X-Arena And Prep Academy Promote Social Skills in Students

PREP Academy of Denver has teamed up with X-Arena, winner of the 2015 Best of Thornton Awards for Amusement Center, to teach students valuable positive social skills in the form of their Discovery Program. The Academy recognized it was necessary to create a common base for its students in order to learn how to bridge social and communication gaps amid groups and individuals. Polly Beck, head of the Discovery Program, explains the concept of the program, "I work at a school where we have students from all over the city of Denver, which creates an immediate barrier to forming relationships and bonding. Our students participate in activities at X-ARENA after completing a six-week introductory course at our school. We start the team-building process in the introductory class, and X-ARENA really takes it to a new level."

According to recent studies by the University of Washington, children performing group tasks and activities, especially tasks that require combined thinking and functioning, establish a synchrony among themselves. This generates a sense of similarity, mutual trust and respect for each other. This response is exactly what the Program seeks to achieve. Ms. Beck noted, "After participating in the team-building events at X-ARENA, students feel more connected to each other and to the school because they know every student at our school has had the same experience. They share stories and memories and are able to let down their guards to connect wthin a similar experience. Often times, students who do not get along in the classroom are able to work together effectively and overcome their differences at X-ARENA."

The X-ARENA Challenge is designed by the company specifically to cater to the needs of the students. This involves daunting group tasks, individual competitions and arduous exercises. Students have to work together, by themselves or compete against each other in order to succeed. Ms. Beck explains the outcome as, "We did not expect X-ARENA stories to become legends at our school! Students challenge each other, get excited for each other, talk about past accomplishments of students at X-ARENA, and simply share memories. It really helps create a positive atmosphere at our school."

After successfully completing the Discovery Program, students will graduate into the PREP Academy's schedule. Apart from the academic incentives, students would have achieved crucial positive social skills that they will find invaluable. Ms. Beck summarizes the experience, "Some students are nervous before going, some are excited, and some pretend like they are too cool to participate; however, every student comes back with a smile, and every student comes back with a feeling of accomplishment. Several students have said that participating at X-ARENA was the most fun they've ever had."