Vail-Shadowing Ski Outreach programs

Feb 21-25th, I was able to fly to Vail, Colorado to shadow and research a few amazing ski/snowboard outreach programs for at risk kids. My goal was to get some ideas for a better way to reach out to kids here in Alaska. A program called SOS was the most impressive (Snowboard Outreach Society soon to be called "Snowsports Outreach Society"). I'm very thankful for their kindness, all they taught me, their excitement and support for what I'm trying to do here in Alaska.
www.sosoutreach.org

International Polar Year-Arctic Research

In the beginning of March, to kick off the International Polar Year (which is actually 2 years where scientists/students focus study the Arctic for a year and the Antarcitc for another year) the Tri-Valley 4th/5th grade students (also involved in the ALISON International Polar Snow and Ice study) video conferenced with other students from around the world and with Polar Scienctists in Fairbanks and Antarctica.. The topic: Global Warming: it's effects on our planet and what we (as humans) can do about it. It was amazing!

Read Across America

My friends Pastor Peter and Trooper DeCour teamed up to read to my students for Read Across America Day--at that moment one of my students said, "we have to be in the safest place in all of Heaven and Earth".

Ice skating at 20 Below

Today, hours before spring break, the entire Tri-Valley School (Healy, AK) decided to go ice skating, at -20, proving once again that life's "fun factor" is determined by attitude, perspective, and some really warm gear.

March in Alaska! Winter Darkness? What?

It's March!! The best month in Alaska...great skiing, more sunshine, skiing with bush kids....did I mention great skiing? -45 degrees in Healy, +25 degrees in Anchorage--same day...the 5 hour drive every weekend for sanity.....priceless