Nature's Classroom Trip - October 2011

Friday, October 7, 2011

2011-10-07T09:45:00.003-04:00

There were some great skits last night and some hidden talent came out from the students. The kids really enjoyed themselves. Mrs. Hennessey was kind enough to iron on 34 Nature's Classroom logos for the kids. They all signed each others shirts as a nice remembrance of their time here. I finally had to tell the boys to go to sleep at 11:30. I have never had a class like this. Normally, they are asleep by ten on the last night.

After a combination wake up tune of Judas Priest and Metallica the kids were up and packing. You would not believe the amount of single socks and underwear left behind. Good thing you bought them new. :) Admittedly, watching them carry all of their luggage to where the buses will pick them up is my favorite part. The pictures tell it all.

The kids had to go back and clean the cabins. After that they will fill out evaluations and participate in their last field group. The buses will be here at 12 and then it is homeward bound.

Please ask your child what the week was like and what they liked about it. I'm sure they will have many positive things to tell you. Thanks for letting us take your children on an adventure they will always remember.

Don't forget to check out the almost 500 pictures we have at: https://picasaweb.google.com/102858422363285244565/NatureSClassroom2011

Thursday, October 6, 2011

2011-10-06T10:24:00.003-04:00

Photos of the days so far:https://picasaweb.google.com/102858422363285244565/NatureSClassroom2011
Keep on checking back because it seems like I am adding pictures hourly.

This morning started out with a classical tune from Ramstein that was loaded with screaming guitars and drums to entice the boys from their slumber. Sleep deprivation is really starting to catch up with them. After a nice breakfast of eggs, sausage, and english muffins the kids went into their field groups and played in various activities. After an hour transition time it was off to lunch which consisted of hamburgers and tater tots. Needless to say the salad bar, once again, was big hit.

Mrs. Graul and Mrs. Mihos came up last night to participate in the Underground Railroad and stayed through lunch today. They are thoroughly impressed with how well behaved the kids are and how much fun they are having.

After a class the kids played a huge game of tag called Predator and Prey. You should have seen how tired they were after running around for two hours. I hoping for an even earlier bedtime.

Tonight they have TNL which is a rendition of Saturday Night Live except done Nature's Classroom style. Each group comes up with a skit that they will perform in front of everyone. The kids do a really good job. After singing a few songs it is back to the cabin for a blissful slumber.

With only half a day tomorrow we already had the kids pack up most of their belongings. Don't be surprised if you end up with missing socks and undergarments. Of course their clothes are going to be filthy. I do not envy the parents when they open the bags and discover what's inside.

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

2011-10-06T09:53:00.000-04:00

The boys were up early this morning. Maybe it is because I made them shut out the lights earlier. However they did chat for a while and did not go sleep until a little after 11. Luckily, though there were a few who I could wake up with the soothing sounds of Motley Crue.

After a breakfast of french toast and bacon the kids had transition time and then prepared for their four hour hike. When they got back they were tired, wet, and hungry. Thankfully, Mrs. Hennessey got them pizza. They gobbled it down.

The boys are consistently trying to scare or spy on the girls but are failing miserably at it. They have trouble hiding behind a tree. It is quite funny to watch. The girls are not taking lying down and chasing the boys as soon as they close to the cabin. It is amazing how tough the boys aren't when they are being chased by the girls.

They had a spontaneous dance party on the girls porch. A few of them were showing off some of their dance moves as well as how well they can Conga. The boys and girls were dancing like it was the last time they were ever going to get the opportunity to dance.

While at class the boys cabin was Bieberfied. Posters of boy wonder, Justin Beiber, were plastered everywhere. The boys were horrified when they came back. They vowed revenge. How, I don't know. :)

We are glad to hear that our students at Aborn had a great time in Lynn Woods.

Tonight is the Underground Railroad. I will give you more information on that tomorrow. Also, we would all like to wish Mr. & Mrs. Hennessey a happy 15^th anniversary today.

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

2011-10-04T14:07:00.001-04:00

Wake up for the boys.

