Kroka Vermont Semester 2014: Vermont Semester Update #10 - Parents Weekend and onward to the Lamoille River

Clowning around just prior to launching on the Lamoille River

Sky Meadow, 4/22/14

Parent weekend was really fun. The food was amazing, and now there is still a ton of it left over, which is crazy. The weekend was kind of hectic in its own way, with some scurrying, lots of talking, visiting, and activities.

Students, Parents, and Friends at Sky Meadow Retreat Center for Parent Weekend

The parents arrived on Friday afternoon. When our families found us, we dropped whatever we were doing and became miniature tour guides, showing them around Sky Meadow Retreat. We got them settled in, then it was time for dinner. Everyone crowded into the retreat barn, and we shared an amazing banquet brought to us by the parents and Sky Meadow. There was so much food! After dinner, there was dessert, and then we did a presentation for the parents. Our silly skits, reflections, songs, poetry, and a ballad of cheese tea were punctuated by the adored Hans und Franz, two students in the prime of their improv career. They kept everyone chuckling in between the explosive laughter and the thoughtful applause of the main presentation. Afterward, it was time for bed.

The next day was fairly easy. There were no morning chores, so students slept in much later than usual, attending a delicious breakfast at 7:30. After breakfast, there was a work period and parent-teacher conferences. For the work period, families did projects around Sky Meadow, such as hauling brush out of the woods, splitting kindling, and scraping hides. We worked and visited until lunch, but some of us stopped around ten to have a spoon carving lesson with Polly, Finn’s mom. We sat in the Dance Pavilion and made spoons until it was time to go eat.

After lunch we had another work period and parent-teacher conferences time. Families continued their service work until three, at which point a rousing game of Capture the Flag commenced. At four, after much running, capturing, and laughing, the parents had a parent meeting, and we cooked for Sunday’s brunch and did some other miscellaneous chores. When the parents were done, there was a Seder led by Janie, Molly's mom, and afterwards we ate dinner. Then the parents gave us a treat! There was a talent show with juggling, jokes, acts, music, and plenty of laughter. After much fun, it was bedtime again!

The next day, we woke up early to attend a sunrise service at six, led by Nancy, Meg’s mom. It was wonderful to watch the sun spread throughout the valley and touch the tops of the trees with gold. The service was followed by some work time, then an Easter egg hunt! Many chocolate eggs were discovered and eaten very quickly. At nine, there was a sacred circle dance. Ten o'clock was brunch, made by semester students and it was delicious! After brunch, we said our goodbyes and the parents departed. The rest of the day passed quickly.

Yesterday we began our paddling training. It started in what we dubbed as “an overgrown puddle” Hardwick Lake, a decent sized but very shallow, muddy body of water. We practiced the basics at first, then ventured out into more complex turns. Partway through the day, we portaged the dam and paddled part way down the river, practicing more maneuvers. The day was warm and we only had two boats capsize. We reached our take-out point, cleaned up our gear, had a snack, and returned to Sky Meadow. We depart tomorrow to start our canoe trip down the Lamoille River, ending up in Lake Champlain.

Onward!!!

-Rosa

MORE ON PADDLING with Misha

We had two full days of paddling training on the Lamoille. First day we paddled on Harwick Lake and on moving water below the dam. Lake froze through this last winter. Only the first foot or two was thawed out, so we would hit the ice below with our paddles. On the second day we practiced in class I and II white water through the town of Hardwick. It got warm and then it rained and river rose, making rapids harder. In addition the fog rose, reducing the visibility. It was an exciting and memorable day with many flips, swims, rescues and chasing capsized canoes down the river. We lost three paddles and learned a lot about paddling, river reading and hazards, team communication and self rescue. On Wednesday after packing marathon we begun our river expedition. Our plan was to paddle empty canoes through the rapids of Wolcott and then pick up our gear and continue downstream. However a barely 40 degree overcast day with gusty northern wind told us to skip the rapids. We were off by mid afternoon cold, but determined! Spring expedition has begun!