ARC Program Helps Teenagers Thrive

LAKE TAHOE, Sep. 3, 2007 (KGO) (KGO) -- A group of low income teenagers who've struggled with English are heading back to school this fall with a new determination to succeed. They have just finished an ambitious summer program that combines outdoor adventure with intensive academics.

These teenagers are playing a cooperative game. Helping each other climb over a wall in the wilderness. At the same time, they are learning about life.

"I have grown a lot, do so many things, oh my god, it's really cool," said Mara Lopez, 14-years-old.

The program is called "Adventure, Risk and Challenge," ARC for short.

ARC is a 40 day immersion program -- aimed at low income students who are learning English as a second language.

"They are not newcomers. They've been here and they are on the brink of being able to succeed and reach their goals. And so what we try to do with an enrichment program is bump them up to that next level and really send leaders back into the community," said Katie Zanto, program director.

ARC is based at the Sagehen Creek field station near Lake Tahoe. The Sagehen Forest is a spectacular 8,000 acre wilderness. Students get to fly through the air on a ropes course they go backpacking and kayaking. There are lots of team challenges so students experience success and learn to cope with failure. And through it all, there is constant English instruction, with a heavy dose of science thrown in too.

The day we were at camp, students were working on presentations about the watershed.

"You've got the little layers of peat that makes the fen," said Victor Martinez, 16-years-old.

"Erosion is when water runs off the land and carries all the sediment and dirt into the creek," said Eric Chen.

The program goes from 6:30 in the morning to 9:30 at night. Students sleep in tent cabins. Victor Martinez from Vallejo gave us a tour.

"You guys can come in. This is all our beds, I sleep on that side," said Victor Martinez.

Victor says it took some getting used to, but he loves ARC -- both the outdoor adventures and the academics.

"When I came here, the only thing I was able to do was talk slang. So I kinda cleaned up that and started using more words. We have this big worksheet of lots of huge words, complex words," said Victor Martinez.

This is the fourth year of the ARC program. Most of the students come from families where no one has ever gone to college. Many have grown up around gangs, violence and a culture of low expectations.

"Ever since I got here I heard, like the third day, people been commenting oh like 'good job, way to go.' I never had comments like that and it was kinda hard to accept it," said Victor Martinez.

ARC has had strong success improving students' English.

"They've been seeing about a two grade level gain in the summer school program," said Jeff Mizenko, instructor.

But the teenagers say their achievements have gone beyond just language. Eric Chen is from El Cerrito. He was extremely shy when he first got here.

"I'm the only Asian in this group and I've learned how to get along with different races of people and how to get involved in a group," said Eric Chen, 16-years-old.

"I've gotten to know every single person here and I understand where they are coming from and from that I've learned not to judge people," said Ruby Xochihua, 15-years-old.

"I used to have problems controlling my anger. I had like a hard time, I didn't know when I was gonna burst out," said Victor Martinez.

Victor says midway through the summer he started to change.

"I have like new strategies in ways I control myself," said Victor Martinez.

All the students attend ARC free. The program is paid for with community donations and grants. And when the kids get home in the fall, they each do a service project to give back to their own community.

"It's a good program that can stimulate your potential, and actually I came here and I found out who I truly am," said Eric Chen.

Terrific fun, with a life long impact.

ARC has been so successful that this summer the organizers launched a second camp in the Santa Barbara area. As you might imagine, the program requires constant fundraising. If you'd like to help or find out more - go to http://sagehen.ucnrs.org/arc/index.htm

Written and produced by Jennifer Olney

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