Travel/Adventure Learning
The ABLE (Adventure-Based Learning Experiences) program is devoted to enhancing critical skills and self-concepts that contribute to success within academic classes and outside of the school environment.
These skills and concepts include self-esteem, self-confidence, teamwork, and leadership. The pedagogy is adventure-based. The courses are group-oriented, experiential programs that are customized in-house for DVFriends students. The courses provide high school credit and completing one ABLE course is required for graduation.
ABLE offers various courses throughout the year. Some are extended trips such as sailing in the Chesapeake or Bahamas, hiking the Inca trails in Peru, bike touring in Maryland, and hiking or cross-country skiing in upstate New York. In 2023-24, we will be sailing in the Bahamas and returning to the Galapagos Islands. The Galapagos experience includes an environmental science component! Others are a series of individual days closer to home including rock climbing (indoor and outdoor) and local ropes courses.
Most ABLE trips are covered by tuition, however, there are additional costs for trips with air travel. Scholarship money for ABLE trips that involve a travel fee may be available to students who qualify.
In the middle school, we provide an introduction to ABLE through teambuilding and orientation programs at the start of the year. Eighth grade also does a capstone trip to Wallops Island in June with an ocean biology component.
In the middle school, we provide an introduction to ABLE through teambuilding and orientation programs at the start of the year. Eighth grade also does a capstone trip to Wallops Island in June with an ocean biology component.
PLEASE NOTE: STUDENTS IN GRADES 9-12 ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE ONE (1) ABLE COURSE PRIOR TO GRADUATION.
ABLE courses must be scheduled to take place before the end of a student's junior year in order for student choices to be given priority; seniors who have not fulfilled their ABLE requirement will be placed by the ABLE director in an ABLE experience during the fall trimester of their senior year. Individuals may request additional courses after completing one required course and will be enrolled when there is space available in a requested class. Priority for placement in ABLE courses for students in grades 9-11 will be managed as follows:
- Rising/current 11th graders will be given first priority when choosing an ABLE course so long as their choice is made no later than the first trimester of their junior year
- Rising/current 9th and 10th graders will be assigned an ABLE course on a first come, first served basis based on their selected preferences
THE 2023 - 2024 EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING BROCHURE:
Download the 2023-24 Experiential Learning Brochure below or see the menu (right) for the 2023-24 ABLE course selections.
Meet the new ABLE Director, T.J.Costa
The School shall not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national or ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, sexual identity, age, disability or marital status in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, athletic and other school administered programs, or in hiring, use of volunteers or board membership.