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By Lisl Hofer
It is a privilege to serve as Semester Programs Coordinator
at Kroka Expeditions. Of course, the best part of my work
is spending time with the semester students, be it at
layovers, on the river, screaming down a ski trail, or
trekking on the Ecuadorian Highlands and climbing the
mighty volcano Cotopaxi. Each group and each student has
a special place in my heart. I am continually filled with
awe as I am witnessing the courage to change in these
young people going through our semester programs. How
these programs and our teachers awaken the potential in
our students, how confident and enthusiastically they
leave and go out into the world to pass on what they have
learned! I love working with our teachers who have dedicated
their lives to share a deep appreciation, love and enthusiasm
for our Earth with young people. Their teaching is authentic;
it reflects how they live.
Thank you.
Nelly’s words express what I see:
“The wind, snow and sun
are our companions as we move northward. The skies
forecast the weather and tell us the time.The earth
warms us from beneath as we sleep at night.We breathe
the clean air deeply and smell the hemlocks and spruce.We
take in this life in hopes of handing down our learning
when we leave here.”
–Nelly Detra,
scribe for NHVSP ’09 |
Contact Lisl: semester@kroka.org
A strong and enthusiastic group of four young woman and
eight young men set off for the trail on February 1st
with Misha as their leader. Instead of driving to Somerset
Reservoir in Vermont this group left for the trail directly
from Kroka’s new base camp in Marlow, NH and worked very
hard to make it, via their own power, to the Catamount
Trail and from there to the NorthWoods Stewardship Center.
By now the skis have been put away, all winter gear cleaned
up and the paddles, pack baskets and new canoe are coming
to life. At the end of April, they are on their way, paddling
towards summer and “returning home”. For the final days
the ’09 Vermont Semester will begin phase I on Kroka’s
new Carriage House with teacher Ken Gagnon. Trying to
make teaching this semester more sustainable we took to
a new approach with three master teachers trading places
along the journey. Misha led the expedition for the first
weeks focusing on expedition skills and leadership. Chris
Knapp took over from Blueberry Hill Inn to Sterling College
sharing bush life skills. Misha finished the winter portion
and set up spring camp at NorthWoods and Michael Dammer
is bringing the students back to Kroka. Baruch Schwadron
and Julia Pearson are the constant adults for these young
people.
A major improvement this year is our layover support
system. Along the trail we have our red van and trailer
moving from layover to layover. No more stressful re-supply
runs from base camp are necessary. Almost everything needed
is stored in the trailer: food, repair kits, sewing machine
and academic boxes all are waiting at the next layover.
Thank you Mark McGovern for your generous gift last year.
It has made our lives so much easier.
 At
the end of August a group of 10 students, six young women
and four young men embarked on the New Hampshire-Ecuador
Semester. A huge project was waiting to be accomplished
in the first four weeks of the program: the construction
of “Palugo”, an 18 sided Yurt-like structure with a cupola
and roofed with recycled slate with Ken Gagnon as the
Construction Manager and Hans Schepker as the Math and
Stain Glass Teacher. Now Kroka has a beautiful circular
building with stain glass windows.
During their adventures in Ecuador two indigenous
Ecuadorians, Nadino and Samuel joined the group.
Working on Hacienda Palugo, the Dammer brothers’ family farm, visiting
communities such as San Clemente and Zuletta, and the market of Ottovalo,
rafting to the remote indigenous jungle village of Schiwakotcha, trekking
the Highlands and mountaineering the volcanoes, all these adventures are
tremendous opportunities of self discovery while living in
community.
Thank you Palugo community, Mathias, Marcela and Michael
for sharing your life in Ecuador. Twelve young people learned
from you and opened their hearts to a new reality as you
shared your love for adventure and your care for this amazing
and beautiful world.
New Hampshire-Ecuador Semester 2009
August 27 through December 19, 2009
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New Hampshire-Vermont Semester 2010
January 6 through June 6, 2010 |
| If you enroll early, with completed
application and signed contract, we offer an early
registration discount of $500. |
| New Hampshire-Ecuador Semester by May 1 |
Vermont Semester by September 1 |
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New Hampshire Vermont Semester 2009 Graduation, Sunday,
June 7
Please mark your calendars and hopefully you can
join us in celebrating the accomplishments of these
young people. Look for the announcement and detailed
information on our website or call the office. If
you are not on our semester update list please contact
the office and leave your e-mail address or send
it directly to semester@kroka.org.
You can also read them online at www.kroka.org
under semester updates. |
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