Tuesday, November 15, 2016

The Mannequin Challenge

I can easily say that I wear many hats at The Country School: teacher, colleague, coach, and this year, advisor.

What would advisory snack on a rainy day be though without a Mannequin Challenge! Who is ready to challenge us back?!





Tuesday, October 4, 2016

Into The Woods

The last time I pitched my yellow, Eureka tent I was in Moab, Utah. It's amazing to think that in a few short years I have gone from never owning a pair of hiking boots to saying that I've slept under the stars and hiked the La Sal Mountains out west. Simultaneously, after some time at The Country School, it doesn't surprise me that I've become more comfortable in the outdoors than ever before.

At TCS, outdoor and affective education are staples to the curriculum. Kids are academically challenged inside the classroom, but taught to learn about themselves outside of it as well. For our Middle Schoolers, this means the opportunity to spend some time in the great outdoors at both the beginning and end of the year. This year, my hiking boots took me to New York with the Seventh Grade.

We first arrived to Mountain Lakes Camp and were greeted by Mountain Workshop guides. At the lake, students were given directions about their morning activity: raft building. In order to get all of their supplies, students participated in a variety of collaborative activities. Once their supplies were collected, they assembled a float which they would race out to a buoy. The students presented a commercial for their raft, then paddled out into the chilly water, quickly finding who sank, who floated, and who was left ashore.













After drying off, we traveled to Ward Pound Ridge where we set camp, ate lunch and prepared for an afternoon of orienteering. Alongside a Mountain Workshop Guide, students learned how to use a compass, read a map, and set out on an adventure to find various markers. Day 1 proved to be challenging for many, as orienteering requires concentration, listening skills and leadership. Upon returning to the campground, the students played various field games, enjoyed a taco dinner and ate s'mores by the campfire.






The following morning we all awoke to damp tents, wet from the previous night's rain. We packed up camp, ate breakfast, and set out for day two of orienteering. Day two proved more successful for all groups. The students' newfound confidence in their orienteering abilities helped them work more collaboratively than the previous day. As one student said, "It combines my two favorite things: hiking and treasure hunts!"







After the tents have been packed up, the trail mix has been eaten and the hiking boots have been newly caked with mud, I hope the Seventh Grade remembers to embrace their inner wild, and never stop exploring. At TCS that's what we do: we let kids be kids, but remind them to stop and take in the moment every now and again.






Sunday, August 28, 2016

For the love of the run

Like most students, I too enjoy the summertime. I often spend my long afternoons at the beach, with family, or making memories on special trips. This summer, my hiking boots and running shoes brought me to two incredible places: Iceland and Massachusetts.

Iceland has been a "bucket list" destination for myself for quite some time. Hiking? Waterfalls? Count me in! I booked a ticket earlier this year, packed my suitcase after school ended, and couldn't wait to lace up my hiking boots. 

To say Iceland was beautiful would be an understatement. While I felt as though I was in Europe, there were quite a few times when I also felt as if I were on an entirely different planet. 


Skógafoss


Vík, black sand beach


Walking behind Seljalandsfoss 

Gullfoss

Moab, is that you?!

Kerið krater


 Þríhnúkagígur Volcano 

Inside Þríhnúkagígur volcano. Incredible!

What does one do while planning a trip? Why look for a race, of course! During June, Iceland experiences its summer solstice, and endless sunlight. While some days are grey, others rainy and some sunny, the sun doesn't quite set. When it does, it isn't until very late.

Reykjavík, 12:30am

One of Reykjavík's bigger road races is called the Suzuki Midnight Sun Run. The idea of running a half marathon in a foreign country late at night seemed appealing, and the perfect way to end an unforgettable trip. 







(photo courtesy of the Miðnæturhlaup Suzuki - Suzuki Midnight Sun Run)

While I am often excited at the start of a race, I must also be honest and note that not every race is an easy one. I sometimes get tired. I sometimes groan and complain. I feel proud to wear my TCS t-shirt, but do remind myself that in order to get past the challenging miles, I must keep moving my feet forward. 

Later in the summer I participated in a trail race, called Ragnar. Alongside seven friends, I spent 24 hours in Massachusetts, camping and running. Each group member ran three trail races: 3 miles, 4.9 miles and 7.3 miles, totaling over 120 miles. Before my first run, the longest and hardest of the three, the song "Enter Sandman" started playing, and I was instantly reminded of van rides in Moab. I set off with a smile on my face, but soon found that the steep elevation sometimes made me feel as if I was hiking, and not running. I constantly looked at my Garmin watch and wondered, when would I be back at camp? Again, I felt challenged physically, mentally and emotionally as a runner. 





While the hills and elevation were quite an adventure, Ragnar was an incredible experience for many others reasons. I loved camping and running with friends and being a part of a team. I got to run my five mile leg at midnight, a unique experience. When I encountered other runners on the trail in the dark of the night, I was comforted in knowing that there were other people traversing the same path. 

This summer reminded me that there are days when you feel more motivated than others to lace up your sneakers. I promise though, that the run will always be worth it. 


*Thank you Meghan D. & Mike S. for the Ragnar photos.