Teaching Philosophy

In Adventure Quest™, the puzzles and mysteries, moral dilemmas, and other challenges of the quest are regarded with creative imagination as playful opportunities for experiential learning.

Our Goals:

• Create a nurturing and safe environment with an adventure that is full of fun, freedom, and creative problem-solving with a small group of friends.
• Assist children in realizing their own unique gifts and talents.
• Help children achieve their personal goals and experience self-fulfillment and empowerment.

The staff at Renaissance Adventures believes that a non-authoritarian and non-coercive teaching environment encourages a receptivity in children that enables them to develop their self-awareness. Children are supported in becoming empowered while learning skillful responses and non-abusive ways to resolve emotional and social distress.

“Renaissance Adventures is a wonderful unique experience. As a teacher I really appreciate all that the children learn while having so much fun. As a parent I love the staff and how caring and concerned they are for the children.”

~ Jeff Hamilton, P.E. and Acting Teacher, September School, Boulder, Colorado

Emotional Safety

We believe that emotional safety is as important as physical safety. Quest Leaders act swiftly and compassionately to uphold physical and emotional safety. Each child is respected, and each child is invited to act with respect to all. We role model and teach the children how they can resolve conflicts without resorting to name-calling, taunts, or bullying. We never punish a child for their unsafe behavior, but we let them know what the potential consequences will be if they repeat their behavior.

At Renaissance Adventures we promote safety and respect through the use of a three-level strategy called Inspiring Invitations. The three levels of the strategy are the Heart-to-Heart Talk, the Safety Talk, and the Asking for Help Talk.

These strategies address boundaries and clearly communicate consequences (not “punishment”) to the children involved. The Quest Leader handles the first two levels of the discipline strategy. If the situation continues to the point of the “Asking for Help Talk,” the Quest Leader will usually ask a supervisor or the Director to become involved. Our goals are to act immediately for conflict resolution, to reestablish trust and a safe situation for all involved, and for the children to be comfortable and harmonious with the other Questers in the group.

The essence of the Heart-to-Heart Talk is to connect lovingly and firmly with a child so that they feel heard and respected, and so that they hear and understand what behavior is safe or unsafe, and what the needs are of all involved. The Quest Leader and the child make an agreement to act safely. If safety challenges persist after one to three Heart-to-Heart talks, then it’s time for a Safety Talk.

The essence of the Safety Talk is to clarify potential consequences for future unsafe actions, to monitor a child’s actions, and if need be, follow through with the consequences they have agreed on or have been warned about. Here is an example of a Safety Talk, “Joey, I know you’ve been trying very hard to duel safely with that Swasher long sword, and I know you’ve been practicing the safety tips I shared with you,  but this is the third time that you’ve tagged someone too hard. Smaller swashers generally tag lighter than long swashers like the one you are using. Would you like to try using a smaller Swasher? No? Well I need you to know that if you use the long sword unsafely one more time, I will need you to use this light dagger, until I am confident that you can use a long sword safely.” If safety challenges persist after two or three safety talks (each with a fair consequence), then it’s time for the Asking for Help talk.

The essence of the Asking for Help Talk is asking the child and others for help resolving the present challenge. If appropriate, the Quest Leader may ask the questing group, Site Supervisor, Director, and/or the child’s parents for help.

The Three Talks Strategy will be used immediately when anyone’s physical or emotional safety is at risk. A full description of the Inspiring Invitations Conflict Resolution Strategy is available upon request.

The Swasher™ as an Experiential Learning Tool

Renaissance Adventures employs the use of the Swasher – a teaching tool that children absolutely love. The safety rules are simple to learn, and are reinforced by the Quest Leaders. While our Swashers have been play-tested and designed with safety as the #1 priority, misuse can cause injury. We only allow Questers to play with the Swashers if they can do so safely. If you can any questions about Swashers, or if you are interested in purchasing, please call us at (303) 786-9216.

Swords are symbols that aid us in opening a gateway into the mythic realms, reflections of which are seen in the knights of King Arthur, the Quest for the Holy Grail, and in the archetype of the spiritual warrior. Children are inspired and excited by our safe foam Swasher swords. Children are only allowed to use the playful Swasher toys if they demonstrate they can do so safely and respectfully.

Swashers are a useful teaching tool for awakening in the youth a respect for physical safety and emotional boundaries, and an awareness and understanding of patterns of abuse and victimization. The use of Swashers also gives the Quest Leaders an opportunity to teach non-competition by addressing issues of competition that come up in the swordplay, and by guiding and role-modeling how to play fair, and how to be assertive while at the same time respectful and compassionate.

Swashers are only one component of Adventure Quest. When a child or teen embarks upon a quest, they face many diverse challenges – ethical, moral, social, mental, physical, etc. The Questers are the heroes of the quest, and are called upon to promote peace in the imaginary land of Orania. So-called “villains” in our quests are generally not “evil,” and morality is not portrayed in stereotypical “black and white.” Rather, the “villains” in Adventure Quest have complex motivations and goals, and astute Questers must puzzle out the true source of the problems to come up with compromises, negotiations, and creative solutions to the difficulties that the kingdoms are wrestling with. The kingdom’s problems are not generally able to be fixed by the swinging of a sword!