RISK Program
Resilience Impartation through Survival Knowledge
Introducing the RISK Program
The RISK program is offered to male students in year 7,8 and 9. RISK, an acronym for “Resilience Impartation through Survival Knowledge”, is an extended program that immerses participants in survival training culminating in a two night camp.
The program teaches new skills and, through using small group “teams”, promotes a sense of belonging that also leads to an understanding of community roles and responsibilities. Through specific challenges built into the course, the young people develop self-confidence, communication skills, grow their resilience and begin to gain a new and positive perspective on life’s challenges.
The risk program specifically addresses all of the 3 key ingredients that develop resilience.
Program Outline
The practical skills taught include:
Personal Hygiene
Establishing a Camp
Setting up a Shelter
Camp cooking
Fire lighting and fire safety
Navigation
First aid awareness
Bush Craft
Survival Equipment
Leadership
The program uses various challenges and the inherent course structure to equip and inspire the students to gain a positive perspective on themselves, others, and the challenges they will face.
Program Delivery
The course is delivered through the curriculum. Students who choose RISK as an option will have a risk class twice a week for one semester. They will also need to choose two other options from either, The Arts, D & T or Home Economics. As part of the program they will also attend a camp.
There are limited places available and early application is recommended.
Program Cost
The RISK course has run successfully in Comet Bay College for the last three years and has greatly benefited the students who participated. In recognition of this the College will continue to meet most of the costs of the course and parents are charged only a nominal contribution. Please contact us in the case of financial hardship to discuss your options.
Program Evaluation
The program is evaluated with the Wisconsin University Resilience tool before and after the course. Anecdotal reports of the course participants are also recorded. The program has recorded excellent results. On average, 14 out of 15 participating students recorded improved resilience. The students who start with the lowest resilience often record the most significant improvement. The data collected is used for assessment and funding purposes. No personal details are used.
Student and Parent Commitment
Students who embark on the program give a commitment to finish it and to take part in the course evaluation before and after the course. Parents commit to support the students with encouragement and agreeing to transport them to and from the camp.
Students have to provide:
• A tea towel
• Unbreakable cup, plate and bowl
• Eating utensils, i.e. knife and fork, spoon etc.
• Sleeping bag and bed mat or similar
• Toiletries
• Appropriate clothing for the camp and also an appropriate back pack.
Further Information
This information in this application is intended to help introduce the course concept, benefits and practical considerations. Should you wish to find out more about this innovative and effective program please contact David Karcheski.
Email: David.Karcheski@education.wa.edu.au
Phone: 9553 8100
To register your interest in the RISK Program:
Background
Experts stress the importance of children and young people developing their resilience. Children and young people who have poor resilience are more vulnerable to further negative effects from traumatic events and the knocks and bangs of everyday life.
Promoting resilience helps to equip young people to realize their personal potential in life enabling them to be more successful in all their endeavors.
Experts have identified 3 factors that help promote resilience.
1. The ability to face a challenge
2. The acquisition of new skills
3. A sense of belonging.
Dr. Edith Grotberg PhD in “A Guide to Promoting Resilience in Children:
Strengthening the Human Spirit” expresses it this way:
To overcome adversities, children draw from three sources of resilience features labelled: I HAVE, I AM, I CAN. What they draw from each of the three sources may be described as follows:
I HAVE
• People around me I trust and who love me, no matter what
• People who set limits for me so I know when to stop before there is danger or trouble
• People who show me how to do things right by the way they do things
• People who want me to learn to do things on my own
• People who help me when I am sick, in danger or need to learn
I AM
• A person people can like and love
• Glad to do nice things for others and show my concern
• Respectful of myself and others
• Willing to be responsible for what I do
• Sure things will be all right
I CAN
• Talk to others about things that frighten me or bother me
• Find ways to solve problems that I face
• Control myself when I feel like doing something not right or dangerous
• Figure out when it is a good time to talk to someone or to take action
• Find someone to help me when I need it
From this we can conclude that it is unlikely that resilience can be taught through a conventional course of study.
Photos from RISK Camp December 2015
2 Night Camp
This is an essential element of the training as it gives the students the opportunity to put their training into practice. The cost of the camp is included in the course fee.
Currently all camps have been held at the excellent facility at Manjedal which is located on the outskirts of Byford. This is a large but self-contained facility which allows us to control the level of wilderness experience given to the young people.
Course Selection
To gain entry to the course, first complete the attached application form and return it to Comet Bay College as soon as possible.
The risk program takes part in normal school time and is one of the elective classes. You must choose another two electives from the list. This selection will supersede any previous selections you may have completed.
When allocating places on the RISK program priority is given to those students who will most benefit from the course. Your application will be reviewed and candidates invited to an interview with the course coordinator. Successful candidates will be notified and admitted to the course.
Demand for this course is high and if you don’t get admitted into the course this time, you should not let that deter you from reapplying in the future.
