NCS: level I

Mike is giving a diagnostic quiz on vocabulary from the social studies reading, to gauge individual reading comprehension levels.  The students are currently working on Chapter 3 in the Scott Foresman textbook on American history.  This chapter describes the rise and fall of the Aztec, Inca, and Mayan civilizations.

Hock

CTT: Sunday

I hope your weekend was a good one. The enclosed picture shows gardener Jeff Luouma working on tomato plants with our campers. Yesterday, they harvested about 40 pounds for the kitchen. Sunday is a day with a different feel and schedule at camp ... Chores start later, showers and laundry get taken care of, ice cream for dessert, letters home, and some larger group activities (last evening a talent show).
Hock

CTT: arts and crafts

It was a beautiful sunny day in the Adirondacks. I ducked out of the office to rock climb for a bit. I also poked my head into craft shops and watched campers throwing pots, weaving belts, making candles, and doing some beading projects. Riding overnights were coming and going from Cliffords ... It is hard to imagine that Treetops is drawing to a close.

Hock

CTT: square dancing

This fantastic summer is drawing to a close. The senior campers are about to start the Virginia Reel, while the junior campers are in the Pavilion seeing the end of summer slideshow. I trust in the coming weeks your camper will share lots of great stories and memories with you. Many Thanks!

Hock

NCS: arts

Peter Rowley talking to his woodshop class about their sketches (from three different views) and their cut list.  At NCS we have small classes and expert instruction.  The arts electives offered for the older students this term include the following: ceramics, drawing, photography, acting, directing, guitar, jug band, treehouse building, stage lighting, painting, and reductive wood block cuts.  As you can see the classes span the continuum from studio to performing arts ... Peter Rowley also teaches Level III language arts and is the primary houseparent in Woods House.

Hock

NCS: study hall

This is a portion of the Sunday morning 8-9th grade study hall. Some of the older students are doing research in the library and computer room. The younger students – who have a shorter study hall – are in their various homeroom classes. I did a quick interview with our 9th graders and their homework was as follows:

- For biology, read and take notes on Chapter 2.2 (“Nutrition and Energy Flow”)
- For world cultures complete the reading and questions on population dynamics. Students also need to study for a test on Monday.
- For language arts the students need to write a six paragraph essay as practice for the SSAT. The topic is: “Life is a journey not a destination.”
- For geometry class the students need to read and take notes on Chapter 2.1 and 2.2, as well as answering questions #31-36 (pg 45), questions #1-11 (pg 47), and the algebra review questions #1-4 (pg 76).

The weather has been better than expected Enjoy the rest of your weekend.
Hock

CTT: rock climbing

The campers are very excited about the upcoming visiting days. We have had some massive rain storms over the past few days, although we are still managing to get lots of trips out and to squeeze some climbing in between rain squalls.  The enclosed picture is of some senior campers getting ready to climb on the crag behind the NCS ski hill.

CTT: waterfront

Another beautiful Adirondack day. Shortly after rest hour the third period swim classes get ready to go. Tomorrow I will be off campus doing the Dix Range with Bill Localio and a former camper from the 1970s ... I will send you a picture from the Macomb slide.  I am looking forward to seeing many of you next week.

CTT: morning chores

This was taken at 7:20ish at the Garden Harvest workjob.  These campers are working the washing station, while others are picking lettuce.  After this visit I wandered down to the barn where campers were grooming our horses, however my photographic skills being limited, that trip yielded no usable photos.  Yesterday we had rain off and on for much of the day, today is sunny and cool ... perfect conditions for the many trips that are heading out.
Hock

CTT: community work

Hello.

I hope all is well and I trust that the stories coming home in camper letters are good ones.  The drizzle and grey skies of the first few days have given way to fantastically sunny CTT days. The enclosed picture is of junior campers finishing a major garden work job.  Tent overnights have been going out; swimming lessons and clothes-liner tests are being passed; riding lessons are in full swing, and the first Senior Camp rock climbing outing to our crag happened on Monday.

For those of you that read the op-ed piece in the recent issue of Time magazine ... The author was only scratching the surface of what summer camp means! See you in a few weeks.
Hock

CTT: magical days

Dusk, the garden, a milk cow grazing, and a rainbow arching over Cascade!

CTT: Wash House

Hello again; I hope your weekend was a good one.  First aid training is almost done, and the start of staff orientation is just hours away. The campus is incredibly busy as John Culpepper and his crew take care of repairs that can only be accomplished during those few weeks of the year when there are no children on campus.  The enclosed picture is the new Junior Camp wash house, which will be stained later this week. See you soon.

CTT: the lake

Apologies for my primitive camera skills.  The sunset on our lake last night was spectacular!  In a few short weeks the lake will be a beehive of activity: sailing and kayaking, swim lessons and water carnivals, and on the lake hill juice and crackers and council, as well as skits and bonfires. I hope you are getting excited.

CTT: the perimeter trail

Hello. We are having an unusual "heat wave," with temperatures hitting the low 80s, however I know that probably seems downright cool and pretty appealing to most of you.  Preparations continue to move forward for the first day of camp.  I left the office for a couple of hours to walk on a portion of our hiking-skiing-horseback riding trail that rings the outside edge of our campus.  I also spent some time checking the condition of our rock climbing crag ... All is set to go!

NCS: can't wait

The enclosed picture was taken from the Lake Hill during last evening’s staff B-B-Q.  We are ready to go ... Excited and delighted to start the new year!  As you can see, the campus looks beautiful but barren without horseback riding in the ring, ultimate frisbee on the field, and theater in the Pavilion!  See you on Sunday.
Hock

NCS: faculty meetings have started

The enclosed picture was a small group – break out – session where the faculty discussed their summer “homework.”  All the teachers read Todd Whitaker’s What Great Teachers Do Differently over the summer, and this morning we talked about the essential elements of extraordinary teaching.  The energy and excitement are high, and all the staff asked me to pass along a big “HELLO” to your children.  See you on September 14th.