Experiential Learning

Competitive Computing

Are you interested in the world of programming? Do you want to learn more about computer science while having fun? In this club, you will learn to use programming skills to solve problems. There are opportunities for both new and experienced participants. We may participate in the USA Computing Olympiads or make our own questions. 

Get Stuff Done

We will use Nir Eyal’s Book Indistractable for an introduction to time and productivity management. Hack your calendar. Learn how to timebox, create productivity packs, and plan effectively in an ever-changing Tabor world.  Hack your phone and your computer. Try specific strategies and apps to tame your technology. Hack your head. Find out how social psychology, behavioral economics, and other research can help you better manage your time, attention, and priorities. Each session will introduce techniques and then provide time to apply our knowledge. This session is designed for the people who feel that they need to use Saturday mornings efficiently and effectively in order to get the very most out of their Tabor experience. 

NBRR

(*This group follows a different schedule from the standard TX dates. All meetings will be concentrated from September to January to get the most out of the experience.) In this group, you will travel to New Bedford Research and Robotics to learn how to use the latest industrial technologies. After learning about the history of robotics, your work will proceed in three stages, starting with a creative approach to problem solving, moving on to a more tangible digital design stage, and culminating in a physical production phase using a 3D printer. You will have a chance to learn Autocad, Rhino 3D, or other similar open-source products. There will not be any mandatory homework, but there is work you could do on your own. In other words, you could get as much out of this opportunity as you want.   

NBRR believes now is the time for another renaissance fueled by frontier technologies, which are driving the 4th industrial revolution. The use of robotics, Artificial Intelligence, and data-driven technologies can diversify our commercial and industrial base, and catapult local and global communities to a place of global economic consequence, driven by data, real-world technological application, and creative class innovation.

Old Testament: Interpretation and Influence 

This Tabor X group is dedicated to the study of the Old Testament through all perspectives and world views. In the group, the goal is to discover the profound and widespread influence the text has had on human endeavor, all through a non-religious lens. This includes interpreting the complexities of the Bible and making connections through analysis and discussion. Learning religious scripture is an art that takes some degree of dedication and commitment. But understanding will be made fun by the showing of movie clips, music, and additional literature. While reading the Bible does require intellectual and critical thinking abilities, no prior knowledge or experience is necessary. This program is student run.

Reading Party 

No matter your pace, preferred genre, or mode: audio or text, you’re invited! Each meeting we’ll start with a circle to share our current reads and offer recommendations for fellow readers. The majority of the time together will be set aside for comfortable, independent reading. Warm beverages and snacks will be offered and there will be opportunities to organize and join mini book clubs if you are looking for discussion around a shared short story or text. There will also be the potential for art/craft projects related to reading and community engagement-including “a faculty kid read-in."

Writers' Room 

Inspired by writers’ rooms for television shows, this Tabor X offering allows a group of students to conceptualize, draft, revise, and – perhaps – perform/film the pilot episode of a show together. From the “blue sky” period, wherein students can pitch ideas, to the final cut, members of this group will collaborate on the script of an original production. 

American Sign Language: How do you “speak” without speaking? 

Join the exciting program about American Sign Language (ASL) and deaf culture! This unique opportunity allows students to learn ASL and raise awareness about the hearing-impaired community. With webinars featuring guest speakers and field trips to local deaf communities, students will gain valuable skills and insights into deaf culture. No prior experience needed, and the program is open to all students. Sessions are held on Saturday mornings, with a flexible schedule. By learning ASL, you can develop a skill that can transform your life in many ways, even later on. With the rise of multimedia and the increasing importance of visual communication, the ability to utilize ASL could prove to be invaluable. In fact, ASL is now being used in many music videos even on the Super Bowl, making the lyrics more accessible to those who may not be able to hear them. 

Get ready to embark on an enriching journey of language and culture with the ASL program! Don't miss out on this one-of-a-kind experience! 

This program is student run. 

Discover New Bedford 

Learn about the City of New Bedford through a combination of place-based learning, discussions with local residents, and tours of various neighborhoods. This offering will focus on the cultural highlights of the historic city. Some likely outings will include Seaman’s Bethel, the Waterfront, Acushnet Avenue, the North End, the South End, Gifts to Give, the Zeiterion, New Bedford Mills, and Kilburn Mill. 

