ABOUT
Core Values
ACADEMICS
World Class Academy is first and foremost an academic institution with a goal of instilling in our students a lifelong passion for learning, creative problem solving, and critical thinking. World Class believes that it should provide an education extending far beyond the normal high school curriculum, by teaching motivated students in challenging and stimulating environments. A WCA education prepares its students for college and a wealth of experiences over the course of their lifetime. WCA’s small class sizes allow us to adapt the learning environment to respond both to students’ needs and to the unique aspects of the places where we travel. Connecting education and experience allows students to obtain fundamental academic skills taught in traditional institutions, and to reinforces these skills through practice in a variety of contexts. Our teachers facilitate rigorous, individualized education, which emphasizes active student participation in the learning process.
MENTORING & LIFE SKILLS
One of the main goals of WCA is to enrich young lives by providing learning experiences that help students develop in character, as well as academically and athletically. The relationships students develop as they navigate unfamiliar environments and push past their own social, athletic, and intellectual limits provide support for their growth. With their mentors, students are encouraged to reflect regularly on their growth as athletes, students, and human beings. With their mentor group, students collaborate to provide meals for their peers, maintain living areas, and provide general support to each other.
Mentoring and the development of life skills happen on many levels at WCA. Through these processes, students develop an understanding of themselves, their place in the community, and their capacity to continue growing and learning.
SAFETY
World Class views safety as an integral component to the success of its programs. Kayaking is a unique sport because of the inherent dangers associated with the unpredictability of mother nature. We rigorously prepare our students and staff to proactively address the hazards unique to kayaking, giving them the instruction necessary for quick and efficient response to emergency situations. Staff are required to meet industry-standard safety protocols, with a strong emphasis on ongoing training in safety and risk management. WCA itself is a family as well as a fixture in the community; therefore the protection of its loved ones instills a sense of mutual responsibility among administration, staff, students, and families.
TEAM
World Class has adopted a team approach to athletic training in kayaking, a sport that is perceived as an individual endeavor. WCA believes that through commitment to a team, students grow athletically and gain insights that extend beyond the sport itself. Team development is strategic, beginning with assembling a group of instructors and students who are passionate about their sport and about life. Being part of a team that is centered around a dynamic and challenging sport helps students understand the value of working together and of making sacrifices that serve the community as a whole. Though the group process is sometimes demanding, a tightly knit & supportive group develops while students and staff travel, train, learn and live with one another.
ATHLETICS
WCA’s primary mission is to provide highly skilled young people with the opportunity to train intensively, while at the same time receiving a quality high school education. WCA believes that kayakers are athletes, and seeks to provide its athletes with a rare opportunity: to dedicate themselves to the sport about which they are passionate, and develop their skills to the best of their abilities. A primary reason why both faculty and students are attracted to WCA is because participants have the opportunity to test their limits through healthy competition in which sportsmanship is emphasized as a way to increase cooperation and facilitate team building. Athletic training provides students with practice in life skills--such as dedication, patience, failing forward, self-reflection, overcoming obstacles--that apply to other parts of life.
WCA strives to provide the most demanding training opportunities that the students can safely handle, although it also is important that individual skill levels be adapted to the overall abilities and desires of the group. World Class is committed to training its students in a safe and supportive manner, and instilling in them values that will translate into responsible paddling once they have left the program.
TRAVEL & ADVENTURE
Students returning from a WCA semester often feel that the experience has had a powerful, positive effect on their lives. This feeling is not only related to kayaking, climbing or kiting, but also to the other demanding aspects of the program, such as stress induced by new cultural & social experiences, the difficulties of travel in a foreign country, and harsh environmental conditions. Because students change their surroundings frequently, and often confront new and difficult situations – such as paddling in unfamiliar conditions, or struggling to communicate in a foreign language – they constantly are being challenged to operate outside of their comfort zones and adapt to novel, stressful situations. These situations, rather than detracting from the WCA experience, actually provide a wonderful opportunity for students to mature and become more responsible, caring, and confident global citizens. Through travel, WCA students build empathy, broaden their perspectives, and connect with the people and places of the world in authentic and meaningful ways.
CULTURE
Exposure to a broad range of people and cultures is fundamental to the World Class experience. The WCA community itself is diverse, with an international student body and faculty, which naturally supports a multi-dimensional school culture. Through travel to unfamiliar places, students also interact with people and communities whose experiences are significantly different from their own. WCA believes that providing opportunities for young people to interact with people from different cultures provides them with new and valuable perspectives that lead to a deeper, more compassionate view of the world.
COMMUNITY
Because the health and vibrancy of our interrelated communities is so important to us all, WCA seeks to provide its students with positive values related to community--such as empathy, leadership, collaboration, kindness, and stewardship--through direct experience and exposure to positive role models. WCA students and families become connected with broader kayaking communities that extend to people and organizations around the world. Sharing a sense of common humanity, and the importance of right action and community service on local and global levels, students learn to maximize their positive impact on the places they visit, and to develop a sense of membership within the broader community.
SERVICE & STEWARDSHIP
World Class students and teachers seek to immerse themselves in the cultures of the places we visit, rather than simply living and traveling as tourists. A key component of this process is giving back to the local communities, rather than taking advantage of what each destination has to offer without reciprocating. This includes practicing “Leave-no-Trace” ethics; seeking positive interactions with local people; and traveling with the intention of contributing in meaningful ways to our host communities.
By having a positive impact on the social and ecological environment, WCA seeks to raise awareness for important issues and to demonstrate its commitment to community service and environmental stewardship. This philosophy of service creates a balance between aspects of the WCA program focused on the students’ own interests and supporting our destination communities. By doing so, we hope to demonstrate how it is possible to do something that one loves, while at the same time engaging in global civility.
