Welcome to rope-canoe-english-too    

Why ropes, canoes, and English?  These are the things I do on a daily basis.  I teach: sometimes English, sometimes ropes course or rock climbing, and sometimes canoe.  Experiential education, what Dewey called "learning by doing," has a powerful place in our kinesthetic beings.  It also opens possibilities to multiple intelligence learning.  While in a canoe it is easy to teach aquatic biology, water conservation, and ease of function through teamwork.  While students are belaying a climber on the ropes course or at a rock site, it is a time to speak of our interdependence, the necessity of being part of a group, or taking a leadership role in a group.  In the same session we may be able to look into an osprey nest in a nearby treetop or discuss forestry and geology.  While studying English, we can introduce students to international cultures, look into the soul of a poet or philosopher, or reach within ourselves to discover who we may wish to be.  The avenues are endless.  Memorable experiences are priceless. 

The motto of 4-H, the largest youth serving organization in the world, is: "Make the best better."  The way we can do that is to better ourselves.  The memorable experiences allow us to reimagine our possiblilities while adding to our foundation of knowledge.  The broader the base of the pyramid, the taller it may be built.