The Decisions Program
The Flyin Ryan Hawks Foundation mission revolves around the belief that self identity driven by internally composed core values answers the question “Who am I?” and stimulates a sense of ownership and responsibility for subsequent behavior. Core Values Matter. This is the central focus of the Decisions Program; EXPOSING people to Ryan’s core principles, INSPIRING them to explore and compose their own set of core values, and ACTING on the core principles they have composed. We have developed programs that explore and promote these principles in two targeted sectors, education and athletics.
Decisions for Education
At South Burlington High School, where Ryan went to school, over 1200 students have participated in the four-step process called the Flyin Ryan Decisions Program. Flyin Ryan is currently implementing the Decisions program in other Vermont area high schools and middle schools. In addition to the impact this program has had on individual students and their parents, it has had a dramatic and positive effect on the culture and climate of the school. Learn more about the Decisions Program for Education.
Attention Vermont Educators
The Flyin Ryan Decisions Program fits right in with the Flexible Pathways initiative in Act 77, which provides for Personalized Learning Plans. A Critical Element of the Self Knowledge/Student Profile requirement, calls for an examination of students’ Core Principles.
The Vermont Student Assistance Corporation (VSAC) presents the Flyin Ryan Decisions Program as a model exercise in the Chapter 1 of their publication PLP Resource Guide for High Schools. The Guide is available at no charge to educators, advisors, counselors and administrators throughout Vermont to help them implement Personalized Learning Plans.
Download your copy of the VSAC PLP Resource Guide (4 MB).
Learn more about the Decisions Program for Education.
Decisions for Athletes and Teams
Every time our young athletes strap on a pair of skis and head for the steeps, they begin a journey navigating through a maze of important choices, routinely making critical decisions that have the potential to affect their short term and long term health and fitness. With the Flyin Ryan Decisions Program, athletes begin to build the tools required to make smart decisions. Understanding our unique core values as individuals is key to developing good decision making skills in every area of our lives.
The Flyin Ryan Decisions Program for Athletes and Coaches was piloted with the athletes and coaches of the Smugglers’ Notch Freeride Ski Team, and has the backing of the International Freeskiers and Snowboarders Association (IFSA).