GFA Week

Another GFA weekend is behind us. For those of you who have not worked at PMOEC, which I assume is only a few readers, GFA is Green Farms Academy; a wonderful day school from Connecticut. Every fall, we know the fall season is winding down when GFA makes their annual pilgrimage from the suburbs of NYC to the serenity of the ADKs. Every year, these 9th graders get off the bus, mouths gaping, with brand new gear and fear in their knocking knees. And every year they leave, a little dirtier than they have ever comfortably been, with boots broken in, and a look of satisfaction on their smiling faces. It is a great experience for both the students and our staff. Working with High School students is a different experience than our bread and butter- middle school. Our classes have adaptability for older students and the challenges are appropriate for these clients, but it is also an enriching experience for our staff to truly fill in their gaps as educators. A lot of hiking is one emphasis of this trip and the rambles up Rattlesnake, Bare, Noonmark, Cascade, Rooster Comb and Hurricane were as good as they ever had been. But this isn't the end of the season. We are going out with bang. Next week we have Polybel, another high school, but this one from north of the border. In addition, we also have our Underground Railroad Community event and I will be making a commercial presentation at the SPEAQ conference in Montreal. Stay tuned.