NCS: barn chores

The day started with another dusting of snow and blustery 20 degree temperatures, however by out-time it was a beautiful, warm sunny day. We have a new crew working at the barn, and the sign up sheet for the April 25th grooming contest just went up in the foyer. Finally, all the pictures I have sent you this year have been assembled into a blog, so that you may share with family, friends, and relatives what is going on at NCS. Just point them toward our homepage (address below) and have them click on Hock’s Blog.



http://northcountry.ccsct.com/

NCS: start of Spring term

I think nobody was happy to see this morning’s dusting of snow, however we were all excited to see your children. On my walk through classes some of the descriptors that came rapidly to mind were: sleepy and tired, engaged and enthusiastic, as well as happy, boisterous, and just a little bit unused to the NCS routines. The term will pass in the blink of an eye, so please mark June 6th on your calendar and join us for graduation.

NCS: Spring is coming

Hello. I hope all the students are having a wonderful vacation. Although we have had warm and sunny weather for over a week, and the calendar says Spring, it has been snowing lightly all morning. No doubt this is not the last snow we will see, however get ready for sugaring, horseback riding, mountain cakes, planting, play rehearsals, cook-outs, and ultimate frisbee on the upper field. It is going to be a great Spring term ... See you in a week.
Hock

PS ... The enclosed photograph was from my trip up Giant a couple of days ago with a former camper from the 1960s.

NCS: heading home

The charter bus left on time, and the weather seems good. I hope your children have a wonderful vacation. Next week we will mail out the end of term comments and checklists.

NCS: final hours of the term

There are just a little more than 12 hours left in the term and your children are excited and delighted to be coming home. This morning we had several more intersession presentations as well as a Town Meeting to reflect on this highly successful Winter Term. The photograph of the whiteboard records some of the responses to the question: What was most memorable? Who did you want to thank? The other picture is Vickie announcing this evenings traditional, end of term “Beach Party.”

I hope tomorrow’s travel day will be smooth and uneventful. Many thanks for sharing your wonderful children with us.

NCS: less than 48 hours

Needless to say the energy level is high. Adam is leading lunch council, and then we launched into four intersession presentations, including viewings of group and individual mosaic projects, as well as displays of the hand-made stools. The rest of the afternoon will be devoted to packing and cleaning.

NCS: saturday ski tour

It was an unusually warm weekend, and one could not help but think that Spring was in the air! (Although as we continue to remind students, it always snows into April in the Adirondacks.) On Friday evening students watched a performance of circus skills, listened to African drumming, and watching the murder mystery produced during this past week’s intersession. The enclosed picture was from yesterday’s long ski into Avalanche Lake. Everyone is excited to head home on vacation in another 72 hours.

NCS: intersession continued

Another very chilly March morning, as it was –14 degrees at the barn this morning. The enclosed pictures show students harvesting yellow birch to construct handmade wooden stools, getting ready to visit two regional farms (Tucker’s Tatters and Whitestone), and circling up to receive instructions from CTT counselor Nell in the African drumming workshop.

NCS: more intersession

A very chilly morning for March, however spirits are high after Day #1 of intersession. The enclosed pictures show the students working on a large mosaic, stained glass, silkscreen templates, and a variety of circus skills.

NCS: intersession

The excitement and activity level is incredibly high. In the next few days I will send multiple shots from as many workshops as I can get to. The enclosed pictures today show students metal-working to make the armature for the modular “Giant Peach,” beginning large papier-mache constructions and guitars, as well as brainstorming the story board for a movie.

Of course, everyone is also keeping their fingers crossed that the big northeastern snowstorm doesn’t miss us!