Final Posting (no promises, though) for Summer 2009 Course

Hi everyone - Hopefully you have returned home safely to your loved ones and that they are glad to have you back. Our dog, Mayday, seemed to be glad to see us when we picked her up from our neighbor last evening.

We enjoyed a leisurely drive home and stopped in Inlet for a treat and some shopping. Hopefully you will also be able to occasionally take just a little more time to stop, and get off the trail once in a while as you re-enter your lives.

For your final assignment, we want to expand on what we asked you yesterday in our closing session. This is really more for us to see how we might make adjustments in future classes and for us to gauge what you took away from the course. For your final posting in your blog, please address the following points:

Part 1:

Please DESCRIBE (this means MORE than list, you know...) at least five meaningful things you learned in this course and how these things have, or will, effect change(s) in your life (either personally or professionally).

Part 2:

Please DESCRIBE at least three things you have taken away from the course topics, activities, discussions, and/or readings that will affect what you do to in your classroom (or workplace) that will connect our week to what you do every day.

The deadline for this posting is Wednesday, July 22nd at midnight. We look forward to seeing these reflections on our time together. We enjoyed getting to know each of you and we do hope that as you experience successes in your careers that you will, once in a while, think to share them with us.

Best wishes in all you do and we thank you for your service to our children and our society.

Beth and Karl

Bonus - Double Post Day Today!

We had a great day today. The rain held off and we managed to get a lot of people across the ropes, lines, boards, cables, and logs on the Camp Huntington Ropes Course.

But, since it IS a college course, we first spent the morning discussing ways to bring some things "down from the mountain" and back into classrooms across NY State.

In addition, we discussed the ideas of Transition Towns and how schools might be able to help other citizens adjust to the changes coming with energy and other resource, fiscal, and social challenges.

Here's a link to today's action photos. Part 1 Part 2

- Karl

Double Entry / Tuesday and Wednesday

Tuesday began as a cool day and we spent some time spent dodging potential rainstorms but overall it was a pretty good day. We spent the morning visiting the many buildings and locations at Camp Pine Knot and discussed the history and events that took place. In the afternoon, we spent some time on the water with kayaking and exploring Raquette Lake.

On Wednesday we visited two excellent museums in the ADKs, The Wild Center in Tupper Lake and The Adirondack Museum in Blue Mountain.

Photos From Tuesday

Photos From Wednesday

The Climb Up Black Bear Mountain

Above is a thumbnail of our group near the top of Black Bear Mountain. The photograph was taken by our most capable ADK Guide Ed Kanze. Ed spent most of the day enthralling us with his knowledge and stories of life in the ADKs. Ed pointed out many birds and other critters when we visited Ferd's Bog and then climbed Black Bear Mountain.

Here is a higher resolution copy of the image. Right click to save it.

We made it back down and have only a few activities left on our first full day together. Hopefully the rain can hold off and we can enjoy another evening together at the campfire although I have heard that there might be some sauna time tonight. We shall see if we can get someone to fire it up

I just came by the Dining Hall and it smells like a wonderful supper is almost ready.

We think everyone did pretty well today although the road navigation skills of some people are a bit suspect." When DID someone put that lake there? I didn't see it on the way out!"

- Karl

Ed Kanze - Our Guide to the ADKs

Just two more days until we convene at Raquette Lake! We hope that you are starting to anticipate the excitement and adventures that await us.

Here's another update for you to think about as you make your final preparations for our time together.

We have been able to secure the services of an authentic Adirondack Guide - Ed Kanze. Ed will be spending most of Monday with us and if you check the revised schedule (on the course web site) you will get an idea of how he fits in to our plan.

Ed is a longtime supporter of our efforts at Raquette Lake and we are fortunate to have secured his services during the busy summer tourist season.

For more background on his experience, please check out his web site. When we get together, be sure to ask him about his very clever battle against an infestation of field mice a few years ago. It's an illuminating and fascinating tale/tail.

- Karl

James Howard Kunstler in the ADKs

One of the readings for the course was a Rolling Stone article on the topic of peak oil by James Howard Kunstler. Mr. Kunstler also publishes a weekly blog which deals with a variety of topics (last week was a piece comparing the state of US society with the life of the Mr. Jackson - this topic would be only somewhat germane to the topics of this course). Warning - it is not the typical coverage that most of the media is generating this week.

However, more to the point, THIS week Mr. Kunstler talks about spending the recent 4th of July holiday weekend in the Adirondacks. This makes is a bit more appropriate to our class. I think if you follow this link to his July 6th posting on his blog, you will find it to be interesting and thought-provoking (and if you are a fan of boating/jet-skiing/motorized sports - possibly annoying). But, his style is always a bit provocative and I think you will find it interesting.

Beth and I hope you are having fun packing for our time together. Don't forget to pack an alarm clock and, with the weather we have had lately, good quality rain gear (and also extra socks so you can keep your feet comfortable if it keeps raining).

- Karl

Why the United States HAS to lead (Cleaning Our Clock)

In yesterday's NY Times, one of their regular columnists, Thomas Friedman wrote an opinion on why we should take the lead on "green energy." One of the excuses that we have used to excuse our inaction on global environmental issues is that unless the Chinese do something, anything we do will not amount to anything. Mr. Friedman addresses this and provides an alternative way to look at this issue.

Here's a link. Please follow the link and read his essay in this week's NY Times.

I also found a criticism of this concept. Here's a link (Question Everything - Tom, Tom, Tom, When Are You Going To Pay Attention To Reality?) to someone who finds fault with Mr. Friedman's analysis. It's a bit technical, but I think you will be able to follow the general ideas.

During our time together next week, Mr. Friedman's name will probably come up several times. You may be familiar with a couple of his books. His newest books usually deal with the topic that the world is "flat" and that there are implications in this for all of us.

Well, at this time next week we will all be together for a week of fellowship, rejuvenation, and learning. We hope you will come prepared to try new things and to reflect on your profession and how you can effect change on your students (and maybe even your family).

Karl