Day 5

Today was a day of Adventure Based Learning. We participated in both a high and low ropes course. Before doing the courses it was necessary to do some prep. Working in groups of 2 and then 3, we practiced being spotters. This was important to build trust for the activities that were to follow.

Day 4

Today was a day of Museum visitis. First, we went to the Wild Center in Tupper Lake. The Wild Center's focus is on the nature of the Adirondacks. The center has many hands on displays and outdoor trails. While at the Wild Center we were given a presentaion on Visual Thinking Skills.

Day 3

What a physical day we had today! As a group we started our ascent up Black Bear Mountain following a trail that was not our first choice. Things were going pretty well for a bit until I realized that no longer was there anyone in front of me and another girl was walking with and myself. Furthermore, the small group we passed along the way was no longer close behind us. The only thing to do is keep on moving! As we neared the top, I could hear Lee's familiar voice in the distance. As we got closer, I heard Lee calling my name. He was waiting for me. As I got closer he laughed saying he wanted to see the look on my face when I saw what I had to climb next. Mind you, the trail was getting pretty steep prior to this, but here in front of me was a nice wall of rocks! Surely he was kidding and the trail was going to veer off to the right and wind up the mountain...NOPE...Here is where the real work began. It seemed like the last stretch to the top went on forever. We climbed wall of rock after wall of rock. Thankfully I had Lee there to pull me up by my backpack. "Come on Tracy. What are you doing?! Just keep going! I want to eat my lunch!" What would I have done without such encouragement? At last, with Lee's help, I eventually made it to the top of the mountain and enjoyed the splendor of the view. My body will more than likely punish me tomorrow for making it work so hard, but I feel great about my accomplishment. Thank you Lee! Couldn't have done it without you!

After making our way down the mountain and losing half our group due to a split in the trail and some minor miscommunication we were able to make it to Ferd's Bog. I had been looking forward to visiting the bog prior to our arrival at the camp. My heart sank a little when Beth said she thought we might have to scrap the bog walk due to falling behind schedule. Thankfully that was not the case. Ed Kanze was waiting about a quarter mile to take us to the bog. Ed is a licensed Adirondack guide. We learned that the bog is the most popular bird watching spot in NYS. On our walk in the bog, we were looking for a rare woodpecker. Ed taught us how to pish. Pishing refers to a warning that is sent out by a bird letting others know there is danger. Other birds hear the warning and come to check out the action. You can check out the video of us "pishing" and of Ed's Bard Owl call by following the YouTube link.

We walked on a boardwalk out into the bog. Although we could not stand on the bog, we were allowed to take off our shoes and socks and put our feet on the soft sphagnum moss. It was really cool! We sampled berries and checked out plants along the way. I am grateful we were able to fit in the bog walk. It was a wonderful experience and Ed is an excellent guide.

Day 3 Picture Writing With Ed Kanze

After a special presentation about the seasons in the Adirondacks, Ed Kanze took us outside the classroom to complete a writing activity called "Picture Writing". For this writing activity you find a place to sit and you use your senses to write about what is going on around you. I wrote the following with five minutes time sitting on the ground, leaning on a tree stump...

The sun, a bright orange glowing ball, shines through the evergreen trees while making its slow decent. The light sparkles and glistens off the gently rippling lake. A soft breeze bounces the branches of the trees and the grasses sway. I feel the cool air brush my hair against my cheek. A song bird sings its song in the background while the hum of a motor boat drones on...

This is a great writing activity to get the students in my class writing with more detail. I have done similar activities in school asking students to use their senses to describe what is going on around them. The key is to paint a picture with your words by being as descriptive as possible.

Day 2

The morning started off with a little more getting to know each other talk. It was interesting to hear the different reasons each person had for wanting to take this course as well as what they would like to get out of it. I must admit that when we began going around the room sharing I was thinking "Oh great...here we go again...I am so and so and I think blah blah blah..." However, what each person had to say sparked some great discussion about what the current state of education is and where we want to see it go. One thing most of us had in common was the idea that we want to educate kids to care. We want them to be problem-solvers who are ready to tackle real life problems.
While discussing John Slade's book, Adirondack Green, we went off on tangents that ranged from the over population of deer to whether or not it is safe to eat the fish we catch in a lake in New York State. Tim made a good point of saying that we should be p***** off at the idea that we can no longer sustain ourselves by eating the fish we catch. The fish in the grocery store is actually safer! How often do you hear that something store bought is really better for you?

Day 1

Wow, what an amazing first day here at Camp Huntington! It was nice to see so many familiar faces and meet some new people as well. This looks to be a very fun as well as educational trip.
Besides the natural beauty of the lake and mountains, it was interesting to see the architecture and attention to detail that William West Durant used when designing the camp. There is so much rich history here, not just about the camp, but about the character and lives of the people associated with it throughout the last century.
We spent a good part of the day walking around the grounds and becoming oriented with the camp.
Got the beginnings of an idea for a project dealing with symmetry and the architectural/artistic details of William Durant throughout the camp.

Initial Blog Entry

I am excited to be taking this course. There are several reasons for this. First...who wouldn't want to spend a week in the Adirondacks and get college credit for it?! I had a choice of sitting in a classroom for 4 hours, 2 days a week for the first half of my summer or spending a week in the woods. No brainer there. When you think about it, isn't this how most students, both young and old, would feel? The knowledge I will gain from this experience is no less valuable than what I would get sitting in the classroom. It will probably be of even more value. This leads me to my next reason for taking the course. I had heard from other students during undergrad how much they enjoyed their experience at Raquette Lake. They talked about the community building that takes place and how they felt closer with their classmates and professors for sharing the experience together of being there. I am looking forward to working with people I have gotten to know throughout grad school and sharing this experience with them. I have only been to the Adirondacks for a weekend before. I am excited to learn about this invaluable natural resource, it's struggles, and what we can do help it survive.
I did not initially want to go into teaching. I wasn't opposed to it, rather I just never considered it. When I was in my early 20s, I was looking for part time work and I had the opportunity to substitute teach. I enjoyed being in the classroom very much. After some time, teachers I knew began asking me when I would be finished with my certification. When I told them I was not in college, they were surprised and encouraged me to go back to school and pursue a career in education. I love teaching. I love the feeling you get and the students get when they understand something new. Every year is different, every class and its dynamics are different. A teacher has the power to make or break their students. The relationships I build with my students can have a lasting impact on them. I want to be a positive force in their lives and help them see that life, not just school, is all about learning.
My professional goals in teaching are to continue to learn more innovative ways to engage my students in their learning. It is easy when you are first starting out as a teacher to try something new every year. My long term goal is to keep learning and keep changing to meet the needs of my students. I want to continue to try something new every year even if it something small. I don't want to fall into a rut where I am just doing what I have always done. I know when I was first hired, I had to attend some "new teacher" trainings. I learned a lot about things I already knew coming out of college. I left those trainings thinking that maybe some of the "old" teachers would benefit from the "new" teacher training.
As I mentioned earlier, I want to learn about the Adirondacks, their struggle to survive, and what we can do to protect the environment. What I will learn in this week about the environment, pollution, and conservation efforts can be applied to the larger global context and the problems our planet is facing, not just this one region of the world. I also want to have fun, kayak, hike, and enjoy the company of friends in the beauty of the Adirondacks!