Today started off with a little heavy metal ditty by Godsmack for the boys. It was sweet revenge for keeping me up until 12:45. I have a feeling that they may want to be asleep a little bit earlier tonight. However, their energy level today has been extremely high. Mrs. Hennessey does tell me that a few of the girls stayed up late chatting and then got up before the adults. Trust me your child will be very tired when they get home.

We have set up a showering schedule so the kids will at least smell better than the cabins do. Dirty clothes are everywhere. For some reason the boys think it's a pillow fight free for all every time we go back to the cabin. The girls have had a pillow fights but I think not as rough as the boys.

After a delicious breakfast of pancakes and sausages the kids went into their field groups and came back pretty wet. Luckily, we did not have the rain that you had at home. As a matter of fact as of right now it has barely rained.

The girls have been beautifying themselves with mani/pedis. At least that is what the female adult chaperones are telling me. They have also been dancing quite a bit and doing girly things.

Some of the kids went on a deer survival hike, published the NC News, Floated Yo Boat, built a rope bridge, and dropped eggs wrapped up in napkins to see how high they could go before they broke. During transition time Mrs. Hennessey and I played basketball against a couple of the students. We both needed oxygen and lots of water after that. The kids are having soooo much fun.

Tonight was taco night. The kids seemed to like it. They are going on a night experience hike in which they go for a walk with no flashlights and discover various ways light can be created. Then it back to the dining hall for quiet sing. After that we will all go back to the cabins and the kids will be going to the bed at a decent time. Good night.

Monday, October 3, 2011

2011-10-03T20:49:00.001-04:00

It looks like we got out of Dodge just in time before the skies opened up. The ride up was relaxing and no one was crying. The kids watched the movie The Last Starfighter. We got up here around 11:15. The students met all the counselors and then enjoyed a lunch of grilled cheese and tater tots. For those parents who believe their children do not like salad, they are lying to you. The salad bar is very popular up here. Even the parents love the food.

The kids were paired up their counselors and are mixed in with other students from Sisson and Lincoln-Thompson. They are already making friends. They also had their first class which included building geodomes, frog dissection, camouflage stalker(how to hide in the woods), and making slingshots. The week will be filled with a ton of different classes. Of course my favorite activity is watching the kids carry their luggage to the cabins. I think some of the parents packed expecting their kids to be gone for a month. Some of that luggage was heavy.

During their down time they have been playing basketball, tether ball, soccer, and other various activities. There is no shortage of fun up here.

For dinner we had chicken, corn, and red potatoes. The kids devoured it. However, once again the salad bar was all the rage. Of course they loved the brownies for dessert. After dinner they had a science fair in the dining hall. All the kids participated in the experiments and had a blast.

The boys have already had a monstrous pillow fight. They were wild, but I watched to make sure it didn't get out of hand. Mrs. Hennessey's cabin looks like a big Christmas tree. Lights are strewn all over the walls. She also says that the girls are awesome and very neat. I wish I could say the same about the boys' neatness.

Day one is down and so far no one has asked for their parents. I did say that they would forget all about you. As we look forward to tomorrow we have no clue what time these kids will actually get to sleep. I can't wait for wake up time at 7.

Trip 2011!!!!!

2011-09-15T18:28:00.000-04:00

Our trip is fast approaching so I hope all you campers are getting your supplies ready. We will be gone from Monday, October 3rd to Friday, October 7 but of course the kids will be thinking of you every moment they are away from you. NOT!!! They are going to have so much fun they will forget they have parents. Just kidding.

Please follow the suggested equipment list that was provided to you. However, we would suggest and extra pair of pants or two because if they get wet it will take a long time to dry their clothes. Also, remember to send those letters early. We would suggest you put them in the mail by October 1st if they are to get them during that week.

Once again we will be leaving from the CVS on Eastern Ave. Please be there by 8:30. We will not wait around. On Friday we usually arrive back at CVS between 2:30 and 3:30 . Please remember to park in the very back of the parking lot.

Don't forget to check out the blog every day. I usually update it at night, and if I have time during the day I will put in a few up to the minute details.

Friday, October 8,2010 (The Last Day)

2010-10-08T10:26:00.000-04:00

It is with great sadness that I write this final blog for the Nature's Classroom trip of 2010. The kids have had a great time and are looking forward to coming home, yet they do want to stay. They have done some pretty amazing things this week and I'm sure you will here all about during the weekend. Mrs. Hennessey, Mrs. Mayne, Mr. Doherty, and myself have had a great time also. The weather was great, except for Wednesday, and the food was good. What more could you ask for.