Hospital Hope TX 

This group will travel to Tobey and/or St. Luke’s hospital to bring some fun and joy to patients’ lives. Activities will vary. They are especially interested in expanding their offerings in music and the arts. Anyone with the ability to play an instrument, draw, dance, or paint would be a big asset to this group. 

ImprovTX 

In this group, you will use improv as a tool for character development, risk-taking, and shedding inhibitions. Improv promotes creativity, critical thinking, and public speaking to an audience eager to listen. It is an imagination workout, and it will be a welcomed break from academic and social exhaustion. You will be challenged to be “up on their feet” and presented with various scenarios that involve problem-solving skills. 

Diverse Dialogues

Diverse Dialogues is an open forum where individuals with diverse perspectives will work together to understand each other's viewpoints without compromising their own beliefs. By communicating across differences, Diverse Dialogues hopes to foster critical thinking, collaboration, and a greater sense of inclusivity across our community.

This non-traditional TaborX offering will involve organizing community conversations for the entire student body. Working with a faculty sponsor, you will select themes, recruit speakers, gather questions, set dates, reserve the location, take cover of any logistics, and host the evening.

This group will provide you with experience in leadership, organization, and community building. Meetings will likely occur on evenings during the week, so you should have a flexible schedule.  

Oral History

Everyone has a story. This group is about learning to listen and to preserve those stories. We will practice interviewing, using recording equipment, and editing audio files. We will also work to recruit volunteers with a diverse array of life experiences from the Tabor community and beyond. Each interview will be edited and turned into an episode. 

Sea Squirts 

You will lead marine adventures – utilizing the waterfront and wet lab – designed for faculty & staff children. This will expand your marine science education, give you leadership experience, and allow you to engage with faculty & staff kids on Saturday mornings. 

Baking: We create delicious memories 

In baking this year, we are going to learn basic baking and decorating techniques, while having fun creating the snacks we love! Sessions will likely include cupcakes, bread, cookies, tiramisu, and cakepops. This program is student run. 

Canoe Build

Limited to 11th and 12th graders, members of this TX will build a 14 foot skin-on-frame canoe, which replicates birchbark canoes used for fishing by Indigenous along the Atlantic coast from Massachusetts to Canada. Students will also learn to make an atlatl and stone points, tools that were once used to hunt by Indigenous across the Americans.  The TX will conclude with a canoe trip along the coast of Sippican Harbor. Students in this TX should expect the canoe build to take between 40 and 50 hours from September to May.

Furniture Flipping

TX Furniture Flipping is a chance for you to breathe new life into something old and save it from the landfill!  You will gain practical experience through learning about furniture refinishing, designing for maximum profit, and even creating listings and advertisements for the refinished pieces!  You can work alone or as part of a group to refinish furniture or household items which will be sold for a profit.  At the end of TX 2023-2024, we will donate our profits to Tabor’s Day of Giving! 

Graffiti X 

In this Tabor X, students will learn about the basic concepts of street art and graffiti art through the mediums of typography, aerosol art, and wheatpasting. We will look at the history and evolution of graffiti art and its different uses beyond decoration. This workshop will be certain to encourage the use of street art aesthetics and mediums in legal forms of the practice.

Making Things Grow 

Our group will explore the gardening needs around campus and the community. We are invested in making sure that our efforts are environmentally friendly and sound with water usage in mind.  

In the fall, we will be doing some planting and planning for two or three progressive gardens on campus for the spring. Some of our projects will include visiting local greenhouses to buy and to plan our gardens. We will work with local nurseries to acquire our plants. We will collaborate with Marion Garden Club for their winter holiday fund raising.  A winter trip to Blithewold in Bristol, Rhode Island would serve as inspiration for a student holiday tree/plant competition that will be on display in the TRCC. The trees/plants used in the competition would be planted in the spring or reused in some way.   To brighten spaces during the winter term, we hope to provide amaryllis and other winter bulbs for the faculty and staff in December and January.  As part of the TX experience, we will visit formal and informal “magical” gardens in the immediate area. and in the spring, visit Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Our community service component will include work with the Marion DPW or Marion Garden Club.  

Song Writing 

Students will write original songs. The process will begin by listening to hit songs and exploring what makes a song “hooky” and a melody an “ear worm.” This group is perfect for those interested in lyrics writing, collaboration, singing, and playing instruments. There is potential for a collaboration with Tabor Rock Band to get the songs performed live! 

