Kroka Vermont Semester 2016: Blog #2: Preparing for Expedition

This has been a week of work and fun. We are stepping into our big jobs as our ski departure date draws nearer and nearer, slowly but surely.

On Thursday, we drove 30 minutes to Granite Gorge, to strap on our backcountry skis and practice our downhill skills. We started slow, going through the basics of a telemark turn. Over the course of three hours, we progressed from falling on the little bunny hill, to many of us even descending a black diamond on our first day.

A big focus of this week has been sewing. Lisl Hofer, the master sewer & semester supporter at Kroka, has walked us through the process of making stuff sacks, gaiters, and mitten shells. We spent three hours per day in the sewing shop producing professional level products.

While conditions still have not been great for skiing, the ice on the pond has been perfect. This has produced several fierce games of pond hockey (no broken teeth...yet).

On Sunday, we were in for a treat. We ran two miles up the road to a beautiful local bakery, Orchard Hill Breadworks, where we traded work for time in their sauna and a pizza dinner. From the bakery, it was a short walk down the hill to the sauna, nestled at the edge of a field next to an ice-coated pond. We proceeded to take an axe, chop a hole in the ice and sit in the sauna. After around ten minutes we made a mad dash to the hole. We submerged ourselves in the near freezing temperatures. It was a truly unique feeling. We would exit the ice and sit in what felt like tropical temperatures, and those who were ready would repeat. While the boys sauna-ed the girls helped Noah, the baker, stack wood for the wood-fired oven and vis versa.

On Tuesday morning we were visited by Perkins Academy, the local K-6th grade school. Each of us semester students was assigned two buddies, and completed tasks such as stacking firewood, cooking lunch, or collecting evergreen boughs for the floors of our hobbit homes. We all ate lunch together, and then went sledding. Our buddies will go on to become our pen palls over semester.

Earlier this week, our group finished a beautiful social contract, which we all have agreed to live by. Each student added to our agreement with one word that is important to him or her, as well as the wellbeing of our tight knit community.

Weather:

This week started warm and got warmer. We were teased by snow flurries midweek, but yesterday, rain came down hard and fast. Now, we live in tropical temperatures, but cold looms on the horizon. PRAY FOR SNOW!

The Social Contract of the 2016 Vermont Semester Program is as follows:

I agree to be honorable in my actions, and to create an environment in which others can do the same.

The students of the 2016 Vermont Semester define honorable as:

Awareness

Compassion

Consciousness

Effort

Empathy

Generosity

Helpfulness

Honesty

Initiative

Kindness

Loyalty

Presence

Productivity

Respect

Personal Health

The group cannot function smoothly if each and every one of its members is not healthy; physically and mentally. We must agree to the best of our ability to keep ourselves healthy and to maintain the health of our group. We will maintain personal appearance and personal hygiene.

Work and Responsibility

Labor is an essential park of our life at Kroka. We must agree to do our best when work is asked of us, as it keeps the group functional and healthy. We take responsibility for the organization and care of personal possessions, and any items entrusted to our care.

Communication

It is crucial to be open and honest. If something is bothering you, whether it is large or small, discuss it. This will go some distance to maintain the trust and integrity of our group.

Conflict Resolution

Listen to the other side of the argument. Realize when it is best to resolve conflict personally or when it is better to bring it in front of a teacher or the group.

Community Ethic

We will work to achieve inclusivity of all group members. We will place group needs above personal wants.

Safety

Exercise logic to make good risk management decisions.