by Caciques Simon Mauck and Brian Higgs

 Reflecting on Solo:

During our eight day kayak trips, we spent the fifth and sixth days alone on the beach for forty-eight hours. Each student was spread apart from one another enough to see each other in the distance, but we could not interact. Every student adapted the experience in their own way: some sat in silence on their stretch of beach others used their creativity to find ways to pass the time. Students sometimes sang to themselves or created things on the beach like huts, drawings in the sand, or they played in the water.

Although every student had their own individual experience, we all left the beach with a stronger understanding of ourselves. Having the time to be alone for two days allows people to think more deeply about their lives and themselves. After being in silence for so long, reuniting with the rest of your kayak group was that much more special. Also, being quiet for so long led us to not being able to stop talking once we were together again.

Some of the groups ended up having rain at night or cold winds that chilled them to the bone, but even in stormy weather and cold nights, the solos ended up being an experience that every student felt they learned from.

by Caciques Anika and Lincoln

Reunited at last! Last night K3 and K4 (the second kayak rotation) arrived back on campus after theirDownIslandand kayak trips. Finally, this morning, we had a complete circle, with all 47 members of our community standing around the flagpole, singing the national anthem. After a delicious brunch, many of us biked down to the coffee shop at the marina to exchange stories from our various trips over cookies, cake, and cold drinks. Due to the power problems from the hurricane a couple months ago, the coffee shop had been closed until a few days ago, so it was the first time any of us had gone down to check it out. We all had a great time talking and laughing at each other’s hilarious anecdotes, and some of us were even lucky enough to witness three nurse sharks and a group of remoras swimming in the harbor. It was also a chance for those of us who had stayed on campus the past week to relax after our 8 days of academics. Everyone was thrilled to see each other and have the dorms filled with friends again.

About two months ago, Continue reading →

by Cacique Maddy

Today was a day full of laughter, stories, screams and hugs (in girls dorm). Today we were all reunited with one another after all of our different Kayak and Down Island trips. In honor of being back together we had a big bonfire and Guy Fawkes celebration. Guy Fawkes Day is a british holiday that is celebrated here. Following tradition, we made an effigy and burned it in a huge fire. We also had smores and played music around the fire. Before the bonfire, when the K4 girls came into the dorm some of us were having a dance party, and we all stopped and screamed. It was mayhem as we all rushed forward to give Helen, Clare, Anna, and Annabelle hugs. Everyone got into a big group hug and we all ended up in a heap on the ground. Everyone was laughing as some took pictures of us all huddled there. It was amazing to see everyone together after 3 weeks of separation. Not even the rain that tried to stop our bonfire could dampen our moods that night.

by Caciques Ian and Ellen

Thursday was an expectedly busy and productive day here. We started the day with a long morning exercise, and the two of us on swim-track swam over to the current cut and swam tread-mill style against the current. Tough, but with the super swim coming up we have to keep getting in shape. So, after chores and breakfast, we had morning classes until lunch. After lunch, we all worked on our beach-sweep art project, which is based on finding plastic on the beach and reusing it to make art. After that class, we worked on our Human Ecology projects. A couple of these projects were making a raised-bed herb garden and an osprey nesting project. Lastly, we had the usual exploration time, dinner, and study hours. It was a good day.

by Caciques Jack and Kate

We started the day with a long morning exercise (all the guys were late because no one set an alarm in boys dorm). After morning circle we separated into our tracks. I (Jack) did swim track and we swam from the boathouse, up to the current cut, through the current cut to the second bridge and back about a total of two miles, during the swim. I (Kate) did run track and we did an out and back to Deep Creek. We ran as far as we could for 36 minutes and then turned around. I ran with Jane, and we ran as fast as we could on the way there and then planned to slow down on the way back. Within the last minute, we came around the corner and saw the old Deep Creek airport, which is the 4 mile mark. We were both so excited to reach the old airport because neither of us had made it that far yet. We were also able to reach the flagpole (where we end each run) at around 1 hour and 12 minutes, which meant that we basically kept the same pace on the way back. Although we both felt good about that run, the upcoming half marathon still seems very ambitious. After long morning exercise, we had Literature, Math and Marine Ecology class. Continue reading →