September 25

This week began with two days of normal classes. We turned Whos Hall into a Yoga Studio for AMX with Carrie on Monday. During activities, Ben taught a group of students salsa dancing, and on Tuesday Maureen taught knitting. Wednesday was National Talk Like A Pirate Day. Reed, Tucker, Joey, and Jim came up with a song and dance to Madonnas Like A Virgin. It was called Like A Pirate, and they performed in costume for everyone during breakfast. Throughout the rest of the day, many people stayed in character with lots of Aye maty and Arr around the dinner table. For Science Lab, Cooper took us to Box Creek to study the preferred habitats of deer, elk, rabbit, and carnivore populations in this important migration corridor. We looked for animal scat before having some free time to appreciate the view from the aspen grove of Mt. Elbert. On Wednesday night, a representative from Colorado College came to talk about the school. Ryer (the Kitchen Manager), Chris (our English teacher), and Christopher Barnes all went to CC, so we were really interested in the school and cant wait to visit the campus.

Toward the end of the week, things continued on at a regular (fast and full) pace. On Thursday, we transplanted Quidditch (a hybrid sport involving soccer balls, broomsticks, and hulahoops) straight from Hogwarts to HMI campus for AMX. In English, we discussed the myths and stereotypes of the American Western Frontier. Matt, our history teacher, dressed up as a pilgrim and asked the class how Native Americans modified the landscape in order to cultivate crops and why he shouldnt alter the New World landscape to fit his European paradigms. On Friday, we ran 3 to 4 miles for AMX. That afternoon in English we started watching and finished Stagecoach, a movie staring John Wayne, in order to discuss the concept of the Cowboy Hero and other stereotypes of the Old West. We had an early dinner so that the 14 students could attend Jack and Porters (Molly and Christophers children) soccer game. Once the group got back, we went into study hall and then went back to our cabins at 9:45 for a nice nights sleep.

The weekend began with an early morning walk led by Chris. After our walk we ate, completed our chores, and began Saturday morning classes. After those, we split up into groups and went into town to shop and do laundry. Many of us spent most of our time shopping at the local thrift store looking for fun apparel and things to make the cabins more cozy. Later in the evening, everybody donned their beach wear for the Saturday night Beach dinner. We all were perfectly outfitted for our night activity going to the Mount Princeton Hot Springs. This was a great way to relax after a full week of school. On Sunday morning we awoke to find Who’s Hall transformed into a Quidditch pitch. Brooms, goal posts, and hoops were all included, even bleachers for spectators. This prank was skillfully pulled off, and the proficiency of the clean up was equally impressive. Breakfast was Swedish pancakes, a recipe of one of the students, and most enjoyed their breakfast outside on the porch. Sunday afternoon was spent either at the local recreation center or catching up on homework. Now that the weekend is over, we all wait anxiously to depart for our second expedition.

By: Addie Davis, Jackson Smith, and Liz Fuccillo