World Class Kayak Academy is a traveling high school for students that
want to earn their education while exploring unique rivers and cultures
around the world. WCKA takes pride in being the first program to offer
an exceptional education to student-athletes using whitewater kayaking
as a vehicle to instill life lessons, build confidence, and hone skills.
World
Class is based at the Crystal Spring Lodge in Alberton, Montana where every school year
begins and ends. At the end of August, faculty and
students arrive for staff training, orientation, and safety classes.
After the first week of school, the program leaves Montana for the East
Coast where we visit rivers and locations such as the Ottawa, Lachine,
Gauley, and Green. While traveling, students maintain typical school
hours, and students take SAT exams at designated test centers along the
way. By mid-October, the program heads for a warmer climate (07'
Africa, 08' Mexico, 09' Peru) where it will remain until mid-December.
When finals and semester-end projects are completed, everyone returns
home for winter break.
Spring semester at WCKA begins with a
rendezvous back at an international airport. From this hub everyone
will fly to the foreign destination chosen for the first half of the
semester (08’ Chile, 09' China, 10' Chile). Upon arriving at the chosen
country, new students are oriented to the program before starting normal classwork. Toward the end of March, the program returns to the
U.S. for a tour of the West Coast and its ocean, classic rivers and
competitions. The tour eventually leads the program back home to
Crystal Springs for finals and graduation in May.
A Typical Day:
While
there are few "typical" days at World Class compared to a
traditional high school, there is always a tight schedule to make busy
days more efficient. The daily routine will change depending on field
trips, travel, and competitions, but students and staff usually adhere
to a schedule like the one below.
|
|
| 6:00 AM - Workout |
| 7:15 AM – Breakfast |
| 8:00 AM – First Period |
| 9:00 AM – Second Period |
| 10:00 AM – Third Period |
| 11:00 AM – Fourth Period |
| 12:00 PM – Lunch |
| 1:00 PM – Fifth Period |
| 2:00 PM – On Water Training |
| 7:00 PM – Dinner |
| 8:00 PM - Study Hall/Social Time |