Week 3 in Review (by Scrib Fauver) added 7/25/2011
We welcomed new campers to our French, Mandarin and Spanish programs this week, and our ESL campers completed their third week of intensive work in English. The weather turned hot, but we managed to stay cool in our air conditioned classrooms! The French students made baguettes the authentic French way under the guidance of Susan Miller, head of baking education at King Arthur Flour, and the ESL students make homemade chocolate chip cookies for everyone. We heard a French opera at lunch from the Rouge class, and Raul's Spanish class regaled everyone with an original dance medley that will go down as one of the most ambitious lunch presentations in camp history. The entire camp attended a FIsher Cat's game in Manchester (FC 2, Sea Dogs 1), which was quite an eye opener for our campers from China. Each language started working on decorating their t-shirts for the camp-wide t-shirt competition next week, to be judged by the kitchen staff. Last year's champions (ESL) will be looking to repeat, but French, Spanish, and Mandarin might have something to say about that! Spirits are high as we head into our final week of the program, which will culminate in our gala show on Friday at 3:00. We hope you can make it!
Bastille Day ReenactmentLast Thursday the camp reenacted the storming of the Bastille in honor of Bastille Day (July 14). Photos of the event are posted on this blog and the video is coming soon! Here is a note about Bastille Day written by the mastermind behind the operation, Scrib Fauver: We have been reenacting the Storming of the Bastille since this camp started six years ago. Different language groups play the roles of the Bastille guards, the unruly mob, the prisoners in the Bastille, and the Master Teachers play the role of the royal family. We have many goals for this activity: give our students a basic outline of a significant historical event that changed the western world, camp bonding through a shared endeavor, a chance to let go of any remaining inhibitions, and an excuse to throw water balloons at each other and have fun! It is usually one of the high points of the session for everyone. We hope you enjoy this year's version! Friday, July 15It's hard to believe the second week of camp is already coming to an end. This week has been especially busy and full of excitement as the students have been involved in their regular classes and activities in addition to preparing for their final class presentations this (Friday) afternoon. Special events this week included a Harry Potter celebration complete with a sorting ceremony and Quidditch match. Wednesday afternoon we headed to the aquatic center in Hartford, VT to swim, play water volleyball, and splash around. Everyone had a great time and the pictures in the week 2 album (coming soon!) show all the smiles! We returned to camp for ice cream sundaes, board games, and an impromptu karaoke/dance party. Thursday was Bastille Day and the entire camp reenacted the storming of the Bastille with water balloons! Pictures of all of these events and a video of the reenactment will be available on this blog soon! We're sad to say goodbye to our 1st session campers, but also excited to welcome new campers Sunday morning! Week 1 in ReviewWe had a fantastic first week here at the ALPS summer program. The students just completed their first full week of language classes and are improving each day. Boarding students have been involved in a variety of activities this week including soccer, tennis, ceramics, yoga, dance, and 2-D art classes. Wednesday afternoon the whole group went to Dartmouth College to see the The Epic of American Civilization, a set of murals painted by Jose Clemente Orozco. Upon returning to KUA, the students set out to recreate the murals using mixed media. Each student was given an 8x8 square of foamcore on which they expressed their own reflections to the mural. The resulting artwork was truly impressive. We will put the 8x8 squares together soon to create our own ALPS mural. (Pictures coming soon!) Other group trips this week included fireworks to celebrate the Fourth of July and Capture the Flag. Tonight we will have our very own talent show, "KUA's Got Talent!" and tomorrow we are headed to the beach in Maine! ---------------------------Capture the FlagClasses have continued at the ALPs summer program. Their days are busy as the campers learn their designated language!
After classes they unwind at their afternoon activity. Featuring: ceramics, 2D art, a hike up near by trails (rewarded with a view of campus), and some pick up games of soccer.
By the time evening program rolled around they were warmed up for an epic game of full campus capture the flag. Both counselors and campers dawned face paint and stoic game faces for the contest of strategy and teamwork. After two hour battle, and the flags both 5 feet from the line a draw concluded the game.
This competitive evening on the hilltop was concluded with the campers heading back to their dorms for some bonding over popcorn.
Beginning of session two
Welcome new parents and campers to the hilltop!
We have kicked off the beginning of camp tremendously! The new campers are very enthusiastic and have quickly fallen into the swing of things.
After some fun name games and ice breakers, the campers were split up into groups for a scavenger hunt! The object was to take a picture of at least 20 of the 36 choices on the list. They chose from things like "propose to a complete strange", "every member of the group dressed as a boy band", "a hug between two new friends", and "as many people that you can find from different countries". They all become fast friends in completing these fun tasks.
We ended that night at the fire pit where we toasted marsh mellows and got to know each other even better.
Final Performances!
Today we ended session one on a very high note. The campers proved all the work that they put into this session to the test. Each class performed a skit, dance or song that signified them as a group. There was so much support and energy in the room as they took the stage. Names were cheered and when the beginning spanish class performed Waka Waka the whole camp joined in! The room was filled with our sessions theme song and the dance that they all seemed to know.
Next, the storming of the Bastille move was played. In which every camper starred. There was much laughter and cheers when the footage of the teachers getting soaked by water was shown!
Finally, there was a slide show of all of the campers documenting their adventures from the past two weeks!
The session sadly came to a close, but the excitement for the new campers and activities is much anticipated.
Greetings from the hilltop!
