FLOW 2022 Photos

 

Seguin House

Students from Seguin House enjoyed some of the best weather imaginable during these last days of September. The nights were cool, and the days had brilliant sunshine, moderate temperatures and fresh breezes. My group even had the courage to go for a swim at the south end of Beale Island! On our first night we saw meteorites, satellites and constellations. I used a laser pointer to show how to find the North Star using the edge of the Big Dipper's cup. Kids had the chance to work together on the long paddle to and from Castle Island, and I was impressed with their stamina and their natural ability. 

It felt wonderful to be back out on the water with 8th graders after a three-year pause for the pandemic. Finding connection to each other and to the place where we live is powerful. 

Acadia House Update (Thursday, 9/22)

Well, it's a rainy day in Woolwich! I have been in touch with Chewonki and everyone is doing fine. The night was dry and cool, and the rain began this morning. Since the wind is going to be blowing hard out of the north tomorrow the decision was made for all groups to paddle back to Chewonki neck today. Groups will camp on the neck tonight, and have a casual paddle back to the waterfront tomorrow. Being out in the wild in weather like this makes an impression, and I'm sure this is a trip that the kids will not forget! Maybe consider making them some hot soup for dinner tomorrow night.

FLOW 2022

The dates are set for this fall's trips! We are excited to get to camp out on the islands again after a three-year break for the pandemic. 

*An important change for this year is that we will be going to Chewonki for the day on Tuesday, learning about outdoor living skills and canoe travel, and returning home for Tuesday night. We will then head out on Wednesday morning, camping Wednesday and Thursday nights. 

Please put these dates on your calendars and look for more information soon.

WCS: Tuesday, September 13th-Friday, September 16th

BMS Acadia House: Tuesday, September 20th-Friday, September 23rd

BMS Seguin House: Tuesday, September 27th-Friday, September 30th

FLOW 2021

Back in the fall of 2019, none of us could have imagined all that we would go through in the following two years. Prior to the release of the COVID vaccines, FLOW 2020 was canceled. Students were only attending school in person two days per week, and most of us were  feeling pretty isolated. We all hoped the 2021-2022 year would be different and move the needle closer to some sense of normalcy. 

Happily, we started off this school year with 100% of the kids 100% of the time, and a commitment from The Chewonki Foundation to make FLOW happen, whatever that might look like. After many discussions about the safest way forward, we decided to go with four day trips, with students making the trip to and from Chewonki with their cohorts in small vans to minimize the possibility of spreading illness. We left school at 8:00 AM each day, and returned in time to catch the buses. 

The trips were wonderful. The kids were so happy to be outside, adventuring with each other, laughing, sharing meals and learning to work together as a group. We had nearly 100% participation in the trips, which was a first. We were able to organize for Jackie Johnson's plein air art classes again, and the work that the students created beautifully captured the spirit of the coast from different perspectives. Ms. Johnson mounted the finished works and she and I put them on display in the Patten Free Library. 

In case you couldn't make it to the library, here are photos of the pieces. Let's hope next fall is even closer to normal than this year, and that we can camp out once again as part of the FLOW experience.