program allows each resident to select which activities and classes he or she will attend.

Youths are divided into groups according to their choices and attend daily classes -- library activities, outdoor education, computer labs, video editing, athletic skills workshops, theater and musical rehearsals, art groups, greenhouse management, and others.  Teachers keep the classes fun and positive, and help children discover their strengths, as well as learn new skills.

Our goals for these activities include not only individual gift enhancement, but also team cooperation and creativity.   Instructors encourage participants to come up with creative formats for the classes, and perhaps to plan and executive a project, such as a synchronized swimming show, a new mural, or a play for the community to see.  It is not unusual for the end of this period to produce a concert, a play, an art show, a sports event, or a film, all produced by the participants in the classes.