PROJECT ADVENTURE STUDENT WRITING

         To keep the "adventure" in Project Adventure alive after the initiatives are completed, and the goals met, participants need to put their thoughts on paper.

         For the past three years, Mahopac Middle School 8th graders have enthusiastically contributed their insights and honest feedback to a ten week writing course that meets daily in the library's computer center.

         They are instructed by a teacher of English who assists two P.A. facilitators and has attended PA's Adventure in the Classroom, and Adventure Programming workshops.

         The best pieces are published in "On Belay", a school newspaper column devoted to the Project Adventure experience.

         A list of writing assignments and student writing samples follow.

                                                                        Betsy Walters

                                                                        English 8

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. If you are just beginning your PA experience, decide upon a goal you would like to attain in this course. Describe it, and in your description, explain the steps you think you will need to follow to attain this goal. Also mention any obstacles you might foresee.

2. Describe two to five minutes of a challenging, tense, or exciting moment in your PA class. You must relate this event in the first person ("I") and in the present tense.

3. Create an initiative that you would like to present to your instructors and the rest of your PA class.

4. Using computer graphics, design and print a PA certificate, logo, or poster.

5. Written entirely in dialogue, (conversation) relate a problem-solving experience you shared with your PA group.

6. Write a short conversation describing how you were able, (or unable) to overcome a fear or anxiety in a PA class. Include an explanation of what you learned about yourself from this experience.

7. Without naming it, describe a piece of PA equipment in minute detail. (Your reader should be able to picture this item perfectly.)

8. Write a short composition describing a piece of advice you received from your PA instructor, or member(s) of your group. Explain how you were helped or aided by this advice, or how you may have helped another.

9. Write a business letter to Patagonia, North Face, Marmot, Moonstone, Gramicci, or any other outfitting company, ordering a wish list of PA wear/equipment. (Money is no object for this assignment!)

10. Write a business letter of complaint regarding a part of this order that does not meet with your satisfaction. Include mention of how you would like the company to resolve the problem.

11. Write an informal letter to your PA instructor(s) describing feelings about this course.

12. Think of a classmate in your PA class who "pushed the edge of the envelope" in a PA activity. Describe in detail what was so special about his/her accomplishment.

13. Write a short discussion of the difficulties and advantages of teamwork.

14. Create a glossary of PA terms.

15. Create a PA comic strip, or rules to a PA board game.

16. Write a PA pamphlet intended to be sent to other schools thinking of starting a PA program. (USE YOUR CREATIVITY, IMAGINATION, AND THOUGHT. HAVE FUN!)

Student Writings

A TENSE MOMENT

In my Project Adventure class I have experienced moments where I found it challenging, tense, or exciting. I will explain two times where I have experienced this. Both times were when I was climbing the wall.

The first time was when I was trying to reach the dumbbell on the left side of thewall. I was in an awkward position where I had to extend my left arm upwards to grasp the dumbbell. It was very challenging. The first time I tried, I missed it. But then, the second time I got hold of it. I pulled myself up and felt a wave of relief wash over me.

The second time I had to face a challenging move was at the very left side of the wall. I was attempting the "chimney". It's a very hard climb because it has only a few blocks to work with. Although I tried, I never got up to the top of it. I fell once, but the second time I tried the difficult move I grasped onto the block. I was stuck there now, so I decided I had to go down. I was sort of disappointed that I couldn't make it, but was glad I'd attempted it.

Project Adventure is an extremely fun class, but it also puts your mind to the test. It is challenging in an exciting way, every day.

--by Jackie

February 1997

THE WALK

On September of l996 there was a really daring assignment. Half of the class had to put a blindfold on. The other half of the class were pretending they were sherpas. The half of the class that did not have blindfolds on, was assigned to a person who did. Then we took an adventure through the woods, that would last the whole period.

When I was first blindfolded I felt like I was going to hit a tree, but soon after I knew where I was going. I felt these things when I was walking: the grass, rocks, and dirt. There were a lot of logs that we had to step over. When we were about to go inside, there was a place where I had to lift my foot up. The "sherpa" who was directing me did not know how to tell me to step up. Because she was not supposed to talk to me, she kind of shrugged my shoulders. That told me to step up.

Then it was my turn to be the sherpa. It was weird being the sherpa. I thought that I was going to make my partner trip. When there was a log, I lifted the person's foot up. When I stopped her, I shrugged her shoulders back. If I wanted her to advance, I would push her shoulders forward.

When we got back into the school we talked about how we felt. We also tried to guess who our sherpa was. I thought this was a really interesting assignment.

--by Venus

September 1996

THE JUMP

Have you ever been scared beyond belief? I certainly have. I wasn't scared on the way up the wall, but when I got to the top and looked down, there was no way I could jump. I was on a platform thirty feet up in the air and looking down. My classmates were looking up at me. I was scared to death and clutching to my belay line. At first I thought,what if Mr. Klag can't hold me? (Even though I knew he could.) What if the rope snaps? (Even though I knew it wouldn't.)

This was my first mistake. I worried and analyzed a situation I really shouldn't have. Each time I looked down, everyone was encouraging me to jump. Mr. Klag and Mr. Miller continued to shake their heads, "Yes, you can do it!"

I shook my head, "No, I can't!"

Mr. Miller said, "It took your sister four times before she did it!" and that made me feel a little better. But the moment that made me feel that I could definitely make it was when Joanna and Amanda held up "Chalky", our friend. We'd created him out of everything we hoped to get out of PA this year. Written on the outside of him was everything that would hold us back.

Finally, I was too scared to jump off the platform, but I did step off, which is definitely a "step" in the right direction. I think that if I ever get a chance to try again I will jump for it, and hopefully get it. If I don't get it, I will try again until I make it. This, I know.

--by Brittany

May 1997

MY THOUGHTS ABOUT PROJECT ADVENTURE

I am in a program called Project Adventure. My instructors are Mr. Klag and Mr. Miller. I have experienced many challenges in this course. I have climbed walls, walked a tightrope, flown in the air, and most of all, have gained self-confidence. Project Adventure requires teamwork to accomplish a common goal. Everybody's little bit of input makes a whole team strong. When climbing walls, you need everyone's cooperation because your life is being held by a rope. You need to push yourself beyond what you think you can achieve.

I have had to push myself to achieve my goal. I had to put my fears, my disappointments, aside and concentrate on my goal. A saying I will always remember by my gymnastics coach is, "Never say never". I have often used that advice to help me in PA. When I say, "I can't do it!", Mr. Klag always tells me, "No, you can't do it yet!" This makes me look at myself in a positive way.

An attitude you need to gain throughout the year is a positive outlook on yourself. Even if you do not succeed on your first try, you still must attempt every challenge and give it your best. I wanted to be in PA because I like to have challenges put in front of me. I also wanted to make new friends and work together with different people. I feel Project Adventure is a good course to take because it is fun, it helps you gain self-esteem, and it helps you retain lasting friendships.

--by Kimm

May 1997