Ideas

The following is a list of some of the terminology and concepts related to Confluence

  • Confluence: Convergence on a theme; intellectual sharing; meeting, either in person or virtual

  • Onboarding

  • Launch

  • Flow: Ongoing projects in the community centered around environmental justice

  • Output: An outcome or product that demonstrates our commitment to local and global environmental issues; could be a phase of a continuing project or a final product that will stand on its own, as well as stewardship of Confluence itself

  • Watershed Moment: A final celebration, a culminating event; final meeting in which we reflect on where we’ve been and where we’re headed, as individuals, as a group, as a local community, and as a global society

  • Crew: As opposed to passenger, this term is borrowed from Kurt Hahn and the international Outward Bound movement of expeditionary learning and connotes one's individual commitment to serving others, including fellow Crew members

  • Partner School: A school that has committed resources, personnel, and students to the yearlong program

  • Liaison: A member of a Partner School community who works with students to integrate the learning experience of Confluence through coursework, co-curricular activity, mentorship, and logistical support

  • Community Mentor/Organization: An individual or entity that agrees to host and mentor a student or group of students in an ongoing project

  • Collaborator: An individual with specific expertise who helps to facilitate activity during any phase of Confluence and/or Flow

  • Contributor: An individual with specific expertise who agrees to share information and/or resources with a student or students in their research of topics

Modalities of exploration in Confluence

  • Place-based learning

  • Community-based learning

  • Project-based learning

  • Expeditionary learning

  • Experiential learning

  • 21st Century Skills

Themes and outcomes pertaining to Confluence

  • Global citizenship

  • Cultural competency

  • Environmental justice

  • Economic development and sustainability

  • Sense of place

  • Total environment

  • Phenomenology

  • Bioregional perspective

  • Local and global environment

  • Environmental literacy

  • Cultural liaisons

  • Diversity and inclusion

  • Intellectual inquiry

  • Design thinking

  • Understanding youth issues (civic engagement vs. apathy, nature deficit disorder, healthy recreation)

  • Heritage and stewardship

  • Clean watersheds and community pathways

  • Health and wellbeing

  • Social justice

  • Empathy

  • Etc.