Welcome Krista!

The staff of PMOEC is starting to get back to work at Pok-O. Work projects that were left undone at the beginning of the month are getting finished. The feeling of an impending snowfall is thankfully overshadowed by the inevitability of warmer spring temperatures. Even the plants that got an early start during last week's un-seasonally high temperatures are fighting the good fight, knowing that today's snow and this week's dip in the mercury are only short lived. Spring is blooming and so is our next season at PMOEC. All of the staff, save Denise, are back on site and we are shaking off the rust before we begin spring training, officially, on April 2nd. This week we also welcomed our newest employee, Krista Goodman. Krista joins us as our Chef for the spring and she couldn't be a better fit for PMOEC. She has spent her first few days in the kitchen cooking scrumptious lunches and crunching numbers to create a local, healthy and varied menu for the spring. Its going to be a great season.

Polar Bear in March? Oh yeah!

For three years I have seen the staff of PMOEC excitedly walk down to the pond every few days in the early spring. Each trip back, their grins have grown wider until they can finally tell us all that the ice has gone out and its time. Its time for insanity. The insanity of which I speak is a polar bear plunge. The staff gathers on the day after, or as close to the day after the ice goes out. They hope for sun, and have usually been obliged. They huddle close on the swim docks side of the pond- thank goodness those face west. Then, their enthusiasm turns to anxiety as each piece of clothing comes off. As they make their way to the pond's edge, the anxiety turns to fear, as their toes touch the icey water that is over the edge of the docks, where the water usually abides for the winter. Next comes the plunge. Every other year I have stood on the sidelines. I have taken pictures. I have held towels. I haven't understood. But this year, I got the bug. The ice went out early and, as it subsided, the temperatures climbed to record highs. It seemed like the perfect year for me to jump in- literally. On the 19th of March (an alltime early in my documented history of PMOEC) all of the PMOEC staff onsite went to the pond after work- the warmest part of the day. Shai, the Maintenance Director, was our lifeguard. Tim the Assistant Director, watched my daughter. And I finally took the plunge. I had myself mentally and physically prepared for the worst. I had been into the Colorado River in early May on a snowy day, so my mind had a point of reference. I went for a run immediately before the plunge to get myself as ready for refreshment as I could be on the last day of winter. None of that mattered when my head came back up after we all jumped in. It was group chaos. Deep breaths were impossible. Everyone was splashing, fighting for the ladder. Come to think of it, Allison was not clamoring for the ladder, she just yanked herself onto the slippery dock like a jumping fish. And Nick was the Zen Floridian, just treading water, watching the rest of us freak out. The feeling was exhilarating and fleeting. As soon as we got out of the water and toweled off, I began to sweat a bit, feeling the effects of the run beforehand. I'm not sure if it is something that I will do again, but maybe I'll never miss another opportunity. But, either way, I can cross it off my list.

The Ides of March

PMOEC has a topographical map. It is a beautiful scale version of Long Pond and the surrounding mountains and hills that all drain water into our home body of water. There is even a small marking on the topographical map for Camp Poka-moonshine. Truly beggars cannot be choosers and this is the only blemish on an amazing 3-D learning tool. I don't know who made it and I don't know when it was made, but the worn edges and frayed paper would suggest that it is either old or has been handled with rough hands over the years. Either way, it is a shell of its former self. It has been so for a couple of years. Since mid-2011 the necessary repair of this map has been on our work project board- the dry erase ink seeping into permanence. Over the many months, different people have tried, in vain, to conquer this seemingly easy task, only to be overwhelmed by the enormity of the project once they began. Too little time, too many other necessary work projects, etc. have kept that work project on the board- until now. Yet, I have seen progress over the past few days. The mountains have been reformed to their true heights with the aid of foam board. Maps have been printed. With a little luck, and a trip to staples for map enlargement, this job will get done this month. This is what March is all about at PMOEC.
The staff continues to come and go during this month of half-employment. Despite their furloughs, the staff members are able to stay on sight, since the buildings would stay open for the year round summer camp staff anyway. The early spring weather has afforded those who are on-site, but not working, the opportunity to experience spring a bit earlier than most. Today I've already seen mountain bikers, frisbee throwers and a few folks sitting in Adirondack chairs enjoying strawberries; all of these activities have been enjoyed by the same 3 people!
I however continue to sit in front of a computer making sure to stay connected with the hungry public who want as much PMOEC information as I can give them. Just kidding- don't feel sorry for me. It's mere minutes before quitting time and, as long as I can find Harmony, I plan on getting out on this beautiful day for a run with my hound. Until next week....

A Strong Snail

Yes things have truly slowed down to the pace of a snail- or so it may seem form an outsider's perspective. Last week, we tied up the loose ends of the winter season. After our staff enrichment day we all took last Thursday off to go ski Whiteface together- quite a hoot, let me tell you. We made it back in time to see the heavy snow that had fallen at PMOEC, more than we had seen at Whiteface in fact, and worried that it would effect the turnout for the evening's lecture. However, an incredibly inviting, warm and interesting presentation from Kristin Kimball brought plenty of folks out through winter's latest last gasp. On Saturday Denise and Allison went to the Willsboro 'FareWELL to Winter' and made quite a splash with their scat display, their indoor animal tracking activity (enjoyed by young and old according to multiple independent reports) and their unending willingness to expound on what we do at PMOEC; an institution that still is shrouded in mystery for many of the locals during the school year. "No we aren't a commune," was probably uttered more than once by two of our greatest educators. Now, we shore up the center in preparation for the spring season. I keep waiting on a boring week at PMOEC so I don't have so much to report. Maybe in mid-June. For now, I invite you all to see our last Lecture. Local Jeff Cochran, who many of you may know form his amazing abilities at the Crux climbing center or as the consummate employee at The North Country Co-Op, will be telling stories, singing songs, reading poetry and being all together interesting for your please. Come and bring a friend. Until next week...