Magic Feather Visits ESBR

Magic Feather, aka Betty McEnaney, visited ESBR to discuss her travels on the Appalachian Trail. She gave a wonderful slide presentation. She shared the great time she had making new friends along the way, and how difficult it was. After the presentation she showed her pack and how important it was to be quite selective with what she packed. The students then were able to try on her pack. We look forward to following her as she continues her journey.

Tie Dye Project

One of our students led the school with a tie dye project. She made a slide show presentation of the process. Then she supervised the students and staff through the process. These shirts also had ESBR put on the shirts by her using a Cricket that the same student learned how to use during an independent project time.

NHAS at ESBR

Originally Published 1/31/23

LUDLOW, VT. – Scientists from the New Hampshire Academy of Science (NHAS) in Lyme, N.H. recently acted as guest teachers at the Expeditionary School at Black River (ESBR). The learning opportunities facilitated by Dr. Peter Faletra and Dr. Alyson Michael are part of an initiative to expose and help launch students in rural Vermont into science, technology, engineering, math, and medicine career pathways (STEMM). In addition to completing several unique demonstrations that served as introductions to various fields and methods of scientific research, students also practiced soft skills that are crucial in any workspace, including collaboration, attention to detail, and analytical thinking.

In one memorable activity that involved these skills, students used micropipettes and colored liquid to make pixel art on petri dishes. This activity challenged them to learn how to use a precise scientific tool and become comfortable with it within an hour of it being first introduced. Even when they were working separately, students collaborated to discover the best techniques for using the micropipettes and learned from each other’s experiences.

After the NHAS visit, students expressed interest in several STEMM-related professions, such as veterinary medicine and science journalism. Mackenzie Kennedy, an eighth grader at ESBR, said that the NHAS visit “made me more excited” about STEMM careers. She was awed by the visual aspect of the demonstrations, such as the vivid pink of the acid titration they performed in the morning, but also enjoyed the practical applications of what she learned. “I am interested in engineering and making things by engineering them, so I would like that aspect of a STEMM career. I love the thrill of learning new things.”

Encouraging this passion for learning is an essential part of ESBR’s mission to change students’ relationship with their education. By focusing on applied learning opportunities, ESBR is designed so that students are the drivers of how they learn and who they aspire to be. Through an emerging partnership with NHAS, ESBR’s leadership team is committed to working towards the goal of innovating education and exposing students to the jobs of the future. ESBR is planning to host an NHAS-powered science camp this summer at the school’s brick-and-mortar location in Ludlow, Vt. In addition, ESBR’s partnership with NHAS positions them for a variety of grant opportunities, which will help sustain the school’s impact.

Please join ESBR for an open house at 43 Main St. in Ludlow, Vt., where students will be showcasing other aspects of their learning, on Thursday, March 2, from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

For additional information about this emerging partnership between ESBR and NHAS, contact Kendra Rickerby, the Head of School, at krickerby@esblackriver.org.

Written by Lorien Strange, ESBR Class of 2025

ESBR Explores Vermont History

Originally Published 11/6/22

LUDLOW, Vt. – As part of the Expeditionary School at Black River’s (ESBR) commitment to integrating place-based historical connections into their expeditionary learning experience, students, teachers, parents, and grandparents visited the von Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, Vt. on Monday, Oct. 24.

The trip was made possible by support from the VELA Education Fund Micro Grants program, who recently accepted ESBR’s proposal, “Expeditionary Schools: an atlas of place-based community connections.” During the 2022-23 school year, ESBR will use this grant to travel to a variety of historical locations across Vermont.

Our first expedition was to the Trapp Family Lodge because one of our students is visiting from his home country of Germany. We set out on an official expedition to learn about the Second World War and the importance of building community from the perspective of the family who inspired the classic Rodgers and Hammerstein production, “The Sound of Music.”

Following the path, the family took on their first tour of the former dairy farm, ESBR’s Trailblazers lived up to their nickname as they hiked up a steep hill to the chapel of Our Lady of Peace, carrying fresh apples from the orchard to the flock of sheep grazing on the other side of the hill. We discovered that the chapel, Our Lady of Peace, was built by Werner von Trapp, who served in the 10th Mountain Division during WWII. When he returned home to Stowe, he decided to build the chapel and carried every stone by hand up the same path ESBR’s trailblazer hiked that day. Werner and his brother Rupert, after their father refused to work for the Nazi regime, arrived in Vermont to then be drafted into the U.S. Army. Hearing about their role in helping bring an end to a World War they initially escaped was an engaging way to participate in history class. From the beauty of the property, we were reminded that during terrible times connection with the natural environment provides a way forward.

