The Local Apprentice
At this later stage of adolescence, students are truly beginning to grow into their abilities. These older students suddenly take on much more responsibility in their lives--they become legal to drive and hold a job, they might play a sport and have to perform in front of a large crowd every weekend, or maybe they dance and need to nail their choreography for the annual performance. Whatever the venue, these students are becoming increasingly visible within the adult community. While they may have engaged in these activities for years, the pressures, demands, and expectations have gone up considerably. This age is known for its boundary testing, for 'rebellion,' for pushing away from parents (sometimes with great vigor), for experimenting, and for testing a newfound autonomy. All of these actions represent a search for self, and although this search is not always graceful, it is repeatedly expressed as a strong priority for this age group.
The 10th & 11th Grade Experience
Our curricular projects for the Local Apprentices give students the opportunity to engage in real responsibilities. In our greenhouse, these students manage and run a business that has the potential to make thousands of dollars. This venture affords them the opportunity to understand economics, build business plans, explore models, and react to the real world 'glitches' that develop in endeavors such as this. Meanwhile, students work with local experts to study the ecology, biology, and botany of caring for plants and fish; the chemistry and systems design of the hydroponics and solar power systems; the social, environmental, and political impacts of current and past food production systems; and the impact of different food systems on our health. Students learn how life in the American West has created, shaped, and altered our view of the American Identity. The Local Apprentice embraces this real responsibility of running a business, working with local experts to design and build that business, and considering the social impact of agriculture on local and national levels. These responsibilities are made all the more real because the profits students earn during this endeavor go toward their upcoming Senior Institute experience.
