Jun 03 2012
CASCO BAY QUEST
The Casco Bay Quest is an innovative orientation experience based on Cow Island for all freshmen and seniors at Casco Bay High School that promotes community, citizenship and leadership through writing, kayaking and adventure-based learning. We partner with two other organizations to design and implement this “learning expedition” – The Telling Room and Rippleffect. The quests are a hallmark of our school and are vital in the development of our vibrant community.
The Senior Quest (9/25/12-9/28/12) is an opportunity for seniors to unite and take stock of who they are and where they want to go. The Quest serves as the launching point for a Senior Humanities course which focuses on students successfully completing the college application process and a senior project. Seniors begin and end their Quest together on Cow Island but, in between, each of our five senior advisory groups have their own expedition, kayaking in Casco Bay, visiting and camping on various islands. During the four-day Quest, seniors write a letter to the freshmen, providing advice about how to make the best use of their high school years. Back at CBHS, following the Quest, staff facilitate college essay writing workshops.
Soon after the seniors return, the freshmen embark on their overnight adventure on Cow Island (10/2/12-10/5/12). The Freshmen Quest is the touchstone fieldwork experience for freshmen’s year-long, interdisciplinary exploration of the question: “What makes a successful community?” The Cow Island adventure is designed to orient freshmen to one another, their advisory groups, expeditionary learning and the possibilities of high school. Freshmen engage in kayaking and outdoor living skills as well as group initiatives and writing exercises that focus on community building. Following the Quest, freshmen interview the seniors who wrote them letters. Ultimately, they synthesize their learnings in a performance in late fall. This past year’s included art, spoken word and step-dancing.
Seniors and freshmen need to complete the forms below to participate.
Casco Bay Quest 2012 Parental Waiver
And here’s the gear list…
We have received grant funding for the 2012 Quests from the White Pine Foundation, the Quimby Family Foundation and LL Bean to enable all students to participate, regardless of family income.
Please view this wonderful video about Quest 2011 created by Telling Room staffer, Molly Haley.
And here’s another one about the Senior Quest and the meaning of crew from fall 2o12. Molly Haley is again the auteur.
