Windy Peak Update 1/9/15:
Fall 2014 ended with a celebration. Interns were honored for their hard work at a potluck that was attended by Windy Peak staff, interns and family members. The staff also decided to sponsor a family during the holiday season. Interns delivered a Christmas dinner, food for a week, a fresh tree, and gifts for the kids. Our interns were honored to have the opportunity to be the "elves".
Edgewater and Lumberg were the final group of the semester and earned a Perfect Week Trophy showing that they fully embraced our Outdoor Lab philosophy of stewardship. The semester went very well and all of the schools showed growth in their physical abilities, academics, and interpersonal skills. We are so honored to have the opportunity to work with such great teachers and kids. Feedback tells us that initiatives, archery, and all-day hikes seem to be favorites and the kids always rave about the home-made food! Thank you notes arrive in droves and the interns and staff feel a sense of accomplishment and pride when the students express their gratitude.
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The Spring 2015 semester started with a successful week of intern training. We have a wonderful set of interns who are eager to host our friends from Shelton and Ralston during our first week back. A stellar cast of teachers including Jon Bromfield, Renee Adams-Lee, Joe Johnson, and Laura Hinojos will be up with their students! The weather has been more winter like the past few weeks and snow is on the ground as seen in the picture of our spring intern staff! We would like to welcome the following interns: returners Palmer Peterson, Jeremy Martinez, and Zeke Student. New interns include Bridgett Durfey, Peter Chesbro, Kayley Jelinek, and Rori Serrano. We are excited to welcome two college-graduate interns, Montana Cohn (sustainability intern) and Linnea Pierson (leadership intern). We also want to welcome Roger Kiser as a new member of our wonderful kitchen staff!
Other frequent visitors to Windy Peak include foxes, rabbits, deer, occasional elk, cross-bills, Steller's Jays, a variety of nuthatches, and a team of "busy beavers" who are renovating the central restrooms. Mr. Gneiser reports that his back porch has become a midden pile for the local pine squirrel! Until next time, enjoy the beauty that is Colorado!
Mount Evans Update 1/9/15:
The new calendar year is off to a great start at Mt. Evans. The week of Jan. 5 - 9 was spent training a great new group of interns. In the girls' bunks we have Ms. Bettinger, Ms. Olsen, Ms. Szymanski, and Ms. Knapp joining Ms. Gunn, one of our Leadership Interns. In the boys' bunks we have Mr. Fognani, Mr. Medo, Mr. Zimmerer, Mr. Rusk and Mr. Kay joining our other Leadership intern, Mr. Belitz. Together they make a perfect combination of experienced veterans and new energy to serve our sixth grade students.
The first week with sixth grade students is Jan. 12 - 16 with the Arvada schools of Lawrence and Peck. The teachers - Ms. Vaughn and Ms. Mattox from Lawrence and Ms. Kreider and Ms. Hall from Peck - have been working tirelessly before and during their winter break to get their kids ready for a life-changing week at Outdoor Lab.
From all of us at Outdoor Lab we wish you a very Happy and Adventurous New Year!!
Below: New interns rehearse the flag ceremony against a fading sunset at Mt. Evans.
