This week was our final week of winter quarter. Is there really just one quarter to go? It was definitely strange to see “graduation” printed on our new syllabus. In just three short months we will all be moving on to new adventures. But not yet.

Our final day before spring break was both quiet and reflective and playful and exciting, both equally important aspects of our program overall. The reflective part of the day involved sharing stories and insights from the season with visiting elders around our familiar Malalo fire. Common themes discussed were challenges faced, passions discovered, and personal growth. The residential program just seems to be full of those life altering milestones, even after 6 months.

The playful part of the day was a giant game of capture the flag, which although could be simply dubbed a childish game, is actually a nice test of a variety of our skills and core routines including sensory awareness, scouting, animal forms, and owl eyes. Our version of the game started with each team making primitive fire in the soggy woods, so we were able to hone those skills as well. I remember crouching on the wet earth among some sword ferns and oregon grape, heart beating with the excitement of hiding and trying not to be seen, watching fellow classmates pop up out of shrubs and from behind trees throughout the forest, and thinking there is nowhere else I’d rather be right now. I can’t wait for spring quarter to start!

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