Ashokan Information

Fourth Grade Ashokan Learning Experience Overview

The following information should be helpful in giving you a general overview of our overnight field trip to the Ashokan Field Campus. Each year, we host a Fourth Grade Ashokan Parent Meeting that provides many more details about the annual learning experience.

Who goes to Ashokan? All Miller Avenue School fourth grade classes go to Ashokan. Our school has been attending for about 20 years.

Where is Ashokan?The Ashokan Field Campus is located about 4-4.5 hours by coach bus from Miller Avenue School. The 372 acre facility is located in the foothills of the Catskill Mountains surrounded by forest and rural countryside and is an ideal location for student learning experiences that complement our fourth grade curriculum. Ashokan has run outdoor/environmental education and living history programs for school groups since 1967. Its close proximity to the Ashokan Reservoir (the largest in the NYC water supply system) provides countless teachable moments for history and science education.

When are the fourth graders going? We typically go in either March or April of each year. It is a three day trip and the dates are typically on the Miller Avenue Calendar, and announced at the Meet the Teacher Night (in September) and Ashokan Parent Informational Meeting.

Why do we go to Ashokan? There are many objectives when we take our fourth graders to Ashokan. The focus of the fourth grade social studies curriculum is colonial history. The staff of Ashokan, all college graduates whose fields include history, teaching, biology and environmental studies, plan with our fourth grade teachers a program that will help children understand, on a concrete level, what life was like in the pre-Revolutionary colonies. The children have a variety of unique experiences including blacksmithing, broom making and tinsmithing. The children will do chores to get ready for the day. When the children go out to the homestead, they will run into two widow ladies who, with a brogue almost too thick to understand, will tell them about their own childhood, growing up in the Catskills. When the children return to Miller Avenue School, they will write stories and poems, and do research based on this trip.

In addition to the academic goals, there are also very important affective goals. The trip helps children form an important bond with their teachers and with each other. Children gain confidence in themselves as independent people; yet, because they are under the care of the Miller Avenue Staff, do so in a safe and supportive atmosphere. The children learn to work together as a team and begin to see their teachers as real people. On the other hand, we take a variety of support teachers from our staff, and we get to see the children in a different light than is typical in a school setting. This information is invaluable in helping us understand the children and serves us quite well throughout the year.

What other activities are planned at Ashokan? In addition to the activities listed above, the children will get to walk through the woods with a naturalist, and stop at a covered bridge over a beautiful trout stream. First thing in the morning, they will go to the weather station and put together a report that they will give at breakfast. They may get to play broom hockey for recreation. During one evening they might hear from an expert on birds who will bring several species such as owls and hawks to share with the students. During another evening they may have a demonstration by a mammalogist. Meals are provided by the cooking staff in a comfortable dining hall and are hearty, varied, and well-liked by most children. If not, there is always peanut butter or cream cheese and jelly.

What staff goes to Ashokan? We take approximately 12 Miller Avenue Staff with us. This is voluntary and the staff typically includes the Fourth Grade Classroom Teachers, the Nurse, the Principal (who brings his car in case of an emergency), a Music Teacher, a Physical Education Teacher, a Special Education Teacher, and Teacher Assistants.

What are the parent, teacher, student responsibilities? Parents are responsible for filling out all permission slips and proper medical information on the medical forms. This information is checked by our staff. Parents also make sure children are properly prepared by sending appropriate clothing and supplies. Students are responsible for their behavior and their learning. Ashokan has a behavior "system" that can lead to calls home (this has never happened to a Miller Avenue child). We make clear to the children that this is not a "camp" that they are on this trip to learn and they are held accountable for their learning. The staff is responsible for providing a safe learning atmosphere. We plan the program, support the Ashokan staff and interact closely with our children to monitor their emotional and medical state. We provide the primary supervision.

What happens to children whose parents choose not to send them? The number of children who choose not to attend Ashokan varies from year-to-year (typically about 5). The children don't go for a variety of reasons - medical conditions, parents who do not feel they are ready, or a child who does not feel ready. Children who do not go are provided with a quality alternative experience. They work with a substitute, the art and P.E. staff to learn as much about Colonial America as they can. They will participate in parallel activities and will be prepared to share information and excitement with the children who went to Ashokan.

Dietary Concerns

Any special dietary foods, directions included, must be provided by the parents in proper amounts for the child’s stay. The Ashokan staff will be glad to heat and serve whatever you send.

Camera

Disposable cameras are the best choice since they are not too expensive and at the very least start out in operating condition. Those with flash will allow students to take pictures of the evening activities. Please supply enough film/cameras.

Don't Send

Money, video games, hair dryers, food of any type, medications in the possession of your child, pocket knives, or flashlights.

Ashokan Contact Information

Ashokan Field Campus
477 Beaverkill Road, Olivebridge, NY 12461-5702
(845) 657-8333 (office) (845) 657-8935 (cabin) (845) 657-8489 (fax)
http://www.ashokancenter.org

Summary

On the trip, the Ashokan Staff is an integral part of making Ashokan an exemplary learning experience for our youngsters. They will be assisting our teachers in running all activities. Each year the children have many wonderful and unique experiences. This year there will be equivalent, exemplary programs, carrying on the rich tradition of Ashokan.

We cannot control the future, but we can control our response to it. We appreciate the many phone calls and conversations on the importance of Ashokan. The Miller Avenue Faculty and Staff give our full support to the positive way the Ashokan experience has influenced the lives of our students.

Please do not hesitate to call your child’s classroom teacher or our Principal if you have any questions or wish to discuss Ashokan in greater detail.

Ashokan Resources for Parents

Miller Avenue PTO (for Fundraising Ideas)
Ashokan Packing List
Ashokan Field Campus