General
Where is the camp?
The camp is located 20 minutes West of Rocky Mountain House.
In-City Programs are run in Edmonton. The program activities take place at different locations throughout the week. An information package including drop off and pick up locations will be sent to you prior to your program.
Can you accommodate special dietary needs?
The camp runs a nut-free kitchen and can cater to most types of diets including celiac, dairy free, vegan, vegetarian and most religious diets. For halal or kosher, we request that you bring your own meat. An extra fee applies for special dietary requests such as celiac, dairy-free and vegan. If you have any questions, please contact mas@progressiveacademy.ca.
Registration
What is the registration deadline?
There is no deadline on registration. Due to the small group sizes, sessions will fill up very quickly so it is recommended that you complete your registration as early as possible. Keep in mind that there will be online course work to be done for all sessions that must be done prior to attending camp. Registrations after the course work due date may still be accepted, but will be done on an individual basis. The course work will still be required to be completed.
What are the entrance criteria?
Due to the condensed length of these courses, the learning environment is fast-paced and students are required to have strong reading and writing skills. Because it is an intense program, it is not recommended for students with a history of severe anxiety, depression or learning disabilities. If you are unsure about the fit of the program for your needs, please contact mas@progressiveacademy.ca prior to registration to discuss your learning needs.
What is the payment policy?
Registrations are accepted on a first come, first served basis. A $300.00 deposit is required following acceptance of your application. The balance will be due at the end of March. Payment plans are possible upon request. Once registration has been accepted and confirmed, the withdrawal policy is in effect.
What is the withdrawal policy?
Notice of withdrawal must be received in writing. Withdrawals received within 14 days of acceptance and more than 30 days from program start date will receive a full refund. Withdrawals received more than 14 days after acceptance and more than 30 days from the start date are subject to a $100 withdrawal fee. There are no refunds if the cancellation notice is received less than 30 days prior to the program start date.
What are the Parent Information sessions?
A parent information session will be held at Progressive Academy in early June. Details regarding the presentation will be emailed to registrants at the end of April. The parent information sessions provide valuable information regarding the program, the facility, staff, safety, and packing for the trip.
What do I need before attending?
When registering for MAS, you will be asked to complete an online medical form, and to read and sign the terms and conditions. Once registration has been accepted, you will be emailed an Assumption of Risk form that must be completed and signed by a parent/guardian and the participant, and returned to Progressive Academy. We will also require a copy of the student’s birth certificate and most recent report card from the school they are currently attending. Online course work will be released at the beginning of May with details regarding what must be completed prior to attending camp.
Equipment
What should I remember to bring?
Mountain Camps: An equipment list will be available on the website and a copy will be sent to you in advance of your program. Please ensure that you follow the equipment list and arrive with enough clothes to last one week. Student staying with us for two weeks will do their laundry at the end of the first week of camp – bring toonies and laundry soap!
Students may choose to bring a small amount of spending money for our pro-shop, or gas-station stops along our adventures!
In-City Program: A daily equipment list will be sent to you in your information package. On a daily basis you will need rain gear, outer layers depending on the weather, a water bottle, lunch, a notebook and a pencil/pen.
HeLa Pro-Shop
We have a pro-shop with ball-caps, toques, sweaters, T-shirts, and other goodies. All purchases may be paid for with cash or e-transfer.
An online store will be available to assist you with the purchase of merchandise and other outdoor gear that you will need, at an affordable price!
What should I not bring?
Do not bring knives or any snacks containing nuts. Smoking, vaping, alcohol or any form of recreational drugs are not allowed.
Mountain Adventure School is not liable for any lost/stolen items – pack only what you need.
Do I need to bring my own tent?
We provide high quality tents for all out trip programs. Please do not bring your own tent.
Can I bring my own bike?
MAS provides quality mountain bikes for everyone to participate in the program. Please contact the Program Director if you wish to bring your own bike. Please note, we do not have room to transport personal bikes to and from the camp. You will need to arrange your own transportation should you wish to bring your own bike.
Curriculum
Why is there pre-course work for each program?
Part of the course work needs to be completed at home as it requires online research. The online component allows us to ensure all curriculum outcomes are met that are difficult to present and complete in a camp environment. The amount of online work is minimal for the full camps.
What material is covered in the pre-course work?
Please see the Course Work Summary for your program. The summaries outline all of the courses required for each section of the camp.
When will teachers be able to help for pre-course work?
Teacher will be available to assist you as you complete your online course work. You can expect regular check-ins from your teacher for each online course you are completing to ensure you are on track with the due dates for assignments. Teachers will be available by email once you have received your login information for the online system.
How do school credits get earned?
Mountain Adventure School is just that: a school.
Normal school rules apply. In order to earn credits, the student must complete and pass each course.
Upon completion of all course work at the end of the summer school session, marks are uploaded to the student’s official transcripts. These marks will not be available through your home school board system (ie School Zone) but will be visible on your Alberta High School Transcript.
Feedback is provided as the students learn. For online courses, feedback for each assignment can be viewed through the online portal. Students may respond on the portal to any feedback given and ask questions through email.
For the Mountain Camps, a debrief session will be a part of the final day. Marks received for the courses completed during the Mountain Camp will be presented at that time. Assessments during the Mountain Camp are based on a continuous evaluation model. Any concerns regarding learning will be discussed as they occur and students may ask for feedback at any time. Parents will be notified early should there be any issues.
Camp Life
What is the supervision like?
We pride ourselves in providing the safest environment possible. All our instructors are highly trained in their fields. Student to Instructor ratios vary according to the activity, ratios always meet or exceed industry standards.
What’s a typical day at camp?
Camp: Students are awoken at 8:00 AM and are active throughout the day. There are instructional hours, and “down time”, where students have free time to reflect on their learning. Students end daily activities at around 9:30 PM and have lights out at 10:00 PM. This is a general guideline but changes day to day! We gauge active times and reflection/down times based on the students’ energy levels, and the environment. Our goal is to make learning FUN!
In-City Program: Most days our day camps operate from 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM. The Wilderness Living Skills day is longer and runs from 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM. Students prepare an outdoor dinner for themselves during this day. A complete package will be sent to you prior to your In-City program that outlines exact times and locations for each day.
What is the policy regarding behaviour?
There is no smoking, vaping, drinking or drug use allowed at MAS. Students are expected to behave well at all times, and any incidents that affect the well-being of another student or the group (including verbal and physical bullying) can result in expulsion, at which point parents are called to pick up the student. MAS is a program that depends on the students cooperating to maintain a safe environment. Any behaviour that jeopardizes this will not be tolerated and will be dealt with quickly. There will be no refunds for students sent home for behavioural reasons.