Last week! Summertime done come and gone...

Dear MTN School Family,

We are updating the schedule for the final week (August 3-7) to reprise some of our favorite days and finish strong:

Monday, August 3- Bikes and PFD's to Veltus Park. Horseshoe Tournament. Advanced group to Bike Park.

Tuesday, August 4- Bikes and PFD's to 3-Mile Beach. Distance run team, "Indicator Species" Lesson. Bring goggles, and beach gear.

Wednesday, August 5- Building and Woodshop/Possible second Wildlife trip pending final approval. PSS Wildlife is concerned about the heat, and that makes sense. We scheduled this Field Study in January, and if we can see it through, we will finalize a roster and ask students to bring "Freezer burned meat" for the animals in rehab.

Thursday, August 6- End of Summer Party and "Loud and Proud" presentations from students. Small group to Journey Home Animal Center to deliver donation earned by the entrepreneurs in the Good Luck Smoothie Company led by Sasha Ellis.

Friday, August 7- End of Summer Party and TRCS clean up. "Leave it better than we found it/LNT"

Plenty of PFD's and goggles to share, but great if kids bring their own. It's been a great Summer! We are hoping out to finish strong with afternoon lessons and projects, kid-friendly parties, recognition circles with shares and generosity... I have loved seeing the "Cross-Age" friendships and the mentoring of younger kids by older ones.

We have received praise and great feedback from Powers Art Center, KDNK Radio staff, and people throughout the community who see our groups on the rivers, trails, and parks. Everyone agrees: "This is exactly what kids need!" and, "This is the best group of kids we've ever hosted."

Last Thursday was fantastic on horseback to start the day, and then the Sunshine Daydream at 3-Mile Beach, built up through Finn Smith's creative and passionate approach to Riparian Biology. Learning as play. Play as learning... I haven't even had a chance to hear about the final Rock Climbing trip led by Mary and Haley, but we've found a way to set kids up for Peak Experiences before the heat of the day, and to maximize adventure while minimizing drive times.

The article in the Post Independent was a fantastic cherry on top, and the "stewardship" principle is regularly on display. We have, indeed, left our favorite places better than we've found them.

I have been so impressed by the hard work and loyalty shared all around! Not sure how we pulled it off, but I got to do a 3-Mile run on the Atkinson Trail with Noelle, Griffin, Bria, Nolan, and Ella Rose. Ella, I guess it's still your birthday weekend! Happy Birthday again! Tisha and Randi pulled off a great Birthday Party with lots of ice cream for Ella, and that kind of thing has felt extra sweet after many weeks of more austere trips and experiences that call on students to be prepared, and self-reliant... Gushing by now, and feeling extra full as I read back over a long list of rich and varied experiences. We built it together and I am touched by the many contributions that seem to come from all directions. So a list to end on. First thought best thought:

-Lunch in Baggs, WY with pink lady apples and roast beef sandwiches at the Frontier Museum. Police were zooming in from everywhere. Look up the story!

-Our Friendly Fox and our Forested Teton Camp. Cool and rainy, but warm and cozy.

-Teton Crest Waffles at Corbett's Cabin

-Prismatic Hot Springs

-Chilaquiles Breakfast and hot drinks with the frother :)

-Yellowstone Bears, Bison and Moose oh my!

-Caves, High Alpine Lakes, Cutthroat Trout... Kids came back saying it was the best camping trip ever.

-Flaming Dinos! Cliffjumping, Dinosaur National Monument, Invasive Pike, and some fine singing and dancing videos from the campfire. "Pink Pony Club" song of the Summer :)

-Scavenger Hunts

-28 mile round trip bike ride to Hanging Lake

-Lots of other great bike rides including South Canyon last week, and solid 6 and 7 year old Teams led by Randi and crew.

-Hanging Lake on back to back days.

-Maroon Bells "Civics Lesson" from our "PUBLIC LAND OWNERS". :)

-Mary and Cooper with a Watermelon helmet :) Never saw Mary smiling more than this Summer.

-Haley dancing with Charlotte. Hilarious and memorable picture!

-Orville with his portable Praying Mantis house. Orville caught a Garter Snake and his boys looked on with wide-eyed amazement :)

-Chapman Trip- secret Hidden Lake, spaghetti with meatballs. BB Gun shooting all afternoon. Jumping from the dam. Fishing with Yeti.

-Eagle River and Wolcott Boulders- super clear instruction and assessment of the climbs, but kids who ventured that high up were scared! "Doing something truly scary tones down the invented anxiety and nervous habit."- Alex Honnold

-Asher, Liam, Sawyer, Paul, James- watched hungry wild trout attack dry flies. Shake a shake dry fly dressing and go again and again. Fantastic conditions.

-Goggles and the first ever "Finn's Roaring Fork Snorkeling Club". There are giants living in the deep pools!

-Lift Up and Journey Home volunteer days! We transcended "School Field Trip" and became vetted, regular helpers. Kids know the difference.

-Foraging week was a huge success! Colors, flavors, cookies, medicine... Great job, Haley!

-Field Days at Sullivan Park were awesome too. Coach Tisha wears so many hats- Reading Interventionist, Stone-Cold Teacher, Classroom Manager, specific instruction-giver, Referee. We kept so many kids happily busy as they rotated from game to game, sport to sport. Hope she saw the amazing diving wiffle ball catch I caught playing "Ben Ball" a baseball variation that is trademarked and not to be used without the consent of Canady Enterprises :)

-Rifle Climbing Center days were competitive and fun! Not too many of us made it up the fabled "Black Problem" but we cheered and encouraged and kept up with each other a real climbing Team would. We need a moon board in the Yurt and that is likely to happen this Winter.

-Triathlon at Two Rivers Park was fantastic. Dupont kids might have been the most decorated, and the Green Team won the Pizza Party. Colored Headbands for the Teams for the win! Randi's idea to have each team member complete a bead bracelet as the final third was really good. We watched 48 kids demonstrate 100% engagement on the beadwork after swimming and running, and that is a rare and beautiful sight.

Starting the slideshow! Send pics!!