Mrs. Lauren's Crew : 8.14.14 Crew News

Announcements:

Time to start packing!

Here is the gear list for Camp Elim. I STRONGLY encourage that kids pack their own gear, and then you double check it. When students pack for voyages, it develops skills in preparation that are essential! :) There will be no "gear check," so students will bring their gear on Tuesday Morning. Here are some questions that came up while we were discussing packing:

-Yes, you may bring one small stuffed animal and one small pillow.

-No, there are no electronics of any kind (including cameras).

***The chaperones and I will take pictures and share them with you, but we ask that students do no bring cameras.

-Please bring a book or journal for the bus or before bedtime.

Other:

-Please send students with a sack lunch and 6 snacks on Tuesday (2 snacks for each day).

-Turn in all medications to the front office by Monday with appropriate paperwork:

Chaperones:

-Use the packing list for yourself as well. And bring what you need to be comfortable. We will be in cabins.

-See you at the chaperone training on Tuesday morning at 8:00am.
-If you would like to drive your own car instead of riding the bus, that is no problem!

-Bring your camera to take pictures. I will compile them and share them with families at the end. :)

-Parents will not be in their child's patrol during the day, but they will be in their cabin at night.

Students will arrive at the normal time on Tuesday (8:30am), and will return at the normal dismissal time on Thursday (4pm). On Friday, students do not come to school; it will be their day of rest.

Calendar Updates:
Aug 19-21: Fall Voyage to Camp Elim

Aug 22: Day of Rest (No School for 3rd graders)

Sept 1: No School; Labor Day Holiday
Sept 26: No School; Professional Development Day

Crew Highlights:

Voyage Preparation: Over the past week, we have been doing team-building activities that have given us a chance to get to know each other better. Some of these games are silly ones (ask your child about the food-name memory game, "bumpety-bump-bump," or "silent bear"). Other activities have been more powerful and led to deep conversations.

One great one was talking about Growth Circles. At Renaissance, we talk about three different zones: your comfort zone (things that you feel comfortable doing), your growth zone (something that pushes you outside your comfort zone but you feel like you can learn or push yourself), and your panic zone (something that pushes you so far outside your comfort zone that you feel much discomfort).

We started this as a movement activity. How do you feel about swimming in the ocean? How do you feel about trying new foods? How do you feel about being away from home?

Then students were divided into their patrols and were given the task to identify something in each other their zones (that had to do with voyages or outdoor adventures). On the outer edge, students shared something that others could do or they could do to bring them back into their growth zone in the case of a panic zone moment.

This was incredibly powerful! At our debrief students shared the following thoughts:

-“This really helped me get to know others in my patrol.”

-“Now I know how to help people.”

-“I found out who was an expert at something that is in my panic zone, so maybe I will talk to _____ when we do that (going on the zip-line).”

-“I feel like I can trust my patrol.”

-“At first, I was nervous to share my thinking, but now I feel really good about it.”

Awesome! :)

Patrol names: Flaming Wolverines and the Three-Headed Mountain Bears

Today, we did a team-building activity called the Human Knot. I was VERY impressed with how well students communicated, collaborated, and persevered to “un-tie” themselves without letting go. What a great feeling of accomplishment for students to go from thinking of a task as impossible to the victory of success.

Afterwards, students took some time to solo. Solo time is a time to think, reflect, and grow stronger. Experiences are limited in their power unless you take the time to learn from them. We will be setting aside time to reflect.