Transitioning Into Adulthood

Preparing Teens for the Coming of Age – Wildflower Open Classroom’s Adolescent Program (WOCAP)

Rites of Passage are Important

What are the rites of passage for America’s youth today? And why are they so important? These ceremonies mark important transitions in life and help establish roles within communities by imparting a sense of purpose. WOCAP focuses on honoring this special time through a thoughtful curriculum designed to prepare students for adulthood and the expectations that come with this exciting transition.

Wildflower Open Classroom

Wildflower Open Classroom in Chico, CA, was founded in 2011 by a small group of parents and teachers who wanted a purer sense of the open classroom style of teaching. Initially, the charter school included kindergarten through sixth grade. After several years of growing enrollment, the school expanded with a middle school program titled the Adolescent Program for seventh and eighth grades.

“The vision behind this was to create a program where thematic cycles that we study in class are paired with some sort of civic experience in the community,” explains Melissa Macdonald, one of the three teachers. This year Wildflower students are studying six themed cycles throughout the year. At the end of each cycle, the students have an immersive experience that integrates the lessons of that cycle. The students participate in two immersive internships and two immersive weeklong field trips per year. These experiences link to some element of the cycle that the students are studying.

Connecting Experiences

Immersive Trips

In the past, Wildflower Open Classroom teachers have invited local experts to instruct students during a four-day rafting trip; students learn everything from ecology to survival skills while rafting the Sacramento River. Other trips include a week-long road trip where coordinated stops reflect what students have been studying in the previous cycle.

The next immersion trip for the middle school students is coming up in May. It will be a two-part experience, including a backpacking trip and a road trip. Teacher Nikki Ramey explains, “This year the students have been doing rite of passage work to honor the fact that they are in this awkward transition in between kid and teenager. We recognize that in our society, we don’t offer enough support for this age. This year it’s all about getting them to honor the stage that they’re in and recognizing some of the challenges that come with it, and to have them think critically about themselves in the world and their relationships.”

Internships

In addition to immersive trips, students participate in two internship weeks per year. For 2020, the first internship week is April 6-10. Teachers and parents help students identify a local organization or business they are interested in studying. Students have five internship themes they can choose from including social justice, energy/thermodynamics, industry/inventions, alternative energy, and war/peace.

“We support students getting internships by helping them build resumes in class,” explains Melissa. During resume workshops, students learn how to place value on many of the skills and experiences they already have acquired. Parents get involved and support students by helping ease the anxiety of making phone calls to these organizations or businesses. Each student gets to cultivate themselves in this character-building experience. At the end of their internship, their supervisor evaluates them giving valuable feedback about their strengths and areas to improve on.

Community Service

Each student is also required to perform 20 hours of community service throughout the year. This task gives them more real-world experience by helping them build their skills, develop a dynamic resume, and instilling the value of community by directly participating in it.

WOCAP works to combine education and mentorship while serving its students in a deeply meaningful way by preparing them for adulthood. Melissa states, “We’re getting good feedback about our teaching style here at Wildflower, and it’s great to see how these kids are growing.”

Learn more about WOCAP by visiting during the open house on March 12, 2020, from 6:00 – 7:30 pm.

Are you an organization or business interested in supporting the program’s Internship Week in May? Learn more about how to get involved by calling (530) 892-1676.

Be sure to check out the eighth annual Wildflower Music Festival happening on Saturday, April 25, 2020, from 11:30 AM – 8:00 pm at 2500 Estes Road in Chico. All proceeds go to Wildflower Open Classroom. Find out more on the Wildflower Open Classroom website or at the Wildflower Music Festival website.