Inquire

Founding Innovators Prepare at Base Camp

PIN Points

  • Base Camp ensures students, families, and faculty prepare for the journey ahead.

  • Wachusett Mountain provided an expansive backdrop for teams of students and adults to get to know one another through an ascent to the top of the mountain, outdoor games, and a hands-on human-centered design experience.

  • We leave with a true sense of shared community, with the rare opportunity to co-create and develop NEIA together.

Preparing for a rigorous climb or multi-day hike requires agility and endurance. Hikers prepare for weeks, months, and even years before setting off on a strenuous journey. As they set foot on the site of their climb, teams generally converge at a base camp, an informal campsite used as a staging and preparation area.

At NEIA, we recognize the journey ahead and prepare students and families at a Base Camp of our own. We held our inaugural Base Camp event at Mount Wachusett, the highest point in Massachusetts. Wachusett Mountain is a popular ski resort, but this time of year base is lush and green, making way for hikers and outdoor enthusiasts. The summit provides outstanding views of Mount Monadnock in the North, Mount Greylock to the West, and Boston to the East. The location was ideal for having Founding Innovators meet each other, meet our faculty, and build community.

Students broke into teams and set off to participate in a range of activities. There were opportunities to meet and learn names, outdoor games like corn hole and KanJam, short hikes, and an ascent to the Wachusett summit on the Skyride. As students met, they forged bonds and conversation flowed.

Meanwhile, parents and guardians learned about human-centered design, a cornerstone of NEIA’s curriculum, and its purpose in building empathy.

We hear a lot about the importance of empathy and compassion, but when we need it most, we tend to come up short. Many people consider empathy a soft skill β€” one that we perhaps pick up along the way or learn in kindergarten. But that’s often not the case. We need practice, and practicing empathy is accomplished through human-centered design.

An opportunity to practice human-centered design involves interviewing and meeting with stakeholders. With this new understanding, we encouraged the adults to meet with students for quick interviews and design something meaningful for them. They broke into groups and interviewed students to create a sign that would symbolize what brought them to NEIA and make them feel a sense of pride upon seeing it. Through the interview process, they built empathy by understanding students as individuals, learning about their hopes for the future, any challenges they may be facing, and their interests and activities. Like any new challenge, the exercise was uncomfortable and awkward initially, but teams quickly got to know each other and the students. Then, they set to work designing, iterating, and testing ideas to create a sign that students would enjoy.

Later in the day, students had a chance to experience the same activity and created signs representing their journey in coming to NEIA. After an outdoor barbecue lunch, students and families had an opportunity to see all of the signs on display to reflect on the experience.

While one day cannot fully prepare everyone for the weeks and months ahead, it was an important step in building community and making connections. Our students, their families, and our faculty now have an opportunity to stay in touch and continue to build bonds over the summer months in anticipation of joining us on campus in September!

hello.neia

The latest from
NEIA on Instagram

Follow

Thank you, @classdismissedpodcast , for hosting Ben Farrell, Assistant Head of School & Director of Upper School, to discuss the potential of generative AI in the classroom. At NEIA, we're always looking for innovative ways to prepare our students for the future, and incorporating AI technology is just one of them. By embracing generative AI, we can provide our students with valuable skills and insights into this rapidly evolving field. Let's shape the future of education together! Link in bio. #youreaninnovator #generativeai #education #innovation ...

πŸ“£ It is Club Wednesday at New England Innovation Academy (NEIA), and our fantastic Entrepreneurship Club is back in the spotlight with a special feature by the Boston Globe. πŸ“° (link in bio)

At NEIA, our students engage in an experiential and integrated curriculum, tackling real-world problems head-on to prepare them for college and beyond. πŸ’ͺπŸŽ“

The Entrepreneurship Club has been hard at work transforming the mall experience with their inventive ideas. This dynamic group exemplifies the power of hands-on learning, creativity, and teamwork. 🌟🀝

Curious about what makes NEIA unique? It's our focus on innovation, entrepreneurship, and empowering future leaders. πŸŒπŸš€

Don't miss the opportunity to join our vibrant community! We're accepting applications for grade 6-12 innovators for the fall 2023 semester. β³πŸ“š

Learn more and apply today! πŸ“βœ¨

#youreaninnovator #innovation #entrepreneurship #mallredesign #youthempowerment #futureleaders
...

🌟🎭 Get ready for a magical experience at NEIA! 🎭🌟

Mark your calendars for April 21-22, as "PUFFS, or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic" takes the stage at The Space! βœ¨πŸ“†

It's just a few short weeks before our talented cast and crew of 30+ students from grades 7-11 bring this enchanting tale to life! πŸŒŸπŸ§™β€β™€οΈ

PUFFS is not your ordinary wizarding story but a heartwarming adventure of those who were there, too. It's a must-see for anyone who's ever felt like they weren't the chosen one. πŸ’–πŸŒˆ

Stay tuned for show and ticket details – this is one magical event you won't want to miss! πŸŽŸοΈπŸ‘€

#youreaninnovator #springplay #magic #communityevent #thespace #savethedate
...

PURSUE YOUR DREAMS AND SHAPE A BETTER WORLD

Join the next generation of innovators here at NEIA (grades 6-12). Fill out this form and we’ll keep you informed of future events and updates. We also recommend scheduling a middle school or upper school visit to see our school in action.