:: KARABINER / How It Works ::

WORKING AS A TEAM

Working in groups of 10 – under the careful guidance of at least three fully-trained teachers/counselors per group – the boys must learn to operate as a team, as they go about solving the real-life issues, practicalities and challenges of day-to-day life in a wilderness setting.

The atmosphere is conductive to the discovery and expression of natural tendencies and abilities. From this point, learning comes easily. Working with young people’s natural curiosity, group leaders encourage them to learn.

The campers also do intensive group work on the problems that brought them to the camp, and addresses issues in their lives in the setting of a long-term wilderness program where they have the chance to achieve success in changing situations.

At intake, each young person is asked to acknowledge their difficulties and assume responsibility for overcoming them. They come to the camp for a purpose – nor simply to avoid school or to be removed from an unpleasant situation at home.

While enrolled in the program, each camper becomes part of the group, developing a sense of group connectedness. Every camper has a responsibility to contribute to the needs of the entire group, through:
• Planning building and maintaining their camp site
• Discussing and solving issues of hygiene and health
• Developing a respectful and responsible attitude to the environment
• Progressing in all areas of the mainstream education – system curriculum
• Planning expeditions and participating in a range of outdoor activities

This is simply a different way of learning that – at a particular point in time – suits some children better than a conventional school.

BUILDING A HOME
With minimal permanent facilities, each group is required to design, build and maintain the semi-permanent tent structure that will become their home for their entire camp experience. They must also work together to plan and prepare meals and activities, solving problems as they arise.

At each point, the young person will be learning specific tasks, like wood chopping, building a fire or lashing together logs for a tent – and all of these skills are taught with care and concern.

REAL LESSONS FOR REAL LIFE
Participants in the KARABINER program are given the responsibility of planning and building the camp, working out their meal rosters and ensuring they have everything they need for survival.

There is a strict sense or order, and the campers are given rostered chores including cooking two days a week.

The lessons are real.

If they don’t prepare their tent for winter, they’ll be very cold.

Every successful job, no matter how small, builds confidence and gains importance when recognised as a contribution to the whole group.

GAINING LIFE SKILLS
The KARABINER program encourages education by making academic achievement meaningful. Participants learn to do everything for themselves. They have to work out how much timber is need to build a shelter, and how to plan for balanced, tasty meals that stay within the budget.

Once they learn that they have to do maths to eat, we find that they learn really quickly!

The invaluable life skills gained through these initiatives are combined with a structures curriculum that covers all aspects of a regular school, in a different format. This ensures that the boys will leave the program with the right level of numeracy and literacy for their age.

And they’ll also leave with a lot more… a sense of responsibility and confidence that will help them reintegrate into the conventional school system and later on, adult life.

FAMILY INVOLVMENT

Parental/carer participation is an integral part of the KARABINER education model.

In fact, our philosophy states that a child cannot come into the program without family/carer support – because support is vital to achieving successful outcomes.

The boys make regular visits home during the program to work on issues with their parents. Ongoing support is given to the whole family by qualified counselors before, and after camp.

Under this camp model, each boy comes to recognise the issues that lead him into trouble. Parents/carers must also acknowledge these problems, their possible role in them, and make a commitment to improve their parenting/caring and communication skills.

A DIFFERENT WAY TO LEARN
Participants in the KARABINER program:
• Eat well, gets lots of exercise and plenty of sleep
• Have daily chores
• Rise at 6:30am each day and retire at 8pm each evening
• Have amenities for showering and eating (a laundry service is also provided)
• Learn how to solve problems, sort out conflicts and be responsible for their actions
• Learn important life skills, including goal setting, budgeting and scheduling

SOME OF THE POSITIVE OUTCOMES OF THE KARABINER EDUCATION MODEL
• The young people are involved in decision making on a day-to-day basis within the group, increasing their sense of self worth and ability to function in groups, with greatly improved communication skills.
• Over the course of the program, each young person comes to see themselves for what they are, enjoying peer support, while achieving their own identity.
• Individuals experience the feeling of being needed and engaging in a cause greater than themselves. They also discover an increasing sense of worth and self esteem.
• An integrated curriculum that includes mainstream education components, bushcraft and everyday life skills – ensures campers leave with a well rounded education.