Overview

Synergia offers two types of programs, Open Enrollment Programs, and Custom/School Programs. Open enrollment refers to programs that anyone can apply for to participate, within age guidelines and requirements. Open enrollment is distinct from custom or group programs in which an established group forms the whole of the participants and the program is not open to anyone outside of that group, class, organization.

The approach to learning and the kind of education practiced at Synergia Learning Ventures is described on the Philosophy page. The actual programs we offer are described in general below. For detailed descriptions of current open enrollment programs scheduled, go to the Schedule . To read about our programs in more detail, visit the links above.   

TYPES OF OPEN ENROLLMENT PROGRAMS

The Youth in Conservation Programs: Designed for high school age students, we focus on building leadership skills, understanding a place, and practicing activism and education through media and technology.  

The Adventure Course: Designed for youth ages 10 and up, the purpose of the Adventure Course is to make friends while adventuring together in remote and beautiful places, engaged in exciting and challenging activities.

CUSTOM SCHOOL PROGRAMS:

School Trips: Programs are structured with attention to our four strands: Adventure Challenge, Service Learning, Social Development, and Field Study. The specific curriculum is designed to incorporate other aspects of learning, such as history of place, stewardship, and youth media. A program is designed that is especially suited to the class as a whole and that will result in a class trip that will have relevance to the current needs and studies of the class, as well as serving to strengthen social bonds, leadership and class unity. 

 Challenge Ropes Course: The ropes course program at Synergia is well known for its excellent facilitation and state-of-the-art course construction. Set in a secluded grove of Ponderosa Pines, the High and Low Ropes Course is created for groups of all types.

Family Programs. It may look as though Synergia only offers programs for youth. In fact, we have designed and led programs for families for over a decade. Synergia acknowledges the sacredness of family, and sees the need for families to adventure together to strengthen bonds and understanding. See the schedule page for listings of open enrollment family programs, or contact us to design a custom program for the families in your life.

Youth Media. Synergia’s youth media projects are a vital and integral part of many programs and projects, particularly the Youth in Conservation programs. Synergia is breaking new ground by taking youth and technology into the wilderness and into the field, interviewing and recording - while we are adventuring – and then producing radio and film documentaries.

Synergia has three documentary films to its credit, the award winning "Dude, Where’s My River?" a student exploration of Hetch Hetchy, produced in 2004;  Cache Creek "Wild and Scenic" which helped to pass legislation to protect a beautiful river in Northern California, and Awakening the Bear River, an exploation of the many faces of the Bear River. Available from Green Planet Films. We highly recommend these inspiring films for classroom and home viewing.