San Francisco Green Drinks (SFGD) is a volunteer-run, non-profit organization that actively promotes green networking, education and volunteer events in the Bay Area. Their annual fundraising event Green Generations will help support ENH and other local environmental non-profits. Come out and join us on Tuesday, August 3, 2010 – connect with other individuals who want to help ensure that the natural world remains accessible for all youth. Visit their website at www.sfgreendrinks.org for more information.

Stay informed about State Park’s General Plan for Little Basin which currently calls for the removal of the Sempervirens Outdoor School. The draft plan is currently slated to be revealed this summer, but keep informed about what is happening and view the following fact sheet and see what you can do to help protect environmental education for youth.

Currently the Exploring New Horizons Board of Directors is looking for a few qualified individual to join our group. The Board of Directors is responsible for the planning and direction of the organization, and ensure that the ENH culture stays alive and well.

Currently, we are looking for individuals that have skills in marketing, finance, or recent experience as a classroom teacher. If you are interested, or want to learn more check out the ENH Board Member at Large job description, or you can contact Tracey Weiss, the Executive Director directly at tracey@exploringnewhorizons.org.

During outdoor school we create a community of individuals, and now you can continue your connection to Exploring New Horizons, the Sempervirens Outdoor School or the Pigeon Point Environmental Education Program through Facebook.

Hi folks,
it was an amazing week here marked by wonderful students, cold nights, and incredible wildlife.
Here are a few things recorded on the Hotspot for the week:

Frost, Frozen ground, Red-Tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, Turkey Vulture,Sharp Shinned Hawk, amazing pictures of a Peregrine Falcon, Turkey Vulture, and Bewick’s Wren by a parent chaperon, Coyote at dawn, Salamander, Banana Slugs, Raccoons, A Banana slug eating slime from it’s own tail, A baby grasshopper, Indian Paint Brush plant, Giant Redwoods, and snow a few hundred feet up the mountain on Skyline drive.

A great week to finish up 2009 with two amazing schools!
Take care and keep exploring outdoors!

Hi folks,
Kodiak Bear here, the new principal here at Loma Mar, taking over for the amazing and incredible Burl. Here are some of the amazing things seen and recorded by the wonderful students at these two schools…

At the Beach: hermit crabs, snow geese, harbor seals, california sea lion, dead sea lion, a dolphin, possible golden eagle,sea stars, and crabs

At the forest and around camp: redwoods, oaks, squirrel, glow in the dark fungus, coyotes (one spotted and several heard), a shooting star, full moon, raccoons at the creek, and a coopers hawk

Thank you all for great week of exploration and wonder. Let’s all go outside and enjoy the cool weather and wonderful rain!

Greetings,

I have been waiting for some time to write this blog. I apologize that it comes in the form of a blog, but if I were to write all of you individually it would take some time; time that I do not have right now. But, the reason for this blog, as most of you already know, is to say good. Ulli, Simone and I are packing our belongings and leaving for Austria. Our plans are many — more dreamlike than actual plans. However, the dream involves a farm with organically grown vegetables and fruit, many animals and lots of space. We will continue to dedicate our time to teaching students about nature and creating a beautiful space for friends and families to enjoy.

But I am not writing to talk about dreams.

The reason that I am writing all of you: friends, teachers, administrators, counselors, students and families, is to say this. But before I get to “this”, it must come in a story — because as you know, I like stories:

This story is about me. It is the only story that I have, the only story that I truly know.

I once was asked to accept an athletic award for college. I was to give a speech of acceptance in front of many in a very formal hall at the college that I attended. I was already working at ENH and felt very confident in my abilities to talk in front of many people. So my turn came and I began to speak. What came from my mouth was not clear, nor beautiful. Most importantly, it did not give thanks and praise where such was due. I walked away from that ceremony and thought about what I wish I would have said.

