Warm and Dry! Kind of.....

   Hello Parents!  Sorry I was not able to blog yesterday.  The network at Echo Hill is fragile and the rain hasn't helped.  It was a very wet day as you heard and can imagine, but the Echo Hill staff, as Matt indicated in his email, have been superb.  They work very hard to ensure every student has a positive experience.  It's quite remarkable.  What is also remarkable is the tenacity and endurance of your sons and daughters.  Their spirits are high, and while we've had a few moments of 'I miss my parents,' we  have redirected them and kept them busy.   Overall, they are having a fantastic time.  They will have plenty of stories for you when you return, but be sure to ask about the slop bucket skits and songs, the zip line or giant swing, some may even tell you about milking a cow, seeing a corn factory, or a glass being blown and molded.  Mystery tour is always an adventure!
    The students have had some time to reflect about their experiences here - about who made them laugh, who tried something new, who did something to help them while they were here, and enjoy the sense of accomplishment of pushing themselves beyond what they think they could do.  Last night, in true Calvert tradition, the students took part in the stick ceremony.  The fire roared in the lodge, the rain was falling outside, and students reflected and gave thanks as they, one at time, threw a stick in the fire.  Most students mentioned being thankful for the amazing food at Echo Hill!  I actually woke up in the tent today and said, "Well, girls - today is the day you go home!"  Many said they couldn't wait to take a warm shower and use a regular toilet, but then several said, "But I'll miss the food here!"  (Some, of course, made a caveat that they did like their mom's food too.") :-)
     I have more pictures to share, but in order to do so, I have to download them to my computer, and then upload them again.  The signal is too weak, so I will have to upload them tonight or this weekend.  The weather has made it tricky to have our cameras at the ready to take pictures, but we've done our best.  Sorry to not have any bright and smiling faces to share on this post.
    We have arranged for them to have dry clothes for the way home.  As Matt mentioned, they have run some clothes through the dryer.  It was important to Mr. Rossi, Mrs. Merwin, and me, as well as the Echo Hill staff that the students ride home - WARM AND DRY!  See you this afternoon!