Blog 1: Base Camp

Hello Kroka Community!

I am Mayah, the Vermont Semester 2015 blog writer.  In each blog I will attempt to share the many voices within our semester team by sharing authorship of our experience.

A Kroka Morning

Already I can feel the threads of our community begin to weave as the people around me draw closer, make connections, and start to settle in to the gentle routine of life at Kroka. With each day that passes our family forms a little bit more, and people become increasingly more comfortable with the systems that keep our community running smoothly.

            

Our day begins with a wake up call from our Energy Manager, Chase. Pulling on headlamps and a second pair of socks, we emerge into the chilly morning air that has remained untouched by the sun since it set the evening before. One by one we trickle into the Big Yurt: our kitchen, dining room, living room, play space, work space, and gathering space. Sleepy "good mornings" are exchanged, and we have a snack before heading out to do chores.

            

Soon, we are spread out across the campus chopping wood, cooking breakfast, cleaning and taking care of the animals. When the much anticipated bell is rung, it is time to return to the warmth of the yurt and eat breakfast. By the time that we have finished dishes, the sun is climbing steadily over the trees and we are ready to go outside and enjoy it! We greet the day by finding our own space among the trees and dwellings, and enjoying some much needed solo time.

            

The rest of the morning is spent in our morning block, which is composed of different things every day. Some of us spend it in the warm basement of the Haven sewing Anoraks with Lisl, others exercise with Misha or stretch our brains with a math lesson. At 12:30, we are circled up and singing, very much ready for our next meal after a full morning.

A Kroka Afternoon

[Rachel]

            

After lunch we wash dishes slowly, reluctant to leave the warmth of the Yurt and of our semester mates. When we manage to extract ourselves, we head off; hands shoved in jacket pockets and hats securely on heads to ward off the cold. Our afternoon block is composed of whatever we missed in the morning; if we sewed anoraks before lunch, we have time to work on our big jobs and to exercise. Our workouts might be challenging, but they are never boring; while one afternoon might find us doing yoga in the yurt, the next could be spent playing blob tag on the Beaver Pond to test our skating skills.

            

After hours spent apart, it is a joy to gather back in the yurt. As the evening creeps in and dyes the snow and sky pink and orange and red, warm colors for a cold night. We sing ourselves together again, and dinner is accompanied by energetic discussions of our day. Pushups and Poetry follows, a rousing round of talk and calisthenics. Finally, we settle into evening meeting, checking in on individual and group heath before returning to our dwellings.

           

With fires lit in stoves and everything wrapped in velvet darkness, we sleep and dream of days to come.

What else have we been up to?

Sunday was spent on our first trial expedition, which consisted of six hours of skiing with backpacks. By the end we were tired and chilly, but the group came out of it with glowing faces and an incredible sense of communal accomplishment.

Last night some of us went contra dancing, a semester tradition for many years. Several of the students are avid dancers and had a blast teaching the less experienced how to "swing", "allemande" and "gypsy".

When we are not skiing, working on big jobs or doing chores, we are in the sewing room learning how to make Anoraks. They will keep us warm and dry during our upcoming days of skiing, and are an essential part of our pre-trip process.

Taking Charge of our Community

On Wednesday we were assigned Big jobs, which are specific titles given to each student that cover all of the chores and responsibilities that come with expedition, and keep our community running smoothly. Each day, time is set aside to work on these jobs and to begin preparation for expedition. For example, the medic makes sure we're all staying healthy, the expedition food managers plan what and how much food we will resupply with at layovers, and the bike manager works on getting our bikes into tip top shape for the spring.

Lets hear it from the students!

Izzy

Expedition Food Manager

"I'm excited to learn how to manage food on expedition"

Andrew

Farm and Firewood Manager

"I am looking forward to working with the Farm animals."

Emma

Navigator

"I get to lead everyone to my house!"

Ezra

Kitchen Manager

"I'm excited to not forget kitchen equipment so that everyone can eat"

Sam

Water, bathroom and bike manager

"I'm really excited about learning all of the of the mechanics- Joe is a great teacher."

Tommy

Gear Manager

"I'm really excited to get some hands-on experience with the tent, and to work alongside Nathanael in ski management."

Hazel

Base Camp Food Manager
"I am looking forward to planning luxurious meals for our layovers"

Mayah

Scribe

"I'm so excited to be able to use my passion for writing in a productive way while on semester, and to bring the ideas from the group together"

Chase

Energy Manager

"I'm excited to be the one to power the group."

Nathanael

Ski Manager

"I'm glad to have Misha as my big job mentor, and excited to work with him more."

Jamie

Expedition Food Manager

"I'm excited to start the packout process alongside Izzy."

Noa

Camp logistics, treasurer

"There is a lot of artistic work involved with my big job that is a lot of fun, I'm really enjoying it."

Cat

Medic, hygiene, sweep

"I'm learning about homeopathic medicine, as well as the risks and medicines that come along with leading a simple lifestyle"

Rachel
Sewing Manager
"I am excited about my honing sewing technique and keeping everyone's gear in best shape."

Jamie and Izzy prepare dry food for expedition

Mayah dances at the Nelson Contra Dance

Semester Ice Dancing

Emma

Lisl teaching Tommy

Chase

Ezra

Hazel, Rachel, Oliver, and Tommy practicing on the Beaver Pond

Izzy, Cat, Jamie, and Rachel playing Blob tag

Tommy chasing Andrew

Sam

Nathanael

Noa, Rachel, Andrew, Jamie

Nathanael and Tommy