Natural Experiences

“…we’ve not merely escaped from something but also into something…we have joined the greatest of all communities, which is not that of man alone but with everything which shares with us the great adventure of being alive…”

–Joseph Wood Crutch

It’s been a great ten days. Chalk full of experiences. Picture perfect hot blue-skied days and cool starry nights. We’ve been out and about enjoying the breathtaking weather: hiking, biking, fishing, swimming, tubing, riding—you name it, one of us has had the great fortune to partake. And we’re loving all the opportunities for experiential learning.  Whether it’s the bear across the river showing up as soon as we lit the barbeque (down a bit early in the season from the higher altitudes because of the nearby fires,) or finding our way back a hiking trail we’ve lost from markings we found on the way up. We’re trying to pay attention to our surroundings, learn about them, respect them and all the living systems that co-exist off of them. (“Hi cute little snakey snakey, do you mind moving off the path just a teensy so I can get by you…”) The boys came back from their hiking trips dirt-packed and full of stories about their adventures in the mountains. Luke asked,” Did you see the full moon mom?” I loved that. And yes, we watched it rise over the mountains as we listened to Bonnie Raitt crank out a performance rivaling anything she might have done three decades ago. “Here in the dark, in these final hours, I will lay down my heart and I’ll feel the power…” A moonrise lost on none of us.

Next week Peter and Luke head in opposite directions– Luke to southern Idaho to the City of Rocks, where he and his 30 classmates will rock climb and make camp. They’ll build their own little community with the collective responsibility of cooking, cleaning, and organizing. Hallelujah. And they’ll learn about trust; no better way than on belay with a friend hanging on the side of a rock cliff 40 feet above you.  That’s a big part of the 6^th grade curriculum. Community. What does it mean to be a part of one? They’ll be looking at the rights and responsibilities and cultural connections that go along with communities, and together, as a community, they will look out for one another…and for “Betty, Sally and Sue,” as the Outdoor Director affectionately calls the black widows, rattlesnakes and scorpions they’ll be sharing turf with. Peter, on the other hand, will go north to the Salmon River for five days where he and his classmates will explore the interface of wilderness and civilization. They’ll be at the center of the salmon crisis, where they will see fish ladders and learn about the complexities of this issue and the balancing act of serving human needs and preserving the environment. They’ll meet with some “local characters,” among them some members of the Nez Perce tribe, some folks from the Wolf Recovery Center and a man who lives in the mountains, way off the grid. Speaking of off the grid, Peter asked to take a board game on the trip–now there’s a first! The 7th graders won’t be short on fun either as they raft, swim and boogie board in the rapids and eat dutch-oven gourmet. Fun is emphasized as a component of the program; their teacher talked about the brain research that substantiates the correlation between fun and learning. We’re all for it. Boys especially. Happy Back to School!