Spirit- Spiritless? Or my holiday compass being read wrong?

Posted on December 28, 2024 by Harry Brake

2024 Christmas.

I have to be straight with you- I felt little to nothing this year for Christmas, and I have a few guesses on this one. Yes, I unpacked the Christmas tree I meant to decorate, it stood, in the dining room, bare. Never made it and I promptly packed it back up today and it went back in the attic. Wreaths? Yep, had 2 amazing ones, one for the side door, one for the front door – never left the box.

I had every intention of unpacking the Mr. and Mrs. Clause on a spring while also placing the solitary candelabra lights in every window. Yet, my house remained one of the few that did not have a single Christmas decoration up for the whole season. So it is easy to say, I was not feeling the Christmas holiday at all- when it came to me, myself and I.

And yet – I do not say this for any reason except for noting, that is not me at all – in fact, I relish the whole Christmas and season aspect- LOVE it – but this year, Christmas regarding the holiday just disappeared from my personal portfolio. Why was that?

What I DID notice was this – I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to share a day of holiday celebration making scarves, cards, and more with Upward Bound students and staff.

it was awesome. It felt good. I loved catching the film Red One. I was THRILLED to be able to celebrate an amazing Cross Country Season with an amazing group of athletes, parents, and volunteers.

I perhaps had THE BEST opportunity to see how Santa, families, and an authentic, intimate experience was spent at Hopkins Brothers Produce- that blog post is coming- you will LOVE IT. It was the epitome of Christmas.

And Deck the Halls, at our Woodbridge High School was AMAZING- the whole day had food galore, cookies, hot chocolate, popcorn, decorations, music, making decorations, window and door fronts decorated, the WHOLE thing as much as you could imagine.

We celebrated with the Girls on the Run team from Phillis Wheatley from the event we had participated in at Del Tech in Dover the weekend before and involving our XC (Cross Country team)- it was magical.

Received an amazing postcard from a former WHS student from the past year as she found herself studying in Morocco.

Was able to meet up with 2 amazing WHS Class of 2020 alumni from their work/Law School/Environmental on the job experiences at Panera.

Students gave gifts that were unexpected but amazing- from the BEST baked gifts to crazy library themed socks, to ornaments /cards from the PBS team, a super comfortable throw, cards from our District, Green screen background.

Participating in the Christmas Cookie contest at our school and come back with a box of over 30 cookies for my family’s get together.

Was able to do our annual family get together outside of D.C. AND talk to family and friends on the phone over the holidays.

Managed to be on the last night with Santa at Merry Lane with the NRWC volunteers and DE State Young Environmentalist of the Year, Melisa Velasquez and worked through MILES of vehicles that night (the 22nd!).

Set up the illuminated lights for our neighborhood and with help from neighbors lit in time for Christmas night,

AND somehow managed to get all gifts bought AND wrapped in the NICK (sorry) of time- and yet-

I was a little pushed out knowing I came home and NADA- everything else outside of my home was holiday and yet…

…it hit me. I was setting a standard of how I thought the holiday, for me, should be considered a true Christmas. Yet, Christmas had come to me in so many ways, already, but not the way I thought it would – and I had not realized it as I was just trying to set all in a framework of what I had thought Christmas should look/ feel like. Thanks to all the above AND MORE- Christmas had indeed come for me in more ways than I deserved and at times I was too busy to notice- HOW COMMON IS THAT? I was blessed and given so many Christmas opportunities and if I was testing my whole premise on my own Christmas being represented from my house alone, I would have missed the whole realization.

Therein lies alot of situational parallels where we need to widen our frame of reference to see from varying points of view, and not be simply willing to be restricted to a narrow point of view which is ours alone. A GREAT Christmas was happening when I came to realize and relished all the gifts along the way I might be already receiving. Sounds like a good way to move into a New Year. While many, including myself, could list off all the things they dread, might dread, or not look forward to in a new year, we would be better for allowing ourselves to be thankful and be mindful that, the things we already have on our side will make it a GREAT year, no matter the challenges and obstacles, if we are resolute in recognizing the blessings we already have.

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“And miles to go before I sleep…”

Posted on December 26, 2024 by Harry Brake

…So goes the last lines of Robert Frost’s poem, Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening and yet, in looking back on the 2024 Woodbridge High Cross Country season as we celebrated a Fall season, success was everywhere thanks to…

Athletes working through adversity outside of the running circle

Amazing support from parents to athletes and the coaches

Pulling together through adversity when encountered in the running circle

Conferring and communicating from coaches, to team, to athlete, to to parent, back to athlete

Support of school admin and athletic admin

Support of an outstanding maintenance crew that offered even more support

Finding individual athlete’s interest and amplifying them…

…individual athletes went mile and miles and kept going- an amazing, successful season and things just clicked. The realization that you do not have to be the #1 team to be a successful team is a gradual one. Yes, everyone strives to be #1 and we always strive to be improve, and wow-

DID the WHS Cross Country team improve this year – both boys and girls came back and made their mark and simply would not go down as being successful if they had not pushed and leaned on each other, and everyone improved drastically, that is heavy improvement for XC and then some.