Today the boys were woken in the most unusual way. The girls from Lincoln-Thomson school came barging into our cabin at 6:45 screaming “Get Up!!'. It was wonderful. It was pay back for the prank that we pulled on them last night. Mr. Doherty and I put on some scary masks and went to the LT and Aborn girls' cabins. Then the boys came in screaming and causing utter chaos. What fun!!!

The Underground Railroad was awesome last night. It was a clear, dark night with a sky that shone like a trillion diamonds. Did ever notice how much brighter the stars are in the country? A few students were nervous because of the yelling and anticipation of what was going to happen. The staff tries to make the experience of what it was like to be a slave as real as possible. After this activity we all went to Pahaska cabin and talked about slavery and its relationship to bullying. This was a lesson that would not have been able to experience in a traditional classroom.

I'm sure your child has had the experience of a lifetime. Mrs. Hennessey and I still remember when we went to Nature's Classroom when we were in sixth grade. Ask your child about the week and what they did. I will be posting all the photos and videos on the Aborn website as soon as I can. From Nature's Classroom in Freedom, NH,

GOOD-BYE!!!!!

Thursday, October 7,2010

2010-10-07T14:15:00.002-04:00

Here we are with one day left and it has been a great time. Needless to say the boys got their daily dose of heavy metal thanks to AC/DC. However, it is taking them a lot longer to get up. Tiredness is really setting in. For breakfast we had french toast and bacon. It was very good. The rain finally stopped and the sun is shining, in between the clouds.

I hope everyone is enjoying the pictures and videos I have been posting. When I get back I will post all the pictures and videos on the Aborn website.

It has been like a zoo up here. The kids have been seeing deer galore. I have yet to see one. However, as we were having a meeting on the dining hall deck a bald eagle flew right by us. Then another one came from across the lake. It was spectacular.

Last night the kids performed their Wednesday Night Live skits. They were very funny. I did take a few videos of it. It is Nature's Classroom version of Saturday Night Live. Normally they would do this on Thursday night but we switched it because of the rain. Tonight is the Underground Railroad. We are all looking forward to that.

Remember how I wrote about the boys' room looking like something out of a tornado story. I now have proof in video. However, we took time today to have the kids clean up the cabins. If we didn't take care of it now they would have to do it tonight after the Underground Railroad and that would not have been a pretty sight. Today they had a huge game of tag called Predator and Prey. Basically half the kids are the consumers and the other half are the animals the consumers eat. They run around and try to capture
each other. This goes on for two hours!!

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

2010-10-06T10:57:00.002-04:00

This morning's musical selection consisted of a nice heavy metal ballad from Metallica. However, many of them were awake before me. Will they never learn that sleep is precious up here? Last night many of the boys and girls were complaining about how tired they were. The boys were all asleep by 10:15 last night, but woke up at 6:15 this morning. It looks like the rain finally made it to us. It is pouring out right now. And there is no stopping the activities up here. Today is the big 4 hour hike and some of them will be nice and wet when they get back.

The girls (thankfully) fell asleep much earlier than their 2 am stint on Monday night. I woke them to some extremely loud Motley Crew at 7:00 and they have been going ever since. The cabin is starting to look like a bomb went off and the girls are convinced that the boys are pranking us by messing it up. Really it just them being messy but they are having fun trying to set traps and cameras to catch the boys! I think there is mixed feelings about the long hike today, but they will have fun once they get out there.

Tonight is the most anticipated activity of the week, Underground Railroad. I have the kids believing that they be traveling in the tunnels below the campground. If I see a box on the ground covering a pipe I tell them that it is an entrance to the tunnels. They are so gullible.

The boys are pigs. I have never seen the cabin such a mess. I think it is because I told them they are responsible for their own things. Come Friday when they have to pack everything they will be scrambling to find their stuff. It also smells like a locker room, but they are taking showers everyday and brushing their teeth. The main thing is they are having fun.