TABORmade  

This group is dedicated to metalsmithing and jewelry making. There will be 7 weekly projects for students interested in learning to make wearable or sculptural objects. These will include wire working day, welding day, ring or bracelet day, pendant or necklace day, jewelry repair day, and jewelry recycling day. Students will learn soldering techniques, wire working, polishing, sheet metal work, and other metal working skills. If you have done TABORmade before, you can keep learning. 

Tabor Rock Band 

Ever wanted to play in or learn to play in a rock band?  Come join other emerging TA rock band musicians in jamming and learning together to create a unique set list (all music types welcome) and potentially play songs for the school at SpringFest and/or ASM.  Instrumentalists, vocalists and fans are all welcome.  Don’t have an instrument?  We’ll find you one.  Times are adjustable.  If you love music and playing in a group, this is a fun one to join!

Videography

This TX course will give students an opportunity to explore the art of videography. It will teach basic filming techniques and editing skills. Students will work on film projects related to the Tabor experience. There will be a variety of devices students could use from cameras to simply, thier everyday smartphones. There will be no previous experience required. This will be a great opportunity for anyone who is interested in videography and wants to learn the basics or to become more advanced. This program is student run.

 

All A Taut-O X 2.0  

“All A Taut O” means all lines are ready on a ship and could set sail. This TX course is dedicated to learning “how to” skills for everyday life.  Such skills may include car maintenance, knife sharpening, woodworking, and bike maintenance.   

Ansel Adams hits the trails 

Discover the unseen side of Marion and local communities by hitting the trails with your camera, led by a seasoned explorer. Participants will see and experience the natural beauty in the area that most have not seen. 

Fishing  

This program will be an all-encompassing look at gear, preparation, knots, maintenance, catching fish, regulations, and how to filet, clean and cook fish. You will learn specific skills such as when to fish different species, where to find them, and what lures to try. Fishing provides one of the last available means for average people to provide sustenance for themselves, sourced from its natural environment. Recreational fishing is a life skill that is aligned with ecological sustainability. 

Life after Tabor Sports: recruited college athletes from Tabor share their experiences 

What’s it like to play college sports? Have any Tabor athletes moved on to play their sport professionally? What does that path and experience look like? What advice would a former Tabor star athlete give about mental health and well-being? How did their experiences at Tabor help prepare them for the next level and life after competitive sports? Did their priorities change after Tabor? 

Do these questions resonate with you? Would you like to be able to pick the brain of an experienced high-level athlete and learn more about their challenges, obstacles, and triumphs? 

This Tabor X is a speaker series (most likely via Zoom) where interested Tabor students get to have a discussion with former Tabor athletes who were recruited to college and hear what they are doing now. It is a wonderful opportunity to hear about different paths, see different outcomes, and pick the brain of Seawolves who have been there, done that.

Ocean Adventures aboard the Lizzie T

Explore the local waters aboard Tabor’s new vessel, the Lizzie T. Adventures will include Canal Cruises, Elizabeth Island Cruises, Fishing Trips, Oceanic Lighthouse Tours, Lobstering off Bird Island, Plankton Cruises, and a big final trip to Stellwagen Bank to Whale Country.

TX Outing Club   

Hike in nearby natural areas, preserved forests, wetlands, and coastal areas. Learn about the value of open space and land conservation. Discover the biodiversity of our local natural resources. Feed your mind, body and spirit by getting outside together to experience the challenges and the wonders of our local natural environments. Friendship and community build when sharing unscripted time together in the beauty of nature. The Outing Club tradition of having breakfast or lunch at restaurants/diners near our hiking destinations continues!

Thrifting in Your Neighborhood 

You can be a style icon with affordable, unique vintage clothing. Join our journey searching for gently-used, recycled fashion at affordable prices and help save the environment. We will be visiting “second-hand” stores for clothing and other items. We’ll create a catalog of the best thrift stores in our area as well as a fashion show, featuring our affordable finds!

Breakfast League 

Learn to make different breakfasts to satisfy the hungry hero within. Learn to make adaptable breakfast staples to impress your family and friends for years to come. Sessions will include pancakes, eggs three ways, quick breads and muffins, French Toast, burritos and sandwiches, not grandma’s oatmeal, casseroles, and smoothies.

