Chantal also now starts her day responsibly by waking up early on her own. She matured in that department in a major positive way.

In addition to gaining knowledge in archeology and learning how Pueblos lived, Chantal also gained confidence in her ability to face challenges independently.  She now sees or accepts challenges as opportunities for growth.

Annika had a wonderful time at Crow Canyon.  She is more helpful around the house and more organized getting her school supplies ready for the next day the NIGHT before instead of running around 10 minutes before she has to leave the house.   

The change came from within and it’s something that she found within herself.  Some do it when they go away to college but I’m glad she found it earlier and she will have to rely on that newfound confidence and the Crow Canyon experience when she navigates high school.

The “first hand” experience at the site really impacted Ella and she has more respect now for ancient cultures and what can be learned from them.  She was really impressed by the level of knowledge that the ancient tribes possessed about the world around them.  “They were aware of seasons and had symbols for them in their art. They knew constellations and used the stars for information like we do now.  They weren’t just savage people running around in loincloths!” she commented.  We learned a new word from Ella when she posted in the Crow Canyon tumblr page: archeo-astronomy.  It was terrific to see her enthusiasm from the 7^th grade astronomy (math/science) class be carried forward to this grade and into this experience. And because Ella has ceramics experience from IPA, she could also appreciate the quality of the pottery work she saw at Crow Canyon and Mesa Verde. 

Another part of the trip that left an impression was visiting the Indian reservation.  Ella noted the many similarities between their culture and that of the Hawaiians.  Seeing both modern day and ancient culture was powerful.  

Ella says she feels much closer to her friends, classmates and teachers now. “I learned more about all my friends and teachers.  It was different than school because we were together 24 hours a day.  I got to see what people are like outside of the classroom.”

Crow Canyon.

The main thing that happened when we were there was becoming closer as the class of 2015.

I got to know some people that I would normally never talk to.

Now I think of 2015 not just as classmates, or friends, but as family.

We each contribute something to it, our personalities, our interests, our beliefs.

But with family comes, arguments and drama.

We don’t always get along with each other, but we always find a way to work it out.

I almost lost some friends that I would practically die without.

We fought and got mad at each other.

But at the end of the day, we knew that we were all wrong and that we were just kidding ourselves.

I mean what are you ganna do, stay mad forever?

That’s not the IPA way.

My friends are one of the most important parts of my life, as is Island Pacific Academy.

-Jessie

Sent from my Verizon Wireless Phone

“This is the end, beautiful friend.

This is the end, my only friend, the end…”

On the van ride home from Mesa Verde, Jim Morrison’s dark anthem flowed through my brain like water seeking the lowest level.  The famous cliff dwellings look impressive, but they are the last gasp of a culture in the grip of change.  People gathered in fear of each other and built imposing structures to give them peace during hard times, but even this was not enough in the end.  For a people tied so closely to nature, the natural exhalations of climate breathed and withdrew the gift of life.

Are we truly so different?  Our culture would seem so alien to the Anasazi, but from an eyeball’s view of the Earth perched on an extra-terrestrial star ship, all of humanity’s wonders disappear at the distance of our moon.  We dig into the Earth and shape it, but if our planet were the size of a baseball, our civilization would be like an old signature, easily smudged. 

The Anasazi tell a story of using resources to depletion, of changing climate and environmental conditions, of xenophobia and clinging to tradition beyond reason.  When a 23 year drought checkmated their lives, a new life was forced into existence far from the works of generations.  Can we learn from this?  Should we?  Is this a pattern repeated or a pattern broken?

Where is my place in this story?  When I zoom in from space on my life and I marvel at our creations, how many assumptions have I made?  How many things have I taken for granted?  Can I choose to live for the future or will I stay on the comfortable path?  Is it a choice between growth and uncertainty or stagnation and decay?

“Lost in a romance, wilderness of pain

And all the children are insane…

All the children, are insane…

Waiting for the summer rain…”

- Mr. Kedrowski

Right now, I am sitting in the Albuquerque Airport. It is so sad that yesterday was our last day at Crow Canyon! I will miss the people and the environment there very much. But I am really glad I was able to go because I feel like I am alot more open-minded and know more now that I know I wouldn’t have been able to learn in a classroom. I also feel that we have strengthened our relationship as a class of 2015. We had to learn how to work together and basically live with one another for a whole week. I know that we are all alot closer and feel more stronger as a group. I just want to say thank you to my family for making this wonderful experience for me possible, Mrs. Cami, Mr. David, Ms Riley, and Mrs. Gabriel for helping me get to Crow Canyon, my friends and the chaparones for making the experience so fun and memorable, Ms Becki and other Crow Canyon leaders for helping me to learn and grow, and the kitchen staff for the delicious food! :) I am going to miss Crow Canyon, but I am excited to go back home to Hawaii. See you all soon!!

Aloha, Erika :)

Sent from my Verizon Wireless Phone

Sent from my Verizon Wireless Phone

In the beginning of the week, each of us picked a name from a cup. The challenge was to get to know that person better and create a gift for him/her. On the final evening at Crow Canyon the entire IPA group gathered around the fire pit to  share their gifts and enjoy smores. The campfire and the warmth in our hearts brought warm to the cold weather. As we gave each other gifts, we started to feel like a family rather than a graduating class. Everyone put thought into their gifts, and that way we all got to know each other better. As we presented our gifts, everyone had huge smiles on their faces. Some gifts weren’t as big as the others, but no one really minded. Hug! Hug! Hug! Hug!

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