At Kurn Hattin, preparing children for the future means more than academic achievement. We teach life skills to help young people build the real-world abilities they’ll need to thrive at home, in school, and beyond.
Starting from the earliest grades and continuing through 8th grade, children at Kurn Hattin learn practical skills that grow alongside them. These lessons are woven into everyday campus life, giving students the tools and confidence to take on new responsibilities and develop a strong sense of self.
Knowing and writing their name, birthdate, and address, essential for identity and independence.
Daily routines that include bathing, tooth brushing, and dressing for school, activities, and the weather.
Practicing manners, consent, initiating conversations, and respectfully saying “no,” all essential to building healthy relationships.
From making their beds to helping with cottage chores, students learn to care for their space and contribute to their community.
Important safety practices like hand washing, bike and street safety, calling 9-1-1, and making healthy choices.
Learning the value of money, how to make purchases, count change, and even open a bank account.
Older students prepare for the workplace with experiences in responsibility: filling out forms, tracking hours, and showing up on time.
Life skills are introduced in age-appropriate ways, adding complexity and responsibility as children grow. By the time they leave Kurn Hattin, our students are not only more independent; they’re prepared to succeed in the real world, with the self-confidence and structure they’ve built over time.
Mary Beth Culver serves as Residential Living Director at Kurn Hattin Home and School for Children, where she focuses on helping students develop life skills and socially appropriate behaviors that support long-term success.
With experience as a Residential Director at a residential treatment facility, Mary Beth has led wilderness trips, high and low ropes courses, and other experiential education programs. She believes deeply that learning through doing leads to lasting change, a philosophy reflected in the wide range of hands-on opportunities available to students at Kurn Hattin.
Mary Beth loves working with children and finds great joy in watching their faces light up when they accomplish something new.
Outside of work, she treasures time with her granddaughter and visiting her children. She enjoys being outdoors, gardening, and repurposing items into creative yard art.