Kroka Vermont Semester 2014: Vermont Semester Update #3

Hi all!!

This is going to be a very short update because we are very pressed for time. I am so sorry.

Last week each person gave a presentation and example of how their Big Job component will work once we are on trail. For example Kevin, along with the help of Misha, showed us how to set up the tent that all seventeen of us will be sleeping and eating in on trail. It looks like it belongs in the circus! Finn explained the use and function of all the items in the med kit. Later, we had an entire lesson on navigation with Cassandra and Nathan. In that lesson we learned a little bit about the geography of Vermont, how to read a topographic map, and followed the course of our winter ski journey on the map.

Finn giving his Big Job presentation as Medic

Misha and Kevin describing the steps to put up the tent

...and up it goes!

Kevin's outline of the personal gear to be packed

Cassandra giving her presentation on navigation

The winter skiing portion of the expedition
all mapped out -
from Somerset Reservoir to Sky Meadow Retreat

On Saturday the Kroka campus was bustling with family and friends because it was Parent’s Day. It was very strange to suddenly be surrounded by so many people who we love dearly but who haven’t been a part of our life for the past three and a half weeks. We had a lot of fun preparing a presentation/skit for our visitors and I think it was greatly enjoyed because I heard many laughs.

At the beginning of the week, it was a frantic struggle to find time to complete all of our started preparetory projects. It was very stressful but we have lots of good news! Nine cords of wood were split and stacked! Two hundred plus hemlock poles were harvested for the Cree inspired lodge construction in the spring! Eight pairs of mitten shells were sewn for those who need them! Day food bags and twenty one food stuff sacks were also sewn!

Forest and Joe doing some bike maintenance
in preparation for the spring section of the expedition

Forest preparing another pole to be brought in

A slightly bigger project that is being completed as I write this, is our knives. All of the knives are finished and they are so beautiful! Some people still need to wax their sheaths tonight. Each knife is so different and every time I look at my knife handle, I find new patterns in the wood.

A beautiful set of handcrafted knives!

Besides completing projects we also did the food pack-out for the entire six week long winter expedition! I am truly in awe of Meg for organizing the whole thing, along with Hanah, and for making the process straightforward and easy to follow. The whole operation took two days. When we arrived in the food room, we were each charged with packing one type of meal for the whole expedition. A meal that I packed was spaghetti. That meant packing six portions of pasta, six baggies of tomato powder, six packages of meat, six ziplocks of dried veggies, six butters, and a whole lot of cheese.