Confident Cook 

Become a confident cook! Learn how to cook meals that are inexpensive, easy, and of course, delicious. Before you go off to college, everyone should be able to cook a few meals and feel confident that they can either throw a party or contribute to throwing a dinner party. Participants will leave confident they can produce at least three complete meals. Our capstone project will be a dinner party, hosted by the participants, with friends (or faculty?) as guests. This TaborX might meet late Saturday or Sunday afternoon/early evening, so we can enjoy the fruits of our labors. 

Global Chef  

Make connections with global cultures & students at Tabor while learning to cook! Learn information about history, culture, and traditions through gastronomy. This group will meet primarily on Friday evenings. Sessions will likely include: Pad Thai, German Breakfast, Tamagoyaki, Crêpes, Lamb Kabob, Portuguese Fish Stew, and Pho. 

Happy Humans 

Interested in a healthier lifestyle? In Happy Humans, you will work to develop goals, create actionable items, and execute a plan. We will focus on fresh air, fresh food, sleep, nutrition, and fitness.

Beans to Brew 

Do you like coffee? Do you want to try your skills at being a barista? Have you wondered what the difference is between the dark and light roast iced coffee at Dunks? If so, this is the Tabor X for you! Beans to Brew is designed for students to have a hands-on exploration of coffee brewing methods and tastes, coupled with an in-depth understanding of coffee's rich cultural history. From mastering the art of espresso to latte art to perfecting the pour-over technique, you will develop practical skills while uncovering the customs associated with coffee consumption throughout time. Join us on this enlightening journey as we blend and brew the past and present, unlocking the secrets of coffee's aromatic past and embracing the vibrant traditions that shape our coffee culture today. 

Morning Mindfulness 2: Mindful Boogaloo 

Learn how to practice mindfulness in a variety of ways and start your day off with ease and relaxation. Sessions will involve mindful nature walks, meditation and gratitude practice, puzzles, art, yoga, gardening, journaling, and anything else participants may want to explore.  Participants will craft a personalized “mindfulness menu” of ideas and activities to return to in the future whenever the need arises.

Self Defense  

Taught by Krav Maga instructor David Eaton from New Bedford, in this group, you will learn how to be more situationally aware and how to defend yourself when necessary.
*This group will meet on Sunday mornings.

Game Day Ready

This TX is for the 3-season athlete. Our sessions will start with a macronutrient balanced meal to fuel your day. Next will be a mobility session, with a sport visualization meditation to follow. The goal is to feel ready physically and mentally before you head off to your competition. Each session will be similar to the next, as building a routine before competition is important to getting the mind and body ready. 

International Dance 

Learn how to dance different rhythms: Merengue, Cumbia, Salsa, Swing, Spanish Folk, Samba... 

Pickleball 

Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the country. Lots of students are already getting involved and have expressed interest in playing competitively. Now that we have courts inside and outside, this is an activity that can be run year round. 

Rock Climbing 

This TaborX Experience opens the door for students to try their hands (and feet) at rock climbing! Through a partnership with a local small business, students will not only learn the basics of rock climbing but will also learn how to belay and some outdoor leadership skills. Rock climbing is both a physically and mentally challenging activity, so students will grow both their motor skills and their perseverance while they have some fun. 

ShredTX: Mountain Biking 

But… do you even shred? 

ShredTX™ is an eight-session MOUNTAIN BIKE program dedicated to raising the stoke. Ride more, work less! Develop proper technique for bashin’ berms and finding the flow. Explore local trails, learn the basics of bike maintenance, increase endurance and improve your individual riding while participating in group excursions.   

Mountain Biking launches riders into worlds of adventure while immersing them in nature. A lifelong sport and way of life, it requires constant learning and deep focus. ShredTX™ follows lessons developed by Whistler-based PMBIA (Professional Mountain Bike Instructors Association), the worldwide leader in the sport.  

Mountain Biking is a physically demanding sport that requires a high degree of fitness. The trails we ride are "XC," which means shredders should expect a lot of climbing to "earn the turns." ShredTX™ is NOT a beginner group, and goals for the 2023-2024 program include competing in two cross-country (XC) races, one in the fall and another in the spring.

In addition to the eight sessions in the ShredTX™ program, the expectation is that riders will work on skills development, speed, and endurance on their own time, as well.

