Adventure Club explores active learning

Nearly 1,000 elementary students are getting an extra dose of learning and a large helping of fun every day.  They are a part of Adventure Club, a unique arrangement between the Columbia Public Schools and the University of Missouri College of Education.

"What do you do with a first grader when both mom and dad are working until 5 or 5:30 p.m., and school gets out at 3:45 p.m.?" says Jack Jensen, assistant superintendent for elementary education. "It bridges that gap for many of our families."

"Because of the partnership with the university, activities and even play are designed to meet the needs of the children," says Pam Osman, MA, Adventure Club director.

"We try to balance it and find that fine balance. The kids have been in school for six hours, and they need to release that energy. After time outside or physical play, the students are ready for JOLT or Jump Start Our Learning Time. JOLT offers a dozen of academic programs for 30 to 45 minutes.

"Clubs" are grouped in five academic areas: language arts, social studies, science, math, and active.  Examples of clubs include comic strip and poetry club for language arts, frontier life and Club de Espanol for Social Studies, Anatomy 101 and Sea Life for science; math center fun and Shake, Rattle and Roll I and II and balloon math fun for math; and basketball skillastics and outdoor games for the active section of clubs.

The club "is such a wonderful and unique collaboration between the school district and the College of Education," says Osman. "It's the best of both worlds - we're university employees, but we get to work hand-in-hand with the school district, and we operate at the schools. I think that's one thing the parents really appreciate and enjoy - the fact that we're in the schools."

The program is at each of 18 elementary schools and will operate at the new Alpha Hart Lewis Elementary School. The program, which is licensed by the state, began in 1986 with the University of Missouri Extension and was transferred to the College of Education11 years ago.

"Quite honestly, the University of Missouri has some bright college students, and we employ a lot of them," Osman says.

"It's well organized, and I know the families are very appreciative and very happy with what we have to offer, and the staff are extremely energized," says Osman. "It's a nice complement to what students already are doing during the school day."