EXPERIENTIAL WEEK 2012
- FRESHMEN headed down to Oxnard Harbor where they met up with the crew of the "Bill of Rights" for a 3 day/2 night journey on the 137 foot long schooner. The group sailed out to the Channel Islands, with opportunities to circumnavigate one or more of the islands, hiked on Santa Cruz Island, hoisted and lowered the sails, stood watch, dropped and pulled up the anchor, cooked for one another, saw dolphins, and learned about maritime history and marine biology. The organization that led the trip was the American Tall Ship Institute. To complete the week, freshmen enjoyed a day trip to the beach and a movie. Click here to see photos.
- SOPHOMORES started the week with a 3-day backpacking trip in the local San Rafael Wilderness along the Manzana Creek. Next, they took part in a wind workshop with Mathias Craig '96 and a crew from blueEnergy, installers of community-supported wind turbines and water filtration systems in Nicaragua. In two days, they learned how to build a small wind turbine (adapted from a Hugh Piggott design) from the raw materials of hand-carved blades, powerful magnets, copper coils, and a rotor assembly. Then, they broke ground on Midland's 9th 3-kW grid-tied solar array, which will help power the well pumps. Over the course of three days, the students worked alongside faculty members and Gary Gordon of Santa Ynez Valley Solar digging post holes and trenches, assembled a ground-mount structure, and mounted the modules onto the racking. A professional electrician made the final connection between the new array and the grid. With its completion, almost 25% of Midland's communal electricity needs are met with solar arrays installed by 10th graders over the past 9 years.
- JUNIORS enjoyed an extended experience with a two-week homestay with individual families in Mascota, Jalisco, Mexico. During the first week, students attended school with their hosts at La Prepa, eating meals with their host families, and checking out all of the normal teenager hangouts. Although the main purpose of the trip is to provide an intensive immersion experience, they also took the time to enjoy a few group activities as well such as watching a La Prepa volleyball game, hiking to see and learn about petroglyphs and enjoying a boat ride and snorkeling. "Overall the cultural immersion experience has been very interesting for all of us, and I think it has allowed us learn more about another culture and even more about ourselves," shared Diego Marcogliese '13. Click here to read updates from Diego and faculty member Don Redl and to see photos.
- SENIORS spent the week interviewing or interning with experts who are working in each senior's area of interest as part of the work toward completing his or her Senior Thesis. This off-campus experience is designed to give each student specific and concrete insight into his or her thesis topic and career interests.
- HORSES: The horses were busy during Experiential Week as well. While they were not directly involved in the installation of a new solar-powered electric fence, they did watch the proceedings with interest. First to test out the new device was dear Dessi, who received a bit of a shock upon investigating the shiny, white wire now running parallel to the fence line. After a few days of curious nudging at the new wires, it appears that the entire herd has decided that leaning on the fence, or scratching an itchy tail against a fence post is no longer a good idea.
- Reminder About Return Travel from Break: Students must return to campus and be ready for the 6:00 PM Assembly on Sunday, April 15. To meet this requirement, arrival in Santa Barbara by 5:00 PM is essential. Thank you!
UPCOMING EVENTS - Stargazing on Kimpton Field: Chuck McPartlin has agreed to visit us again and give an astronomy presentation followed by stargazing with powerful telescopes on the field on Tuesday, April 17 at 7:30 PM. His PowerPoint presentation and encyclopedic knowledge of the universe and beyond is amazing and a lot of fun.
- Global Warming: Thinking it Through: On Sunday, April 15, 2012, Midland will host the Twelfth Annual Mason Willrich '50 Lecture on Global Environmental Issues. The speaker will be Dr. James L. Powell, who will give a lecture titled, "Global Warming: Thinking it Through." Click here to view Midland's list of guest speakers for the year.
- Earth Day: Midland will once again have a booth at The Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival on April 21 and 22. Several Midland students and faculty members will be at the booth to talk about Midland as well as energy and our solar installations. Midland's booth will be in the Campus Point section, booth #205, on the corner of Sola and Anacapa Streets. Come by and say hello if you plan on attending the festival.
- HAVE A WONDERFUL BREAK!
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