The time has come for me not to accept an award — but to give one to all of you. The award is what I learned that day, what I have learned from all of you that have given so much to myself and my family as we existed in this little nook on a little river next to very large redwoods trees that grow from a lot of FOG next to a very large body of water connected to very large continents that make up one very small planet. What I had wished that I had said that day was this: Thank you to everyone who has mentored me through the experiences we have had together. Whether it was a great event, a moment with a student, a hike, a dance or just a moment where our eyes caught one another, I have learned so much from you through these moments. Like a sponge I have soaked up the experiences and as I reflected on that day when I gave the acceptance speech, I, too, am not satisfied with what I have done — I am only satisfied with what you have done to help me along my way. I know nothing.

So now comes the time to reflect and to grow. I think back to my time in the classroom before ENH. I often think, “if I only knew then what I know now — I would have been an amazing teacher!” So, too, I leave this place and I know that years from now I will look back upon my time with you all and think — “if I only knew what I know now — I would have been an amazing principal!” That’s because growth is inevitable and I have learned that to be a teacher is to constantly learn. As we learn we apply these lessons and look back upon past growth and wonder.

So thank you for the dream. I give thanks and praise to all of you and apologize for any mistakes or inconsistencies in my actions throughout my time at ENH. I apologize because I truly am sorry. I give thanks because I truly am grateful. I dream because I am . . .

Burl

Hey there Lafayette! This is B, the naturalist, and I get to blog the Hotspot for the week! First off, I hope everyone had an awesome time at outdoor school. The weather has certainly changed since last week’s heat wave. It has cooled down significantly, so the banana slugs and redwood trees are very happy. So out there in the forest, down by the creek and out at the beach, we saw some pretty amazing things while you were all here in Pescadero, oh Pescadero! Here’s what you saw: zora the cat, centipede, turtle, lizards and snakes (even a dead snake), a bunny, great blue heron, a hermit crab battle, limpet, dead mole (that was on my solo hike!), pelicans cruising the shore, sea stars, tyto (our barn owl), newt, dead bird, cormorant, eudora the talking tree and lots of insects such as lady bugs, rolly pollies, beetles, butterflies, dragon fly larva, and baby fish (possibly steelhead) in the creek!

Here is Burl to add a few things: black headed grosbeak, wilsons warbler, orange crowned warbler, brown creeper, pacific sloped flycatcher, woodpeckers calling through drumbeats on dead wood, red shouldered hawk and a dead whale at pebble beach.

Here comes the rain!

Calling all past and present campers, staff, students, families and friends! Come and celebrate as Exploring New Horizons celebrates 30 years of inspiration, transformation and education. Join us on June 20, 2009 from 10am to 4pm at the Sempervirens Outdoor School in Boulder Creek.

The day will be filled with activities for families and youth of all ages, including hiking, games, garden and the Sempervirens ropes course and swimming pool will be open to use. Following a lunch time ceremony and celebration, enjoy live music from the Banana Slug String Band!

For more information about this event, or to register check out the ENH website.

Lafeyette Children, you make me smile.
This Rainbow is going to last for a while.
Remember these days and speak of them well
For they may never be here, again . . .
The Wind was definitely incredible this week. On Tuesday the wind blew harder than I have ever witnessed while living here in Loma Mar. Pidgeon Point recorded the winds as being about 50 mph. The electricity went out throughout that afternoon and night time and the students did not even show any signs of worry, We enjoyed the wisdom of the wind and learned to live with it. This week was a very special week. It was especially special because it was the last week that Mr. Jake VanAkkeren, teacher at Burton Valley, will be attending the outdoor school. He has been coming to the outdoor school for the 30 years that we have been in existence. He is such a kind man; gentle and caring and Earth Centered. I have learned so much from him in our time together. Thank you so much for giving to us.

Here is the Hot Spot list:

Beach:
two octopus, sea stars, sandpipers, two juvenile black crowned night herons, egrets, great blue herons, pygmy nuthatches, grey whales migrating!!

Forest:
Iris’ blooming, many deer, wilsons and orange crowned warblers, pacific slope flycatcher, chipping sparrow

The wind was the dominant character in this weeks hot spot. The swell was out of the north and was pretty steady throughout the week. All is well as the Wind Cries Lafayette.