In addition to learning about the von Trapp family and how they became part of their new community in Vermont, students learned about the nature around them as they hiked, studying ecological primary succession and learning about the history of the Abenaki peoples as they walked through stands of birch and tamarack. After lunch the trailblazers walked to the site’s sugar shack and learned how to identify the now-leafless sugar maples along the way. To finish the day, we reviewed the process of maple sugaring and sampled some of the maple syrup made onsite.

In our third year of operation, ESBR continues to be funded primarily by charitable donations such as the one that made this field trip possible. For additional information regarding the school’s efforts to be approved to accept public funds from school choice communities such as Mt. Holly and Ludlow, please contact the Head of School, Kendra Rickerby at info@esblackriver.org. She wrote the grant mentioned above and is proud to be co-authoring this article with Lorien Strange, who is on track to be a member of ESBR’s graduating Class of 2025.

Brooklyn Playwright Allison Benko Comes to ESBR

Originally Published 2/13/22

LUDLOW, Vt. – As part of the Expeditionary School at Black River’s theater program, students have been working with Broadway actor Susan Haefner to write and perform “We Are Nature,” a play celebrating the diversity of nature and the dependency of human life on it. In the most recent addition to this program, the school will be partnering with playwright and director Allison Benko to write ten-minute plays for the Weston Playhouse Theater Company’s Spring Playwrights Project. The students will be working with Ms. Benko virtually this March to learn about writing plays, developing characters, and creating a script in a professional format.

Ms. Benko, who is based in Brooklyn, N.Y. has worked with students around the world to hone their playwriting, acting, and directing skills in a creative and professional environment. “As a classroom teaching artist,” states Ms. Benko, “I’ve worked with students of all grade levels in many areas of theatre: playwriting in Vermont, dramatic interpretation in Shanghai, and one-on-one lessons in Elizabethan theatre history online.” Ms. Benko has also worked with many professional playwrights as a mentor and co-author. “I am passionate about mentorship,” she says, “and I’m always excited to meet with young directors.”

The students at ESBR are looking forward to working with the professional playwright. Damian Foley, a ninth grade student who will be participating in the Weston Spring Playwrights Project, is especially enthusiastic about the opportunity to improve his playwriting and acting skills. “I’ve never written a full play before,” he said, “and it will be beneficial to have a professional’s input on my work.” Damian aspires to be a professional actor, and he is eagerly anticipating showcasing his acting skills in both the Weston Playwrights Project and “We Are Nature.” He enjoys practicing improvisation at ESBR, and hopes Ms. Benko will help him establish a more fixed, chronological order to his improvisation-inspired scenes, his ten-minute play, and the school’s “We Are Nature” project.

Susan Haefner is also delighted to get to work with Ms. Benko. “Allison is such a kind person,” Ms. Haefner noted during a video call. Ms. Benko and Ms. Haefner have worked together in the past through the Spring Playwrights Project (then known as the Young Playwrights Festival). “I really love Allison’s approach to playwriting and how she works with the students,” said Ms. Haefner, who herself has been writing her own musical. She is overjoyed about collaborating with her colleague through this project. “I’m thrilled to bring Weston Playhouse, ESBR, and Allison together,” Ms. Haefner said. “I believe that Allison will bring a whole new light to our “We Are Nature” project, and I’m delighted to bring new artists and playwrights into the fold. Allison’s gonna tell us how to do it!” Ms. Haefner added, laughing.

For more information, please contact Kendra Rickerby via email at krickerby@esblackriver.org or visit our website at www.esblackriver.org.

Work-based Learning Program at ESBR

Originally Published 11/14/21

LUDLOW, Vt. – The Expeditionary School at Black River is excited to announce its new partnership with Trees & Seeds, a nonprofit whose vision centers around that belief that food security improves learning, elevates lives, and creates pathways to equality.

Over the past 28 years, John Hiers has educated students about forestry and agriculture. Several years ago, he left his position at Woodstock Union High School to form the nonprofit, Trees & Seeds. The goal of Trees & Seeds is to provide meaningful experiences for all participants by creating collaborations through agricultural projects and other related services. With an abundance of experience, he looks forward to sharing his vision of peace through cultivation with the Trailblazers at the Expeditionary School at Black River.

Kendra Rickerby is excited to have this additional partnership. The Trees & Seeds connection is a central part of the Food System and Agricultural pathway ESBR is building for 11th and 12th graders. The school welcomes John’s longstanding commitment to hands-on learning experiences for students and the community. “We are thrilled to be the beneficiaries of Trees & Seeds commitment to cultivating an ecosystem of anytime, anywhere learning,” stated Rickerby. The synergy between each organization’s vision is a natural fit.

The Expeditionary School at Black River’s mission is to educate students to be intellectually curious, resourceful, and confident in themselves for a life of personal fulfillment and civic engagement. To learn more about ways to become connected to ESBR, please contact Kendra Rickerby via email at krickerby@esblackriver.org or visit www.esblackriver.org.