School's IN for Summer!

Classes officially kicked off here at AELP this morning and the students were ready!

The day began with a healthy breakfast in the Dining Hall and then a quick walk over to the ARC where the students met their teachers.  Kate, Meg, and Brandon each had great lessons planned for the kids' first day and were sure to incorporate the week's carnival theme into the class.

In Meg's class, for example, the students were asked to choose what roles they would like to take on during their time at Ashland, a local town in New Hampshire, where they'll begin celebrating the Fourth of July festivities this week.  After the class generated ideas of what happens at a carnival (making balloon animals, drawing caricatures, juggling, etc.), Meg says, "Jimena and Filippo instantly volunteered for juggling."  Amused by their fervor, Meg asked, "Have you juggled before?"  When they both said no, Meg applauded their active risk-taking, an attribute that AELP Director Karen encourages in the students as a way to fully realize the learning possibilities here at school.

Eager to get started, Jimena and Filippo searched for YouTube tutorials on "How to Juggle" and Meg found them some juggling balls for practice.  In a short time, Filippo came running to Meg who had been working with the other students and he exclaimed, "I did it!"  He had mastered the first step of the juggling tutorial: tossing two balls at different times with one hand.  Meg says, "I was impressed with his enthusiasm and willingness to try something new."

The AELP staff has quickly begun to see moments of the students' enthusiasm and willingness to try new things over the past two days.  From diving head first down the Slip-N-Slide set up on the lawn, to trying new games at the world's largest arcade, to besting riddles and long treks for a scavenger hunt win, the students at AELP this summer have shown that they're here to take full advantage of this amazing opportunity.