Speaking of fun. They were soaked when they came back from the hike. The rain let up for about and hour and a half then just as they were ready to go the sky opened up and did not let up. When they came back the groups cooked marshmallows in the fireplace. No, not in the cabin, in the dining hall. We are not living luxurious up here. The Underground Railroad activity may be delayed until tomorrow night

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

2010-10-05T16:33:00.001-04:00

Ah, woken to the sweet sounds of Motley Crue at 7 am. (Enjoy the video) I think you parents should try it, it works. Last night was a relatively quiet night, until we got back to the cabin. They probably went to sleep around 11:30 and few of them are paying for it today with their tiredness. We warned them. Mrs. Hennessey said the girls were the same. They'll learn.

The consensus is in: the food here is the best they ever had. Sorry to all of the family cooks. We started our day with pancakes and sausages. Delish!! For all the parents who can't get their kids to eat veggies, they love the salad bar. When the waitron, the person that acts as the waiter for the table, finishes his or her duties they participate in a cool dance related to ORT. What is ORT you ask? ORT is all the food that is wasted at each meal. The staff here weighs is records it on a chart to show the kids how much food is being wasted. After the ORT report the kids participate in “entertainment”. This is when one of the counselors get up a sings a song in which the kids participate in. They do it after every meal. Don't be surprised if your son or daughter comes home singing about a squirrel with a bushy tail that sticks peanuts up his nose.

Today they had a variety of classes that ranged from making water rockets to, of course, dissections. They made a couple different geodomes. One they could climb on, the other was much larger but not as sturdy. In between classes they are playing basketball, tennis, soccer, tetherball, and basically having a lot of fun. The weather has held out for us so far but tomorrow for the long, four hour hike is not looking to promising.

Tonight they are having the night experience. They will walk around the woods and learn about the stars, how wintergreen lifesaver spark in the dark among other fun activities.

Monday, October 4, 2010

2010-10-04T20:23:00.001-04:00

After what seemed what was going to be a day of nothing but dreary weather we drove into the sun, literally, in New Hampshire. It turned out to be a gorgeous day at Nature's Classroom. We got here around 11:15 and the kids got acquainted with their surrounds(a.k.a hauling their bags to the cabins). After a lunch of grilled cheese, soup, chili, and salad they broke up into their field groups. This is the group that they are with all week, however they do take different classes with different counselors.

The kids went to field group to get to know their counselors and the other kids here. Then they had transition time, which is basically free time, for a half an hour. They played basketball, soccer, football, and tennis. I don't think anyone was sitting around. After they went into their first class. Some of the choices were eye dissection, JellyBelly-ology, Eat the USA, Forest fires, etc... It is funny because the dissections are the most popular of all the classes.

For dinner we had pasta, rolls, and veggies. Of course they loved dessert the best, brownies. As I was sitting at the dinner table Victoria said, “I've only been at Nature's Classroom for a day and I already love it”. That's what I mean when I say your child will not want to leave on Friday. Right now they are in a science fair where they are learning to burn money, and it is not from shopping, making goo with cornstarch, burn the penny, they like to waste money up here, and floating a tea bag. I don't understand this one. After this will be quiet sing and then nighty-night. Of course they won't go right to sleep. I'm figuring they won't go to sleep until at least 11, maybe later. I can't wait for tomorrow morning with my morning metal song.

Only a few more days!!!

2010-09-29T21:58:00.000-04:00

I know a few parents have been asking how to check the 10 day forecast for Freedom, NH. Here is the link: 10 Day Forecast. As you can see it may get wet during the end of the week so that why it is imperative to send enough clothes with your child.

Remember to send those letters soon. Try to do it by Friday at the latest.

I can't believe this my fourth year and Mrs. Hennessey's seventh year going to Nature's Classroom. Every year has been a great trip and we expect this one not to disappoint. The kids are going to be busy constantly and won't have time to think about life in Lynn. I can guarantee you that most, if not all, will say they don't want to leave on Friday.

Don't forget to check here every night (maybe the next morning) for updates on what the kids are doing and how much fun they are having. Tell your relatives too. We welcome any Lincoln-Thompson and Sisson parents who check out the blog.

Enjoy a nice, relaxing week without child and be rest assured they will forget about you for the week. :)