There are so many misnomers and misconceptions about what Cross Country is – and unless you are participant and involved day to day, you really will not know the power and potential being a Cross Country runner has and demands from you – and this realization all came out at our banquet. Being able to take in everyone’s celebration moments at the Harrington Ice Rink, having the support of China Wok, Hungry Howie’s, amazing parents, and some exciting developments in future runners, and seeing the XC team support each other, you realize the power of XC and how it can motivate each other as well as coaches.

From having a team GPA of 86% average, to being much more competitive in in the boys and girls teams on a state level this year, to EVERY SINGLE PERSON dropping their times significantly from the beginning of the season, it is an understatement to say I have been blessed as a coach.

The 2024 XC Banquet at Harrington Ice Rink was awesome- in celebrating so many success stories this year- making the 2024 year one of many reasons this year was one of the best when it came to motivating, being motivated, and looking forward to a brighter future for WHS XC 🙂 (And getting some ice time seemed to fit into the holiday theme before Christmas).

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Noble

Posted on December 7, 2024 by Harry Brake

“A noble friend is the best gift. A noble enemy is the next best.”
― C.S. Lewis, The Chronicles of Narnia

In seeing the first night of Woodbridge High’s The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, reflecting awhile during and after the production, you begin to come to the realization that if you allow yourself to be affected by those around you, it often can lead to places you never dreamed of.

Ask Lucy.

Normally, I always try to go through everyone that is in a cast and detail by detail, list what stood out the most, person by person. I think this production deserves a deviation from the norm.

As I settled into the first night showing, a family snuck in beside me after the first few minutes, and while at first I had the luck to have a row all to myself, as luck would have it, this family had a younger child, maybe roughly the age of 10 site beside me.

Not normally, when you would say this, people think of the scenario on a plane, which might seem to take 10+ hours, beside a rambunctious child that can make your experience unforgettable at best, maybe not in the best ways. That thought crossed my mind.

What I learned was I had the first hand experience of what excited this young attendees as the events unfolded, which I found fascination and another view into what I loved about coming across The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe as a young child myself. Fascinating.

When a confrontation scene ensued between Peter and Maugrim, the lead of the Witch’s army, the young boy stared rubbing his hands together in anticipation, and knowing the student playing Peter, quietly shouted (yes you can do that!) his name before the battle. I can’t count on my hands the number of times this young attendee came alive at the various levels of conflict and tension that you could see and feel on stage. A very good sign, especially for a first night of a production.

Additionally, when the lights went on and off signaling a storm, both literally and metaphorically between the forces of characters, you could almost feel my young neighbor itching in 10 different ways out of his seat. You could feel his nervousness soaking into my seat and of course, he repeated the level of excitement and bravado geared towards peter in the final confrontational scene between the forces on stage.

I found that if you as as adult are willing to set aside what you have come to know as an adult for a brief period of time, and allow the energy, talent, and willingness of all the cast of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe to chat with your younger, inner self, you see the magic that you will feel, and should feel, and can feel, not just around the holidays but all year long.

It is interesting to realize feeling and seeing the young attendee’s enthusiasm, nervousness, and excitement beside me as scene after scene developed, how much from day to day we can live our lives in a masked sense of responsibility, and leave our own sense of youth and energy behind so easily. Just as Peter, Edmund, Lucy, and Susan are able to slip into a world of wonder and possibility- we can do this everyday if we are willing to live our lives through the eyes of that first time that pushed us into what excited us, what motivated us, what pushed us to be the youngest and most excited version of our self.

I am lucky to surround myself with more youth than I ever thought I would be surrounded by, and on sone days, it might seem as emotionally and physically, I an wiped clean of any energy I started the day with. However in looking back on each of those moments, even today, half to 80% of what we adventure into would not be possible if I did not allow myself to find ways to share the very dreams and wishes that youth think of, and together we make a reality. That transports you anywhere you want to go- just as this cast is able to if you allow yourself to be connected to their energy and enthusiasm that aligns itself with this magical story.

It is VERY difficult to get used to a performance that is accompanied by musical, as say, a musical, and then say – to a production with out and music – imagine what that is like for a cast used to a musical? it is like being on the phone with those uncomfortable moments of silence. Yet, it almost seems to serve a purpose to pay more attention to the detail, movements, and impacts of scenes when music is not a component, and how that, all together impacts the overall takeaway of the production.

