November 7, 2009

The week before an expedition generally means classes will have a lot of work. In English, we have started our lyric essays in which we weave together three disparate threads into one narrative.  For the three threads, we had to choose a difficult or challenging story from our lives, a quote from a book we have read, and a "nature nugget" (an interesting fact about nature). In addition to a paper in English, over the past three days most people have had a test in each class as teachers are trying to finish sections and units before expeditions start.  All over campus, students are working to finish papers and projects and study for tests, but we all know that the 3rd expedition is approaching and we're really excited to head to the canyons of Utah!

Though the students of RMS XXIII have been busy with academic work, we still had the chance to relax and have fun with a variety of activities.  Before the academic week started, we celebrated Halloween on Saturday.  For Halloween we went to a haunted house in Leadville.  The haunted house was a Leadville resident's house that was very well decorated and was genuinely quite horrifying. Clowns and other scary people were scattered throughout the house and chased us all around.  If you ask any of us about it, we give it an enthusiastic "two thumbs up."

On Monday, our well-renowned math teacher, Karl, proctored all five activities while the rest of the faculty and apprentices were in a meeting.  We chose from the following options: art projects, snow sculptures, board games, bouldering in the climbing hall, and study hall (for those of us who needed to get work done).  On Tuesday the stress was relieved with the help of yoga or reflective water-coloring and drawing.  For yoga, we went in the yurt and a few students and apprentices enjoyed doing relaxing stretches.  Finally, we ended the week with fancy desserts, dog walking, tutoring, and Nordic skiing.  The student chefs made some delicious chocolate moose, while the skiers went up to Turquoise Lake and enjoyed the gorgeous weather.

Every Sunday, a staff member hosts an optional activity.  This Sunday's activity was a scavenger hunt through town.  Almost everyone participated, which made the scavenger hunt especially fun.  All who participated were divided into groups.  Each group received a list of tasks to complete.  Each task was worth a predetermined point value.  Some of the tasks even required picture evidence.  The task that was worth the most points was getting the signature of the mayor of Leadville.  Anyone who snagged a picture with him received bonus points.  Almost every group found the mayor of Leadville, Bud Elliot, in his back yard chopping wood.  It was fun talking to him and asking him questions about Leadville's political history (thereby answering other scavenger hunt questions).  Later, before dinner, the winning teams received prizes.  Prizes included pints of Ben and Jerry's ice cream, a chocolate cake and a Barbie doll, air freshener, and a pack of gum.  The scavenger hunt was a blast. It was fun to wander around town with friends on a beautiful sunny day, attempting to complete the tasks on the list.

Now it's just a few days before we're off on our final expedition.  What a week!

By: Jules Heckbert, Andrew Lavrenikov, Abby Barnstone, & Alanna Krowiak