Blog #3: Off to Canada!

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I–

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

                                    -Robert Frost

This week was a week of heavy preparation and…

BREAKING NEWS: The Vermont semester students and staff have chosen to change the location of the first leg to the Groulx Mountains in northern Quebec! This decision was reached after much careful thought and consideration of the conditions of the Catamount Trail. Due to the current state of the climate, low snowfall, and high temperatures this winter, it wouldn’t have been possible for our group to ski much of the first leg of the expedition. We have been yearning to experience true winter and the wall hot-tent life experienced by generations and generations of travelers before us. Given all of the options, we decided as a group to spend our time in a place where winter is guaranteed- at least for this year.

Uapishka (Les Montagnes Groulx): 15 hours north of here by car, there is a place known as the Groulx Mountains. Lying on the 52^nd parallel these mountains are true wilderness. The average daytime temperature is 0°. There is almost no one who lives in the area. There is 10 feet of snow on the ground. This is the true winter camping in its most fierce and unrefined state.

In the aftermath of this decision, we have sprung into action packing pound after pound of food, checking and double checking our bags and gear, and finishing up any last minute tasks as we prepare to leave early tomorrow morning.

Savannah gets ready to ride on her snow broomstick all the way to Canada!

Last Saturday was Parent Day! It was a joy to see the smiles on all the faces of parents and students. We were able to reconnect and lead our parents across campus, demonstrating all sorts of new skills that we have learned. In the evening, dinner was eaten together, and laughter rang out as students and parents preformed skits and songs.

On Sunday night, we torched our burn pile and had a simply stunning bonfire. Sparks leapt into the air, and the flames burned high. One or two snowballs were thrown.

Weather: Snow has finally come! Four inches have fallen and more is on the horizon. Unfortunately, it is a bit too late, as it is just powder, and there is no solid base. Canada, here we come.

This will be my last blog post from basecamp, and from now on, the posts will be after each layover. Our layovers are approximately:

Farm and Wilderness – February 26^th to 29^th

Sugarbush area – March 12^th to 15^th

Heartbeet – March 26^thto 28^th

Our final destination of the ski trip is Northwoods Stewardship Center and we are set to arrive on April 1^st. (Dates subject to change)

I will see you all after our romp in Canada with stories to tell.

Whatever I want

Caleb says

In excess of options

I am lost in the endless fields of asphodel.

                                        -A wise old man

Misha, with Kreston behind, salutes the Kroka community as they prepares to head north with students

Semester circle at 8:10AM Thursday, February 11 right before heading to Canada

Bye Semester! Have fun!

Julian packing out food on Tuesday

Claudia packing the energy cubes enthusiastically on Tuesday

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.

Drawing Submitted by Julian

Adam stacking wood with students

Caleb sawing wood for cooking lunch

Claudia giving a lift to two Perkins students

Finn giving a strong push

Julian seeking the last flakes of snow to pile into a sledding luge 

Kendal stacking wood with students

Rory leading a work crew into the woods

Savannah and a Perkins student gathering snow together

Rory and Sam help regulate the sledding crew

Hanah and Tanner making lunch for 60 people on Tuesday!

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.

Drawing Submitted by Julian

Adam stacking wood with students

Caleb sawing wood for cooking lunch

Claudia giving a lift to two Perkins students

Finn giving a strong push

Julian seeking the last flakes of snow to pile into a sledding luge 

Kendal stacking wood with students

Rory leading a work crew into the woods

Savannah and a Perkins student gathering snow together

Rory and Sam help regulate the sledding crew

Hanah and Tanner making lunch for 60 people on Tuesday!