Campus Life
Although KidsPeace Academy at Orchard Hills
students must work hard to achieve their treatment and educational
goals, there is still time in their busy schedules to relax, exercise,
read, make new friends, take supervised trips off campus, visit with
family members, watch television and participate in extra-curricula
activities. Among the features that contribute to students’ healing and
self esteem are:
- More than 250 acres of land for hiking, nature walks and peaceful contemplation
- A ropes course that teaches self esteem and builds trust with fellow students
- An Olympic size indoor swimming pool that serves to provide exercise,
fun and the opportunity to become competitive swimmers
- A cycling team that competes in races at the nationally respected Veladrome in nearby Fogelsville
- A workout room to help students stay fit and redirect excess energy
- An indoor running track and racquetball court
- A gospel choir that performs for fellow students, visitors and special events
- A step dance team that entertains guests, other students and attendees at events on and off campus
- A bell choir that provides peaceful music to fellow students and visitors
- Opportunities to participate in local teams that compete in football,
baseball, softball, track, swimming, soccer and cycling leagues
- Participation in environmental projects that are competitive among
local school districts and regularly result in awards for KidsPeace Academy teams.
Community Service
An
important component of life at KidsPeace Academy at Orchard Hills is
involvement in community service. We believe that learning to assist
others and the feeling of inner satisfaction that comes from
volunteerism is vital to healing and self-esteem. Our students are
given many opportunities to help others locally and on a national and
international basis. Among our community service efforts are:
- Raising money for various organizations through bake sales, car washes,
dinners, sponsorships for walkathons, hoagie sales, etc.
- Volunteering at food distribution centers to sort and pack boxes of food and carry the supplies out to cars
- Participating in township cleanup days and highway beautification efforts
- Visiting nursing homes to bond with and entertain residents
- Assisting at church fundraisers by serving meals and helping with cleanup
- Setting up book sales for the American Association of University Women (AAUW)
- Helping with the grooming and care of farm and therapy animals
- Assisting with the training of guide dogs
- Sending letters and packages to US soldiers stationed abroad
- Forming teams to raise money and walk for such causes as cancer,
autism, suicide prevention and community members who are severely ill
or injured
- Participating in campus recycling efforts
- Collecting items for victims of hurricanes and other natural disasters.
Spirituality
Students at the KidsPeace Academy at Orchard Hills are presented with many opportunities to participate in religious and spirituality activities. Religious services are offered to any who would care to participate. Visitors make presentations to interested students about various religions to plant the seeds of greater understanding and acceptance of different cultures and belief systems. Church volunteers visit the campus to mentor and spend time with our teens. Students can take part in Seders, Muslim and Christian services, African spiritual activities and a variety of other discussions hosted by volunteers. Members of local churches visit with our teens to be mentors, play basketball and model the importance of reaching out to others and forming trusting relationships with adults. There are Bible study groups, singing groups, a bell choir and spirituality teachers who are there for students whenever they are needed. Participation in all religious and spirituality activities is totally voluntary.
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