MOLI CURRICULUM

The MOLI Curriculum develops 'hard skills' (the physical skills that come from learning a particular activity) as well as 'soft skills’ (interpersonal and character-oriented skills) based around one Essential Question and four Core Values. For each Core Value there is a specific Learning Target. The following describes how these elements interact with each other to describe the greater goals of the program.

The Essential Question is the driving force behind why students participate in a SunDog Outdoor Expedition.  It really is what it sounds like: the essential idea that our program aims to answer for a child, or more importantly, the question that participants should answer for themselves. Bear in mind, this question is intentionally broad: there is no one answer to this question and every student’s experience could (and should) lead them on their own journey.

The Core Values are the beliefs we hold strongly at MOLI. They are the character traits we hope to foster in our participants.

Resiliency, Integrity, Confidence, Craftsmanship

The Learning Targets are statements of the Core Values using more specific, student-friendly terms. The program guides use these statements to focus their teaching and student learning. For example, a ‘soft skill’ learning target statement is: I can make the right choice, even when no one else is watching.” An example of a ‘hard skill’ learning target statement is: I can safely belay my partner, using clear communication.” The guides do not necessarily cover every Learning Target each time they meet with students. We hope that learning opportunities arise naturally and that students therefor work toward answering their own Essential Question over the course of the sessions. Guides will be transparent with these statements as they instruct and debrief the activity skills. It is helpful for students to know we intentionally designed these to help drive their experience, and the guides will use these statements and language as frequently as they think is needed to help students learn.

Essential Question

HOW CAN I BE MY BEST SELF, AND BE AN EFFECTIVE COMMUNITY MEMBER,
EVEN WHEN I FACE CHALLENGES IN THE WILDERNESS?

Core Values & Learning Targets

RESILIENCY

I can stick with a task, even when it is hard

CONFIDENCE

I can feel success by working with others to achieve a goal

CRAFTSMANSHIP

I can apply newly learned wilderness skills on an expedition
I can evaluate taking healthy and unhealthy risks

INTEGRITY

I can make the right choice, even when no one else is watching
I can take responsibility for my actions, good or bad