*NOTE* All ShredTX™ sessions will take place on SUNDAYS from 8:45am until about 1:30pm. Please double-check your Sunday availability before choosing this program.

Sports for the Ages 

Learn pickleball and then compete in round robin tournaments in the fall. In the winter, learn to curl. Participate in a bonspiel. In the spring, learn to golf at Little Marion Golf Club, ending the season with a match against the JV team.

Bowling for Beginners 

One of America’s favorite pastimes! You guessed it, BOWLING! The time has come to put on that florescent polyester, bowling shirt and learn the basics of bowling. Although considered a low impact sport, expect your brain to get quite a workout playing this strategy-based game. Over the next few weeks, students will learn form, technique, and lane etiquette. Participants will also learn how to manually score a ten-frame bowling game. SIGN UP TODAY!!! 

Chess

In Chess TX, players will seek to improve their game no matter what their level is. During sessions, we will explore common openings and defensive strategies, techniques for the mid-game, and checkmate patterns. The goal is for each participant to improve their rating by 200 points by the end of the year. 

Dungeons & Dragons  

D&D offers an organic opportunity to “play” teamwork, develop critical thinking, and use the imagination. A D&D adventure requires a lot of decision making, often between suboptimal options. Players must combine the unique skills and abilities of their characters with other players in approaching situational challenges. In D&D, players drive the experience and their decisions have consequences, both positive and negative. D&D develops real-life skills within the boundless safety of our imaginations. 

Fantasy Sports

In this group, we will conduct a Fantasy Football draft right before school starts, then use our sessions to practice two skills: 1. Becoming the best Fantasy Football player possible using research, strategy, budgeting, math, and tactical adjustments; and 2. Learning how to cook either brunch on Saturday mornings or gameday-fare on Sunday afternoons. We will alternate between meeting on Saturday mornings to discuss how our teams are doing and provide advice for our less experienced players and Sunday afternoons to follow our teams live using the “Red Zone” streaming service. We will follow up with write-ups of our teams including how our strategies have been working and what we can do to improve our teams. At the end of the season, our TX Fantasy Football Champion will have their name engraved on an official trophy hand-carved by Dr. Crosby and displayed on campus. Once the NFL season is over, we’ll finish up with our March Madness selections and a complete meal cooked by the group, showing off the various cooking skills learned during the year. 

GTO+: Game Theory Optimized Poker 

You are the cut-off at an eight-player table with thirty-five big blinds in your stack. After the cards are dealt, the table folds around to the high-jack who limps into the pot. She has about twenty big blinds left in her stack and has been playing loose/aggressive all night … a maniac. You look down to find two tens in front of you. Do you just call? Do you raise 3x? Do you shove? What’s the right play? 

If you want to know the right answer to this question (Hint: You raise 3x, because if you don’t, the button certainly will with any two cards and now you will have no idea what the range is of either of your opponents.) then this is the place for you. If you have no idea what any of that means, but want to learn, then this is the place for you. If you want to cook chicken, this is not the place for you. 

Seawolf Sharks

Learn the game of Texas Hold ‘Em poker. Each week students will compete and learn the different strategies of the classic card game. Each week we will crown a winner and yearlong points will be awarded for an end of year champion.   

Spikeball  

Make new friends and learn skills in a friendly, stress-free environment. In Spikeball TX, you will get active before a big day or just compete! The first few sessions will start with getting to know everyone as people and spike ball players. Students will team up with different people working to find the partner they want to compete with for the championship tournament in the final session. We are also looking into potential competitions against other schools. It is important to commit to regular attendance.  

Subbuteo TX  

Do you love soccer, the world’s “beautiful game”? Subbuteo is a Table-Top Soccer game that is interactive, tactical, and action packed. Each student gets their own team. After introductory rules and practices, an active league will be run, standings and statistics kept, culminating with a Subbuteo TX Champion. Students will learn to work together and compete against each other while celebrating the world’s game. Note: everyone’s attendance is necessary for the league to succeed, so if you know you will be missing more than one session, please do not sign up! 

TeeX

Have you ever wanted to learn how to play golf?  You can do so within the confines of Tabor’s campus by utilizing the school’s simulator and indoor putting/chipping green.  Plan to spend eight sessions learning the fundamentals of all shots, ranging from the full swing to the putting stroke.  The ultimate goal is to have participants take their newly-acquired skills to a real golf course for the final session.