Our inspiration for change was facilitated by the discovery that our philosophy is well aligned with the teachings of Austrian philosopher, scientist and educator Rudolf Steiner (1861–1925). Rudolf Steiner founded the first Waldorf School in Germany in 1919. The Waldorf/Steiner educational movement has since grown into the largest independ-ent educational movement in the world with over 700 Waldorf schools in 36 countries. Much of Kroka Expeditions’ future development will be based on Steiner’s teachings which resonate so well with the beliefs and prac-tices we have already established. Some changes that will soon be implemented are outlined below:

• Kroka’s curriculum will continue to serve the holistic needs of our students' and will not be based on competitive market trends.

• The Kroka community is made up of teachers, students families, administrators and Board of Directors, with teachers at the core. Teachers will become a governing body of the organization. Administrators and the Board will make sure that teachers’ decisions are implemented and supported financially.

• Each lead teacher will be responsible for their curriculum and all aspects of its implementation. Each teacher will have the freedom to develop their curriculum within the school’s philosophy.

• We will contact local Waldorf/Steiner organizations to study and learn ways to transition into a more harmonious organizational structure.

The Earth flag flies proudly over Kroka's Trollhaugen Farm base camp

SEMESTER PROGRAM
The Vermont Experience semester-long program will begin in January 2004. During the first month of the program stu-dents will polish their cross-country skiing skills, make tradi-tional snowshoes, sew up their group tent and weld a wood stove (while studying winter ecology, human adaptations to the cold, menu planning and maintaining their life at base camp)—this experience will prepare them for their wilderness expedition north. When all is ready, the group will embark on a skiing/snowshoeing journey through the Green Mountains from Massachusetts to the Canadian border on the 300-mile long Catamount Trail. On their journey students will meet and work with many traditional craftspeople and artists from Vermont and neighboring states who will share their skills along the way. At the Canadian border, the group will settle in for another big project: building Voyageur-style wood and canvas expedition canoes which will carry them on their journey south. After building their own boats, the students will follow the Connecticut River watershed from its headwaters back to the southern border of Vermont, again stopping along the way to learn from people eager to share their traditional wilderness craft skills. The group will arrive back at Kroka in early June. Students will receive full credit for a semester of high school. On their journey, students will be accompanied by a head teacher who will begin working in early 2003 and will work with students to fulfill not only their educational requirements, but their adventurous dreams and personal interests as well. In its first season the program will serve 12 students. Interested students should apply now. Interested community members, students and their families are invited to join the curriculum advisory board. Applications are now being accepted for the Head Teacher position.

BASE CAMP DEVELOPMENT
The needs of summer programs, growing school programs and the up-coming semester program are all being consid-ered at Trollhaugen Farm. We are working on architectural plans for an Expedition Center and a Base Lodge. We will continue working on ori-enteering maps of camp and many smaller projects. In our development we are guided by principles of sustainable land and material use, as well as energy independence. We need help from our community at all stages of this development, from fundraising and planning to carpentry and volunteer labor.

What direction am I facing? What time is it? Father sun has all the answers for his observant children.

SCHOOL AND CAMP CONTRACT PROGRAMS CONTINUE TO GROW
Throughout the year, Kroka Expeditions continues to work with many schools, community organizations and traditional camps. While our main area of concentration is Waldorf school expeditions, KE’s philosophy continues to attract diverse organizations. We welcome all schools and community organizations who seek meaningful wilderness rites of passage experiences for their students, who welcome true adventure and challenge, and who are willing to allow their students to accept full responsibility for their own learning. Most school programs are between one and ten days in length. Choices include base camp programs similar to Introduction to Adventure, multi-element expeditions, sea kayaking trips, and winter ski and snowshoe trips. We are now offering new school programs to the Suwanee and Rio Grande Rivers.

In the past year we have created and led programs for the following (15) groups: Baltimore Waldorf School, Bement School, Cambridge Montessori School, Chesterfield Elementary School, The Barton Center for Diabetes Education, Hartsbrook Waldorf School, Lawrence Community Day School, Leland and Gray High School, Monadnock Waldorf School, The Putney School (and their Summer Program), Shire Village Camp, 92 nd St. Y’s “The Tiyul”, Community High School of Vermont, Boys to Men Mentoring Project, and Writers’ Express. Our school program is blossoming, with many organizations coming for their fifth or seventh year in a row. We are serving an important need and are preparing to accommodate more schools this coming spring as well as expanding our fall team-building programs.

GROUP HIGHLIGHT
Boys to Men of Norwich, Connecticut has been coming to Kroka for 5 years. This is a men-toring community in which men volunteer to spend some time each week with boys (many “at-risk”) from the community. This special relationship provides rites of passage and missing tribal relation-ships to boys. During their meet-ings, Boys to Men talk about everything that may be important in a teenager’s life. They invite speakers and participate in cultural and outdoor experiences. Many of the mentors stay with the program for over ten years. It is an honor to work with them.