New Adventures Await Middle Schoolers

 

Seattle Academy Middle School developed a new Adventure Club that launched last fall, aimed at students wanting to explore their own backyard. Hiking, kayaking, bouldering, paddleboarding, and flyfishing — these are the new after-school activities available to SAAS middle schoolers at no cost to families. The club provides opportunities for kids who want an active, team-oriented outdoor experience, without the commitment to a SAAS athletic team or sport. 

“Participants will be exposed to a range of outdoor activities, developing skills and competencies in core areas that will empower them to further explore the outdoors and become more familiar with our local surroundings,” says Freddy Carley, Director of Outdoor Trips & Travel. “Most importantly, we will properly train students in safety and technique before each activity,” Freddy adds, emphasizing that no prior experience is needed to join the club. 

“Most students are comfortable in the outdoors but that varies by student and activity,” says Lucy Miller, Co-Leader of Adventure Club and Study Skills Teacher. “When students are less comfortable with a certain activity, we see them challenging themselves to progress.” This challenge, and element of risk-taking and performance, is precisely what SAAS is known for. 

Outdoor trips and travel, both national and international, have long been a structural component of the Seattle Academy education. Adventure is actually written into the curriculum and tied to our guiding principles of Culture of Performance and Know the Kid. Freddy, who is both an alumnus and now director of the outdoor program, knows this all too well. 

Adventure Club is exposing kids to skills and activities that many have not even tried before. Participants are being pushed outside their comfort zone to try something challenging and new. This carefully planned sense of uncomfortable challenge is where we see real growth and confidence building on our extended wilderness trips. We are now able to offer a version of this experience at a more accessible and less intense level with Adventure Club.

Co-leader Lucy Miller agrees and adds to the element of risk-taking involved in outdoor adventure: “One of the main skills I think kids are getting from this club is a feeling of confidence; in themselves and in trying new things. This is something students can take with them anywhere.” 

This year, students traveled to various parks, beaches and recreational areas including Alki, the Arboretum, West Duwamish Greenbelt Trails and Seward, Frink, and Magnuson Parks. Thanks to partnerships with Alki Kayak Tours, Sail Sand Point, Mountaineers and Emerald Water Anglers (a Seattle Academy-family business!) — students had opportunities to adventure on land, water and rock. Outdoor safety skills, along with tree and plant identification, are incorporated into the hikes and park visits. 

Lucy and Freddy didn’t do it alone. SAAS faculty chaperones Harvey Hinman, Hannah LeBlanc, Kate Kerr and Alexander Castanes helped lead the way. 

“We have such positive and supportive supervisors that students feel safe to get out of their comfort zone,” explains Lucy. “It’s been really neat to see the students bond as a group and be able to support each other through challenges because of this companionship.” 

“We provide students the safe ‘challenge by choice’ opportunities to push themselves, but it is really on them to take the step outside of what they thought they could do,” Freddy says. “This is the moment you can see real change in kids: when they achieve something they initially thought was not possible.”

Middle School Adventure Club meets three days a week from 3:15 PM - 5:30 PM. All Middle Schoolers are welcome to sign up (registration will be available starting late July). “We hope that as the program grows and students return, we will have more 7th and 8th graders step up into leadership roles, and help more with planning and supporting younger students on activities,” Lucy adds. And who knows what next year’s adventures will be, but Lucy emphasizes “the goal remains the same: to get kids outside and exploring.” 

“Adventure Club is an amazing club where you can get to know people from different grades. I learned a lot of new things and I would recommend this to all of the sixth, seventh and eighth graders.” - Natalie Simmonds, Grade 8