African Children's Choir Visits Alaska

These kids came to my church in September and were amazing! All orphans from Kenya. They were selected for the music program, trained, and then travel the world performing for a year. Afterwards the orphanage houses them until they are 18, gives them food, schooling, medical, and college tutuion. Each year they select a new group of kids for the choir. The kids seemed to have a lot of fun performing and again were amazing! Check out: http://www.africanchildrenschoir.com/
I had a pretty big crush on one of the boys..as you can see.
They need teachers (very badly) to travel with the kids during the tour..something I'd love to do!!

Helga From Sveeden

Introducing my twin sister Helga who likes to fly in from Sveeden from time to time to disrupt phases and play with the kids. She made her first appearence at Chugach's summer Excell Camp three years ago when we found each other. You see, and mom you may be suprised, but Helga and I are twin sisters who were raised in different countries together. She has a crazy accent and honestly is way more fun than I, which is really annoying because all I hear from the kids now is "When is Helga coming for a visit? I want to hang with Helga. Helga is sooo coool.." I tell them I'm cool too but they just laugh at me..I don't get it. Anyway, she showed up to take the kids ice skating at the last phase II...I have to say, it's nice when she's around because I get the night off. This night I went to the World's Underwater Bowling Competition that just happened to be in Anchorage (go figure). At about 9pm, Helga wanted to switch with me because at 9:30PM Sveeden was scheduled to compete, the kids were really dissapointed to get me back, but they understood when I told them that Helga was actually "ON" the team. "Smile". (sorry some pics are blurry, apparently its hard to take photos and skate at the same time)

Phase II Job Shadow Fashion Show

Part of my job is running service learning, career development, and leadership camps for kids around the state. It is run mainly out of a 9 bedroom house we refer to as "The Anchorage House" owned by the district..however the program is called "Voyage To Excellence". We call these camps "Phases" and they run anywhere from 3-10 days. We run "Phases 1-3" and each "Phase" has a different focus with various levels of independence. We also have an "Outdoor Leadership" Phase in which we take students on a great outdoor adventure somewhere. Past Leadership phases have been 1) Rafting the Grand Canyon, 2) Canoeing in Maine, 3). Backpacking in Denali Park, this year I believe we will be taking a trip to Colorado. In this picture the kids are conducting a fashion show of "work attire" for their families. This work attire was baught by the students during their trip to "Value Villiage" in which the students had $20.00 each to spend. Don't they look sharp!!

Flower Gal-Preparing for Spring Break's Death Valley Trip

Keeping a promise to Tom; To go to Death Valley in the spring and watch the flowers bloom; he told me that it will change my life...little did he know that he already had.