Blog #2: Preparing for Expedition

My Dear Readers,

Our time at base camp has come to an end.  We've finished our group and personal gear packout, as well as a massive food pack out, and will soon be stepping forward into something that is, for all of us, new and exciting.  The night before expedition, after a very long day of packing and cleaning, we went out to Orchard Hill Bakery for a sauna and celebratory pizza night.  

  We have all been immersed in our Big Jobs, each of us focusing on our responsibilities to bring the whole group to readiness.  Not only have we been preparing for the first section, our two-week expedition in the Green Mountains, but we have been packing out for the entire winter.  It feels like we accomplished at least two weeks worth of work in one.

Zoe directing, Laszlo packing

Starting the butter pack out

Knives- our foremost tools

We each made beautiful knife handles and sheaths with Laurel Iselin.  Rather than us each making a knife for ourselves, however, we each made a knife for another in our community.  After all the knives were complete and the sheaths were made, we had a ceremony to release the knife to its soon-to-be wielder.  Slowly, around the circle it went, everyone both giving and receiving. 

Charly doing the rough work with the rasp

Theater

In preparation for Parent Day, we we spent a lot of time working on our theater skills!  After going to see, and being inspired by the fantastic performance of “The Caucasian Chalk Circle," by the 10th grade class of Monadnock Waldorf School, we created our own artistic representation of our time at base camp to show our parents.  

Grant practicing his lines

Perkins Day

We spent a lovely day last week with our soon-to-be pen pals.  The students from Perkins Elementary school joined us for a day playing games, doing service projects all over Kroka campus, and lots of sledding.  As the semester progresses, each of us will be writing back and forth with the two or three students we worked with on this day.  

Connor helping a Perkins student clean out the greenhouse

Gil and students collecting boughs for the lodges

Parent Day

After making sure we were presentable for our parents and families, we waited in anticipation for the first arrivals.  After hugs and bagels, we began an exciting day.  Along with our families we sewed our day food bags for expedition, split and stacked firewood, worked on our knives, shared our big jobs with our families through individual projects, and introduced our guests to the Kroka woods that we have been exploring on skis.  

We shared a delicious meal (thanks for all the delicious food everyone brought!) and lots of song and laughter during the student performance, and some embarrassed red faces during the parent talent show.  As the day wound down to an end and the sun had long ago dipped below the horizon, it was time for final farewells.  It was very difficult to say goodbye and yet there was also a feeling of unconditional love and support that filled the air and rooted us back home.  Our family has now extended into a larger community.

Zoe and her sisters

Julian with Mary and Paul

We are now preparing to leave what has been our home for the past three weeks, with our teachers Hannah, Erica, and Seth, and for this first leg of winter travel, Chris Knapp.  We will be creating new homes in the great outdoors, amidst the trees and plants and animals.  In and around our small expedition tents, which will soon feel like part of us, we will be learning new things everyday from each other and the land that will stay with us for the rest of our lives.  I look forward to sharing these exciting new adventures with all of you.  

-Ila

Zoe following the lines she has drawn

Hyim and Teresa

Connor rasping finger grooves into his knife for Samuel

Hyim sanding the handle to its final shape

Samuel working on ditty bags for expedition with Perkins students

Alessio

Charly reflecting on the Woman's March in the presentation

Serena preparing her Big Job gear pack out

Sharon and Zoe practicing their lines

Serena supervising for safety

Ila and a Perkins student making lunch

Everyone preparing for personal gear pack out

A postscript from Oliver

The final item on Ila's list before leaving Kroka campus was to hand me the sheaf of papers containing the words written above.  Then she and all the rest of the students climbed into the big van, followed by a trailer containing their backpacks, skis, and gear- everything they would need for the first part of their grand expedition.  Many were sleepy after staying up late, finishing the final details, but in their eyes I saw no doubt- they were ready, and it was time to go.  

The semester will be on trail for the next two weeks before their first layover, and the next blog.  Until then, please enjoy the new snow!  I know they will.

Expedition clothes on, ready to go