Show your unhappy teen the Aerie College fun alternative

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We know these things about high school students:-

• SA law says a young person must attend school to age 17years
• For about 40% of those who enter high school, the learning options offered do not hold their attention and they seek other activities, sometimes very disruptive or illegal. Some of these young ones are brilliant, bored with the school offerings and become disruptive just to create a bit of fun and excitement to relieve the boredom.
• Some are born with or collect a disability on their flight path.
• Some young people are not living in a happy supportive homes. They want out and have nowhere to go. 
• Some leave home, wander the streets, couch surf and generally take up a destructive flight path.
• Others give up on life, do not dare to leave home, become severely depressed and are potential candidates for suicide.

These young people who find themselves in a difficult place are our target group. We help them towards a better flight path. A full-time special assistance boarding college "reboot" is our key to helping unhappy students with team living and adventures.

All new students participate in a series of houseboating expeditions during the introduction semester.

The Aerie River Campus is in Murray River houseboats with all students living in two share cabins under the general supervision of a teacher qualified Boat Master (or couple). Some of the ten weeks will be wilderness camping in swag tents on a  kayak expedition followed by the Aerie Houseboat. The boat group develops a living team, all with the responsibilities of a large supportive family. The incubation program is designed to challenge, to take them out of their comfort zone. We believe most young people will accept the challenge and continue in our SACE-VET programs with great success and move on into advanced Vocational skills development.

The curriculum is designed to fit within the SACE requirements but is very different in learning style, sometimes on the boat, sometimes on Kayaks, and sometimes out and about in the river communities and workspaces. 

We encourage Outward Bound and Duke of Ed program participation.

Cabin partners work, share and maintain a sleeping cabin together They are rostered for peer service cookery and housekeeping. The full-boat team works on planning, shopping and boat work. 

All work on the Individual SACE Tasks program AND we all have River Fun.

The Boat Master teacher is in command of the boat & crew.

There is a high-level skill in maintaining a close friendship over many years. We spend considerable time developing these essential skills. Partners come and go. We consider how to safely break a partnership when necessary. 

True friends and partners are there forever. You can never own them. 

They are just there.

You might find one here with us.

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