Kurt Hahn: Highs and Lows

"Excellence is achieved through consistency and innovation - and daring." Barry Hunter

I sat down with some of Mr. Waterman's students while they were on solo to report that everyone was really enjoying themselves. I was surprised that this crew was making the most of their time alone, writing in their journals and resting.

Each crew has shared really special moments throughout the past 4 days. Ashley from Ms. Lustic's crew was disappointed that the bus was leaving so early on Friday. He says that this is an experience that he would like to share with his own children someday and was sorry that it was ending tomorrow.

Ms. Osborne's crew was at the Flying Squirrel and Ms. Lustics crew was at the zip line. It is a sheer pleasure to see people whizzing through the air, screaming or not. The smile at the end is priceless and worth a thousand pictures. Adriano from Ms. Lustics crew was the last to go on the zip line. As he was walking up to the approach, he was asked why he decided to participate, he replied, "What the heck!" He loved every moment.

Kurt Hahn: Food, fuel and shelter

"Enchant, stay beautiful and graceful, but do this, eat well. Bring the same consideration to the preparation of your food as you devote to your appearance. Let your dinner be a poem, like your dress. -Charles Pierre Monslet

Setting up your own shelter and cooking for a large group of people can be very empowering. All students get a hand at cooking and setting up shelter. We don't eat junk food, with the exception of s'mores, as we want to promote good health. The apples we get each week come from my friends farm and they are a huge hit. You can't buy these in the supermarket.

Mr. Waterman's crew is the only one in base camp tonight, so it is very quiet. All other crews are in campsites that surround us. In all actuality, they are all within one mile of Camp ABC(don't tell them that, though) We look forward to having Ms. Lustic and Mr. Sacerdote's crews with us tomorrow morning at the high ropes course.

Kurt Hahn: Backpacking and High Ropes

Kurt Hahn ninth graders continued to learn new skills today that they will put to practice for the rest of their course. Mr. Sacardote and Ms. Sealy's crews stepped out of their comfort zones at the high ropes course. Students learned how to help each other climbing, how to grab a trapeze bar, to tie figure 8 follow through knots, put on harnesses and helmets, and how to belay each other.

Mr. Waterman's crew continued their backpacking expedition for their second night out. There is a great photo of some crew members 'getting light' and of their arrival at camp. Ms. Osborne's crew and Ms. Lustic's crews started out on their backpacking trip early this afternoon.

The weather was ideal and we were graced with a visit from Mr. Brown. Let's hope the trend continues.

Kurt Hahn: Training

"Life is either an adventure or nothing at all." Helen Keller

Outward Bound courses are traditionally divided into three phases: Training, Main and Final. In Training, students learn the skills they will need to be successful in the completion of their course. In Crew Orientation some of the skills that students will learn are: navigation, cooking, cleaning outdoors, conflict resolution, community living, journal writing, knots, tarps, helmets, harnesses and more. All of these skills can be transferred to other areas in life.

In Main, students still continue to learn more skills, but instructors step back a little and allow the group to make decisions on their own. Crews are given challenges that will propel them to the next level. Each student has a role, like leader of the day, navigator, chef to name a few. They must demonstrate that they can carry out their roles without too much prompting from their instructors to move into Final.

In Final, students have demonstrated that they can function primarily as a group with little, if any help from their instructors. Instructors are always within 100% sight and/or sound for safety purposes and will step in if necessary. I have no doubt that all crews this week will make it to final. Let the adventure begin!

Kurt Hahn: Welcome to Sharpe Reservation

We would like to welcome the Kurt Hahn School for Expeditionary Learning to the Sharpe Reservation Right now, Ms. Osborne's crew is playing with our resident Siberian Husky, Willow. They have just gotten all their clothes in the dining hall. They report that they played a game, ate snacks, made lunch and are now getting ready to go to their camp. This story is true for all other crews.

Each crew is going to head out to the low challenge course on this gorgeous afternoon. It is here that they will really get to know one another and will learn how best to work together. Each crew will be presented with a problem that they must solve together. There is no right or wrong answer or solution. The most important thing is for crews to use their best communication and leadership skills.

McCown: Last night

All crews did a solo at some point this afternoon, which was a perfect time to bask in the warmth of the sun. A solo is a reflective period in which students have some time to themselves quietly so that they make take in their experience. There are questions they must answer in their journal and they may be asked to write a letter to themselves that they will open in 6 months. The letters will be privately held by their crew advisors until the 6 month mark.

To culminate this course, all crews will have a special closing ceremony in which students are asked to choose a pin representative of New York City Outward Bound that exemplifies their part in their Crew Orientation course. Afterward, crews celebrated Halloween, each in separate ways; some did face painting, some carved pumpkins, roasted marshmallows for s'mores and I believe all had campfires. The stars and moon are out for a celestial performance to end our day.