Earth Art – Alayne

This is a muddy, rugged, time consuming, and hysically demanding art experience.  Camp out in the wilderness, while you learn how to dig for natural clay, mix clay using your feet, create natural ceramic forms and slips, build an outdoor kiln, build and maintain a consistent fire, and more.  We will also build large scale installation sculptures out of natural found materials, create natural pigments for painting, plus partake in some fine campfire culinary arts, and more.  If you enjoy nature art, then you will love this new perspective on it.  You must be willing to get out there with the mud between your toes and camp out in the rain or sunshine

Hiking around Anchorage – Bob

Grade Level:            8-12

Course Length: Intensive

One of the best parts of living in Alaska is the ability to enjoy the outdoors. One of the best parts of living in Anchorage is the fact that nature is literally minutes away. We will be taking advantage of this during our intensive. We will be exploring the trails in our own backyard through day hikes and adventures.

Credit Count: P.E. or Elective credit

Service Learning Intensive
Grade Level: 7-12
Credit: .25 Elective
Instructor: Danielle

Students in this intensive will participate in volunteer projects for several different organizations and will learn about the social issues that give rise to the need for those organizations. Some of the topics we will explore are hunger, homelessness, poverty, domestic violence and environmental issues. We will also explore the question of what it means to lead a civically engaged life through discussion and reflection on our volunteer experiences as well as through readings on topics in civic activity. This intensive is open to both middle and high school students, and a high level of maturity and a willingness to reflect, write, and discuss is expected.

Pyrography – Gerald

This will be a studio art intensive based upon the art of pyrography.

Pyrography is the art of decorating wood or other materials with burn marks
resulting from the controlled application of a heated object such as a
poker. Pyrography means “writing with fire” and is the traditional art of
using a heated tip or wire to burn or scorch designs onto natural materials
such as wood or leather.

Credit: Elective                    Cost: $50

Jen, Leigh Anne, Natalie

Fall Intensive, 2011-12

Class:  Disorientation

Grade Level:            7-12 (New to Steller Students Only)

Prerequisite:             New to Steller (or started during semester 2 of this year)

Course Length: 2 Weeks

This intensive will get all new students good and ready to have an awesome first year at Steller.  Students will learn the ins and outs of what Steller is all about.  Activities will include:  Games, Discussions, Sports, Mini-Intensives, Personal Projects and much, much more.  Students will be working in small groups with a variety of teachers and experienced Steller Students.

Credit Count: Elective Elective .25

CyberFair (9-12)

Instructor: Jennifer

Credit Count:  .25 Language Arts Elective or .25 Social Studies Elective

Description

We will participate in an award-winning and White House-endorsed program  called “International Schools CyberFair” sponsored by Global SchoolNet, a non-profit education organization that “encourages youth to become community ambassadors by working collaboratively and using technology to share what they have learned.” (globalschoolnet.org) Last year’s theme (2011) was “Take Action and Unite!” We will be researching, writing, and collaboratively publishing a website around this year’s theme (2012) yet to be announced. Besides the creation of our website entry, we will interview leaders and activist involved in the theme we have chosen. Students from around the globe participate in this competition. This will require a parent/guardian signed “ASD Online Tools Collaboration Users Agreement.” An announcement from the State Department:

State Department Announces “Doors to Diplomacy” 2011 Web Project Competition for Middle School and High School Students

Media Note

Office of the Spokesman

Washington, DC

October 18, 2010

The Department of State and the Global SchoolNet Foundation announce the 2011 “Doors to Diplomacy” award competition, recognizing the student-created Global SchoolNet Web projects that best teach others about the importance of international affairs and diplomacy.

To qualify, middle school and high school students will work in small teams with teacher-coaches. Projects must be completed by March 16, 2011, and winners will be announced in May 2011. Every team that enters a project will receive a special “Doors to Diplomacy” certificate recognizing their achievement. Each student member of the two winning teams – one American and one international – will also receive a $2,000 scholarship, and the winning coaches’ schools will each receive a $500 cash award.

Jiu-Jitsu and Self-Defense

Instructor: Philip

Grade Level: 9-12, other age groups upon approval.

Costs: TBA:  $100 ?

Prerequisites: none. Students must provide a mouth guard.

Description: Brazilian Jiu-jitsu is a grappling martial art based upon the use of proper technique and leverage to defend ones self against assailants. BJJ is used for self-defense and for sport grappling.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu   is a martial art and a self-defense system that focuses on grappling and especially ground grappling. The art was derived from the Japanese martial art of Kodokan judo in the early 20th century.

BJJ teaches that a smaller, weaker person can successfully defend against a bigger, stronger assailant by using leverage and proper technique—most notably by applying joint locks and chokes to defeat the other person. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu training can be used for sport grappling tournaments (gi and no-gi) or self defense. Sparring (commonly referred to as ‘rolling’) and live drilling play a major role in training.

Jiu-Jitsu is a contact sport. Students will get bumps and bruises and may be sore from physical exertion. Students will participate in yoga, proper stretching techniques, drilling of jiu-jitsu positions, and then the application of these techniques in live rolling.  Self-defense techniques will also be discussed and performed.

Cooking intensives

Peer Taught
Cooking & Baking Intensive- Kari Pedersen & Svetlana

This intensive is a fun way to learn how to cook and bake.  The course includes the basic knowledge of nutritional value of the products, safety in the kitchen information, and the history of cooking. The assignments vary from:
“Survival cooking: Get ready for college:”
“Invent your own cooking technique”
“Cooking with the movies”,
“Present your cooking show.”
The class will spend plenty of time in the kitchen making and enjoying lots of delicious food.

Credit: Elective
Fee:  depends on the cost of the dish the students are making.

Troy’s

August Intensive 2011

Frolf

Grade Level: 7-12                                                                        Course Length: 2 weeks

Participants will need to bring their own frolf discs. The minimum would be a driver and a putter. If you do not already own your own frolf discs it would probably cost you about $20.00 to purchase some discs.  I am also open to discussion on traveling to the courses by bicycle.

Frolf is an inexpensive sport that students can enjoy for a lifetime. It involves long walks while keeping your mind engaged on the activity. You get to enjoy the outdoors and at the same time lively interaction with friends while developing a skill that will always need more fine-tuning. You can always work towards a personal best.

Participants will be given instruction on several ways to throw the discs and will practice through active participation in the game. There will be field trips daily to several courses of campus. I will need parent volunteers to assist in the transportation of students and also to help with the supervision on the course.

Credit Count: P.E.

Denali National Park/Resurrection Trail Intensive

Join us this August for some backpacking and hiking in Denali National Park and the legendary Resurrection Trail on the Kenai Peninsula. Late summer is prime time for wildlife viewing and berry picking in Alaska as the animals are busy getting ready for the coming winter and the berry plants give up the last of summer’s bounty to those willing to seek it.

We’ll spend three nights in Denali National Park and return to Anchorage late on Saturday, August 20th. We will then take a two-day break before heading down to the Kenai Peninsula for a three-night stay on the Resurrection Trail.

This trip is designed for students who are healthy, in good shape, and have backcountry experience and access to their own gear, including proper fitting boots and backpacks, cooking equipment, and backpacking tents.

We will be teaming up with the folks in Denali National Park to provide you with a great educational experience as well. We will have access to rangers with extensive knowledge and expertise in all things Denali.

If you’re willing to endure a little time away from the comforts of home to take in the treats of the Alaska late summer wilderness, this intensive is for YOU!

Fees are yet to be determined