EMPATHY & RESPECT
Quality relationships are what holds WCA together at all levels of the experience. This includes relationships among students; between students, faculty, administration & parents; between students/staff and members of the communities we visit; and between members of our organization and the natural world. As we move through the world as WCA ambassadors, we acknowledge that respect and empathy are fundamental to all of our interactions. By engaging with empathy and respect for ourselves, each other, and our environment, we improve our shared experience, thus making our world more humane, equitable, and peaceful.
FAQ
Is a World Class Academy education equal to a traditional high school education?
World Class Academy meets or exceeds the scholastic benchmarks that are in place for college preparatory high schools. Our courses are enriched with the unique experiences gained through traveling the world. Students graduating from World Class Academy have an advantage because their education is backed by real-life experiences, greater independence, and immersion in diverse cultures.
How good at kayaking do I have to be?
Students do not have to be world class paddlers when they enter the program, that will happen after they get here. WCKA accepts kayakers who have a solid roll, a good spirit, and a desire to paddle amazing whitewater around the world. Potential and desire are more important than a long list of accomplishments.
Basic skills for acceptance to World Class include:
– Solid Roll (both sides)
– Strong Current Ferry
– Eddy Turn
– Controlled Front Surf
– Controlled Side Surf
WCA highly recommends that all students maintain a current Swiftwater Rescue Technician or Whitewater Rescue Technician certification either through an accredited program (ACA or Rescue 3) or through World Class’s preseason training. This training is provided in-house at the beginning of each semester and is required for enrolled students who wish to paddle Class IV and higher whitewater.
Is WCA for everybody?
World Class Academy maintains a thorough application process to ensure a cohesive group atmosphere and positive peer interaction. Students need to be adequately prepared for the challenge of living on their own. World Class is not a program for students with behavioral issues.
How long does the normal student attend?
Students attend World Class Academy for a minimum of 1 semester or a maximum of 4 years. The average attendance at the academy is 1 year, with many students attending for a single semester or several weeks at a time during Summer Sessions.
How much does it cost?
Semesters at WCKA cost $25,500 and our annual tuition rate is $47,500. Scholarships are available for all programs. If you would like to receive information on the current year's scholarship application process, please contact us.
Financial Aid, scholarship, acceptance?
WCKA offers a variety of scholarships and aid to families with financial need and a clear dedication to WCKA's mission. A family may apply for a scholarship at the same time they apply for acceptance to World Class Academy. All scholarship awards are funded through partnerships with industry sponsors, fundraisers, and private donors who provide assistance for WCKA students. For more information, contact us personally to discuss what level of support may be available.
Do you offer AP classes?
The value of AP coursework is well recognized for academically motivated students and our faculty work to facilitate students on this track in two ways. World Class Academy offers AP courses in the mathematics and science departments. These courses are aimed at driven students who are self-motivated and inspired by a challenge. AP testing occurs in late May at the WCA office. For specific questions about coursework, AP classes, testing, counseling or to speak with the parent of a student who has successfully pursued AP coursework at WCKA in the past, please contact us.
How do I enroll?
Following acceptance to Summer Sessions (Apply Now) or the academy (contact us) a family may secure enrollment by submitting a deposit and returning signed copies of WCA's required paperwork, including a: financial commitment form, medical form, liability release, honor contract and transcript from the student's former school.
What are Mentor Groups?
Each teacher works with a small group of students to mentor their progress at WCKA. Students learn life skills by working directly with their mentors to share in the duties of running the program. Mentors take responsibility for monitoring the overall wellbeing of their mentees and take an active role in helping their mentees achieve positive personal growth. Once a week, mentor groups are responsible for planning the day's logistics, preparing meals, and keeping the school on schedule.
Is the WCA program safe?
There are inherent risks in running whitewater of any grade. World Class Academy gives students the training and experience to safely explore our world’s waterways. WCKA maintains a strict 4:1 student to instructor ratio to ensure every outing on the water is a safe journey. We also facilitate Swiftwater Rescue training and require adherence to safety protocol for all students, helping them develop the skills necessary to be confident and safe while at World Class Academy and in their future pursuits. World Class Academy also promotes an atmosphere where students are encouraged to assess and paddle whitewater they are comfortable with paddling. Walking a rapid is always an option.
What is the experience level of the faculty?
World Class Academy has the highest reputation for hiring and retaining quality faculty members who adhere to the core values of our program. Our teachers are trained as educators, coaches, and mentors. They cultivate a supportive team atmosphere and perform their jobs with integrity.
Where and how hard is the whitewater?
Depending on the program destination, we visit a variety of rivers that offer a mix between river running and playboating. Students should come to World Class Academy prepared for Class III whitewater, and only when they are ready will they have the chance to run more challenging rivers or rapids.
How do I communicate with my child?
Parents can expect to communicate with their children via email or phone at least once a week during the term.
How do I apply to work for World Class?
World Class Kayak Academy is always looking for qualified teachers with a passion for kayaking and a desire to enrich the lives of WCKA students. If this describes you, please contact us.
Why do WCA students have an advantage on college applications?
World Class Academy offers a unique educational environment that combines cultural immersion, academic and athletic challenge, and life lessons. Our graduates are better prepared for the rigors of college life because we have given them the skills and confidence to succeed on their own. These experiences and skills set World Class Academy students apart from other college applicants and help our students attend the colleges and universities of their choice.
Do you have non-discriminatory policy?
World Class has several policies listed below:
Racial Non-Discriminatory Policy
World Class Academy admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students of the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.
“This business operates under special use permit with the Shasta-Trinity National Forest
In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, and reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.)
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible State or local Agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information is also available in languages other than English.
To file a complaint alleging discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html , or at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provided in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: [email protected].
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.”