Monthly Archives: May 2020

Bosque School Medical Reserve Corps

Ever felt sick or were injured at school? Ever have to face the grumpy school nurse? Well, not at Bosque School in Albuquerque New Mexico! This is an amazing student led program, where all of the first responders for illness or injury are the students themselves. As members of the school’s Medical Reserve Corps, the students learn how to respond to medical incidents and emergencies and take the lead when something happens.

In this episode, we talk with Dan Shaw, teacher, first responder and faculty head of the MRC at Bosque School, as well as Maddison, Taylor & Abigail, three of the students who are part of the MRC program and first responders.

What better way to learn a unique and practical medical skill set than through real-world experiences.We take a look at how this unique program came about and how it’s been developed over the years to provide students with some amazing and challenging opportunities and experiences to develop an excellent skill-set and ability to respond and deal with a range of medical issues and emergencies.

This is true leadership in Experiential Education and one of the most impressive programs I’ve come across in a school. Whilst many schools profess they provide opportunities for leadership, this school actually does it in such a fantastic and meaningful way.

For more information on Bosque School’s program:

Bosque School MRC

https://www.bosqueschool.org/list-detail?pk=149439&fromId=245550

USA National MRC

https://www.phe.gov/about/oem/prep/Pages/mrc.aspx

Standard Diner ABQ

https://www.standarddiner.com/

This was the first diner I’ve been to in the US and it was nice. The frozen margarita with mint mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!!!!!!!

Aspen High ExEd Program

Have you ever wanted to start the school year by getting away somewhere, fun, challenging remote or culturally unique? No this is no holiday, this is the Aspen High School ExEd program, which provides students the opportunity to learn through experience right across the country.

In mixed year level groups, students get to choose from a huge range of options, from Hiking in the Tetons, to Biking in New Mexico, or perhaps a dive into the Cajun culture of Louisiana or some glitz and glamour of Fashion Design in LA!

There’s something for everyone in this fantastic practical and experiential education program, which has been running for over 50 years!

In this episode we talk with Brent Maiolo who is Chair of the ExEd program at Aspen High.

For more information on Aspen’s program:

Aspen High School ExEd

https://www.aspenk12.net/domain/131

Episode Corrections

Mt Kosciuszko is 2228 metres high, not 2227! Also, you multiply metres to get feet, not divide. Both entirely my mistakes as I can’t do good math! Or English it would seem.

Howling Gibbon Outdoor Education

Have you ever tried washing an Elephant at school? Explored a jungle and encountered a family of Gibbons? Well you can at The Howling Gibbon Outdoor Centre in Thailand

In this episode, we talk with Alex Moxon Founder and program Director of the Howling Gibbon Centre.

What better way to learn than to spend time in a rural centre in Thailand which combines, outdoor adventures with field studies and service learning. This centre runs a great range of interesting and diverse programs, with the service learning based upon the UN sustainability goals.

Alex is also the founder of Outdoortopia, an exciting experiential education blog and online community for teachers and other educators interested in creating change makers for a sustainable future.

For more information on the Howling Gibbon and Outdoortopia

Howling Gibbon

https://www.howlinggibbon.com/

Outdoortopia

https://www.outdoortopia.org/

UN Sustainable Development Goals

https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/?menu=1300

National Gallery London – Arts Education

Want to lose yourself in centuries of political and religious conflict and dark mysteries locked in snapshots from the past? Then the National Gallery in London is just the place for you. With an enormous collection of stunning artworks spanning over half a millennia, this is an amazing experience. No matter how many times I’ve been there, I haven’t even scratched the surface of the passion, the love, the hatred, the rebellion, the political intrigue and the social and emotional commentary that’s behind the huge collection of art in the National Gallery.

In this episode, we talk with Caroline Smith, head of educational programs at the National Gallery and explore how they engage students in one of the most amazing galleries in the world.

From the early Renaissance to legendary artists such as Monet and Van Gough and stunning works which take up entire walls, this is something which will awe and inspire students in ways that the classroom can never replicate.

For more information on the educational programs at the National Gallery checkout:

National Gallery London

https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/

https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/learning/teachers-and-schools

Best Coffee in London

Monmouth Coffee is well worth seeking out as you will struggle to get a decent coffee anywhere in the UK. However, the coffee here is amazing and some of the best coffee I’ve had in the world! Just go there and try it. You’ll know what I mean!