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Dear Parent or Guardian,We are excited about having your child attend Genesis Account Outdoor School. Our staff desires that each student feels welcome and involved with the program to gain the most out of his/her experience. Following are a few items that will help to make your child’s time with Genesis Account the most profitable. Prayer for your child is strongly encouraged and will help set the stage for optimal learning and growth during Outdoor School. The program focuses on integrating environmental sciences with the Christian lifestyle, and we would be honored to have you pray for the students, teachers and chaperones attending, as we also are doing. Preparation for Outdoor School can be started in the home as well as at school. Encouraging a mindset that this field trip is an extension of school as opposed to a summer camp experience will be helpful for your student as well as their teacher. Attention to forms, deadlines or meetings set up by your school will make the planning process run more smoothly. Clothing and shoes of the proper type will make a huge difference in the comfort experienced by your child while attending Genesis Account. Please refer to the Equipment List for Outdoor Education, keeping in mind that layering clothes is essential, a rain poncho is often a great idea (just in case...), and closed-toe shoes help keep your child’s feet safe on the hiking trails. Check with your child’s teacher for any school dress codes that will be extended to Outdoor School. Mail to students is available at many locations. All mail should be sent early in the week (or the week prior to Outdoor School) and addressed as follows: Program Site Students name and school name Site Address Dear Counselor,We appreciate your help in making our program possible. Your role this week is vital, and how you carry out the responsibilities will affect the students’ experience. The following information will provide guidance for you as you take on the task of counseling a group of students.
The main purposes of the Genesis Account ministry are: 1. To guide students into a new or deeper relationship with God. 2. To provide a high-quality educational experience that will open students’ eyes to God’s creation. 3. To facilitate the growth of deeper relationships between students and their teachers. Our job is to take care of the details and program so that you can spend the week focusing on your students. Your involvement is essential to our program’s success. "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did but they will never forget how you made them feel." At Genesis Account, we believe this statement describes an important aspect of our program. Treating each student with respect and as an adult; showing each student he/she is important is one of the greatest ways we can communicate God's love for them. As a counselor, we encourage you to engage students during classes, cabin time, activities and meals. Our programs are founded on Romans 1:20, "For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead," When we take a few days to disconnect from the world and study God's creation, we get to see a unique aspect of our Savior. We study God as creator, designer and maker. While Genesis Account programs are conducted at "camps," it is still considered "school." Students are expected to conduct themselves just like they would while on their own campus. This means we don't allow pranks, food eating competitions, etc. There will be many recreational activities for students to participate in. We know that diet is important to parents. To be meet the requests of schools we keep sugar to a minimum. Please don't bring any excess of sugar products for students. Ask your school leadership any questions you have concerning these products. At certain camp facilities, Snack Shops or Coffee Shops are open for guests. During those occasions, the school administration will determine the limit for students (usually 1 drink and 1 candy). We are glad to accommodate for any dietary needs you or your student might have. Please make sure to indicate any food allergies or special needs on your registration form. If your student has dietary needs requiring you to send food with them we are glad to store it near the kitchen. It will be available during meals. We understand diet is an important part of your trip. If you have any questions, please contact us. We ask that students leave cellphones at home or with their teacher. One of the benefits out outdoor education is allowing students to become emerged in the subject matter. We believe that disconnecting from technology allows participants to connect more deeply with Creation. Public use phones are available in the camp office for emergencies. You are encouraged to send students mail, ask your school official for the address. |
"Children who attended outdoor school significantly raised their science scores by 27 percent." 
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