7-12-10
We had a fantastic weekend here! Our off campus trips were a great success. The Boston trip was a ton of fun! The campers got to explore Newbury street shopping and eating food. Our next destination was to
walk to Faneuill Hall for dinner in Quincy Market, and more shopping if time allowed. But mother nature had other plans and it started to rain very hard causing us to seek shelter in an H&M for a half hour, but the campers did not seem to mind too much as it was a shopping destination that they were hoping to hit anyway. After our pit stop we walked through the parks and were shown Beacon Hill and the old cemeteries. There was a Freedom trail tour that was stopped and we were able to listen in and learn a little about Boston's history. When we reached Faneuill Hall the Campers got to eat from the greatest variety of Boston food. This was great because anything that the campers were craving was in Quincy Market.
There was also a trip to Billings Farm in Vermont. Here, campers learned what it takes to run a farm. They saw the milking machines and were taught how they worked. They were able to try some of the
products that the farm makes and received a tour of an old house from the 1800's.
The last trip offered was to an art museum in Massachusetts. Mass MoCA (Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art) is full of contemporary art, which made for an exciting experience for the campers that went. It is full of installations and intriguing works that made the experience highly memorable for the
campers.
On Sunday the campers were able to sleep in and have some free time. Some campers signed up to return to Storrs pond for a day relaxing in
the sun while others decided that to prepare for the world cup game we should play a little soccer. After dividing the campers up into teams they played an enthusiastic game. By 2:30 it was game time
and we watched in the auditorium with much anticipation. The bus from the pond arrived back to camp with cheers and flags of yellow and red shining. Tom Lord announced that Monday night the Spanish
student would be able to have a party to celebrate Spain's victory.
7-9-08
Each language has started to partake in the map competition. This is when all levels of each language merge and create a map of their languages country. The makers of the best map will win bragging rights. The Chinese classes continue to boast about their win from last year, but I think that ESL group will give them a run for their money.
Each class has been going to the arts building this week and painting a tile. They are able to choose what they want to have on their tiles but have been encouraged to have something to do with their languages culture that they are learning. Some have Chinese characters on them describing good fortune, where others have the shape of their languages country. After they are fired the students will be able to take them home with them at the end of the summer.
The French class cooked baguettes today with the help of a local restaurant. They floured the dough and molded the bread and sent it into the kitchen where it was cooked in time for dinner. The bread was well received by all the campers.
Due to the threat of rain, the evening program was changed to indoor activities. Some campers traveled to the movie theater where they had their choice of seeing the new twilight movie, Despicable Me, or Grown-Ups. Every bus on the ride home from the theater was loud with chatter about how good all the movies were. Another option for this evening was bowling.
Tomorrow, campers will get the chance to go off campus. There is a trip heading to Boston, for a day of exploration and shopping, a trip is going to Billings Farm in nearby Woodstock,VT to learn how to milk a cow. There is also a group headed to Mass MoCa (The Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art) to look at the latest works.
Win for Spain!
7/8/2010
The win for Spain yesterday brought much excitement to campus! Painted faces, waving flags and cheers filled the auditorium as the campers watched the game with bated breath. The energy in the room was contagious and it became a blur of yellow and red as the Spain goal was scored. the tumult was heard throughout campus, so loud that it caught the attention of the local newspaper. All the campers excitedly await the final on Sunday!
In the lunch room today the beginner ESL group lip synched to the Backstreet Boys to much applause. Their energetic representation of the boy band made for a great meal time show!
Yesterday the campers traveled to Storrs Pond in nearby Hanover, home to Dartmouth College, to cool off in the cool water. The campers also enjoyed the beach volleyball court and it quickly became the favorite activity. They ended the evening with a big picnic and snacks. The other group of students ventured into Hanover for the Farmers Market and shopping. Drinking cool smoothies, and eating a bagged lunch they enjoyed their evening in town. It was a "cool" day, even though it was HOT!
Welcome to the Hilltop!!7/7/2010
It has been a hot couple of days to kick off camp, but we are loading on the sunscreen, drinking lots of water and keeping cool in the sprinklers. We are off to a great start with the beginning of classes and activities!
Classes started, and the campers are learning tons of new material in their master classes and fine tuning their skills in their drill courses. All of the students sit with their fellow classmates and practice the language they are learning. The lunchroom is full of energetic students and teachers performing dynamic skits that incorporate the cultures of each of the four languages studied here. Yesterday, the Chinese class performed a traditional ribbon dance throughout the dinning hall. This set a high standard for the ESL students who will be performing at lunch today.
The environmental group has been outside exploring the local surroundings and learning about its wildlife. Yesterday, a guest professor and expert on the New Hampshire area helped the students build two-story models of their dream homes out of clay, sticks, and other materials.
The campers have been very busy in their afternoon activities these past few days. The tennis class braved the heat on the courts, put forth an amazing effort, and they were rewarded with a trip through the sprinklers before dinner. The sports group headed to the indoor turf (where it was cooler) and played an intense game of wiffle ball. The arts class painted and glued googley eyes onto rocks creating adorable pets. Not only a trusty friend that will always be around when needed, they also serve as great doorstops to make a very welcoming hallway in the dorms! In ceramics, the class made coil pots and had fun using the extruder and slab roller. In their next class they will glaze them in the color of their choice. The outing club went on an adventure into the local woods, where they explored the old KUA ski hill and learned about the local wildlife and fauna. At the end of their hike they cooled off in the stream and learned how to balance rocks to create carrans.
Today, we are all gathering in the auditorium to watch the world cup game, Spain versus Germany. This afternoon the campers are heading to their choice of a local farmers market in Hanover where they can experience the local agriculture or to Storrs pond to cool off in the water and have a picnic.
Stay tuned for more exciting news from camp!
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