Since 1995, Renaissance Adventures has run exciting and fulfilling experiential education programs for youth.  In our quests and programs, we believe in a holistic, non-authoritarian approach to the development and education of the participants. See also Our Teaching Philosophy.

Experiential Education Outcomes of Quest Programs 

Experiential education makes learning more engaging and relevant, fostering a greater sense of ownership and motivation. At Renaissance Adventures, challenges and lessons are embedded in a highly motivating adventure—a quest with an epic scope that surpasses movies and video games. Unlike video games and other passive media, our active, outdoor quests promote physical, mental, social, emotional, and ethical development through active play. Furthermore, our skilled instructors offer individualized attention and improvise scenarios to complement the group’s skills, needs, and interests.

Besides being incredibly fun, Adventure Quest programs help participants in a variety of areas:

• Critical Thinking

  Students develop and practice critical thinking and problem-solving skills throughout their mythic adventure. For instance, when the plot or characters of the story take an unexpected turn, participants must puzzle through a solution that is not readily obvious.

• Teamwork

  Challenges within the story are often daunting, and the group is only successful when they work together as a team, utilizing the strengths of each individual.

• Social Development

  Motivations of characters within each story are complex, and when the participants interact with these personalities in a genuine way, they come to understand how to communicate in a positive way.

• Conflict Resolution

  Students are often presented with scenarios of conflict that can only be resolved when an agreement can be made, whether it be between two great nations or a household of bickering siblings. Because the participants hold their swashers in hand, they always have the option of handling conflict with more conflict; when this strategy fails, it allows them to learn from their mistakes and address conflict in a more inspiring way.

• Imagination and Creativity

  Through an interactive story, with scenes and monsters and realms described by a brilliant storyteller, the stage is set for creative expression and imaginative exploration.

• Responsible Empowerment

  Roleplaying games allow participants to choose their actions in a safe environment.  When a goal is reached or a challenge is overcome by the participants’ actions, the children realize that they can overcome other situations in their own lives.

• Skills, Education, and Training

  Within the quest, the leaders have opportunities to teach skills that help campers succeed in their adventures. Knowledge of mathematics helps one group pass through a magically trapped corridor filled with a number pattern; cryptograms scribbled on a pirate’s map test language abilities; making a real-life debris shelter teaches kids what they can do in the wilderness… the list goes on.