It was exciting to see how many youth were in the audience – and their reactions. It soaked right through you and helped translate the value of scenes from this production. Additionally, having the advantage seeing the cast over the last 3-4 months preparing for this, alongside school, other activities and more – you have a insider’s perspective to what it takes to try and pull off a certain effect and how easy it is to take for granted how long and how many hours it takes to get a certain message to the audience.

If you have not see this production, and definitely if you have not ever read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, do not wait. I found that a Christmas feeling can be transferred through the deeper meanings individuals express on this stage and come in the forms that we often do not expect (not necessarily in the form of Santa, what is deemed a “traditional Christmas production” of having to have a iconic Christmas emblem) – and yet, you have snow, pine trees, Father Christmas, and the gift of finding something inside that can enable giving to others. If that isn’t Christmas, I am not sure then what Christmas is. The cast makes sure to make this a resounding message to the audience in a variety of ways. Some downright funny when you notice them.

I had the advantage of seeing how a younger version of myself would react in seeing it for the first time beside me. I hope you have the same ability, and make sure to take int he reactions of the children beside you. You will realize what it is about this cast that sends the same message out to those taking in this production. From the deep-directed ominous feeling sent out from the White Queen, to the thought-provoking, faith inspiring words of Aslan, to the faith and steadfastness of the ensemble and cast making up villains and heroes, you will feel the elements of Christmas that we could only wish all would contain this holiday season.

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Microplastics and Microlearning resulting in Macro Learning Results.

Posted on November 23, 2024 by Harry Brake

Recalling a moment I was asked to teach science – I balked a bit at first. If you have known me for a long time, I always have felt uneasy about my experience with Math and as a result, nervous about the connection from Math to Science due to my past experience; not to say I do not LOVE environmental science, but there has always been a threshold where I have stopped. That is a blog post that will need writing later.

Being asked to take over a topic without preparation, as an English teacher where I remember mornings where I showed up without the advantage of preparing ahead, ironically some of the best lessons I had ever had were the result of last minute, spontaneous reaction from both educator and student. That is definitely a mindset and sends a message of what mental look we need to keep in check when planning lessons ahead (that make me feel more prepared) but also maintaining the spontaneity that keeps lessons alive to those that often feel they are unsuited for anything school-related.

Focusing back on Microplastics-

Microplastics are everywhere | Sarah Dudas | TEDxBinghamtonUniversity

we stopped this periodically to discuss what ideas they had that related to modern day solutions to items we think we are recycling and actually not.

The alarm for many is what we did not know when plastic started being used in the 1950’s, and realizing now, plastic is EVERYWHERE.

Bottles.

Baby bottles.

The Deep Ocean.

I mean everywhere (including in US).

Lungs.

Our excrement.

Yep. Even there for men- https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2024/05/22/1252831827/microplastics-testicles-humans-health

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And how it affects us – health wise.

Having these frank conversations now, changed alot of the topics we thought we would take- and we began to indeed discuss what items as home we could replace from plastic to another form.

Also discussing how student today can pose questions, form a hypothesis, and find a conclusion and solution to problems that did not exist (or know that existed) when we were growing up- a frame takes place to students that work in vocational, technical, apprenticeships AND those planning to college.

As I work through different phases of how to involve students from all backgrounds, interests, and experiences, I am finding challenging and being spontaneous in not only our thinking, but our planning, will be the solutions we actually seek to find. Which let me to the snotbot podcast.

From this amazing podcast it is so true in asking and needing students to think of solutions to what we consider normal standards.

So much is connected, as I always say especially when we do not see how so much is connected, as long as we are willing to keep an open mind to all, whether we feel we are fit for something. Giving everything a chance, especially that advice directed to adults, makes all the difference.

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Forays into the Past, That Become Our Present

Posted on September 28, 2024 by Harry Brake

In a single weekend, I have learned nothing less important than what students and future generations can do, to change the path of false histories, false stories, and unknown truths. Youth not only have been able to lead forays into discovery, but become the very vehicle for representing truths that many have never realized.

Please take time to listen to the amazing foresight of authors Lora Chilton and Leonard Pitts, led by Woodbridge High School students alone(from production to interviews).

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/harry-brake/episodes/The-Walter-P-J–Gilefski-Media-Center-at-Woodbridge-Highs-Interview-with-Lora-Chilton-and-Leonard-Pitts-e2ovlaj

This is perfect timing to precede the History Book Festival in Lewes this very weekend, something no one should miss.

https://www.historybookfestival.org/

as well as following a day long walking tour of truths in Rhode Island. Marker 1 of this day is posted here: (NRWC project Page and here – https://convergenceri.com/stories/parsing-the-racial-divide-in-rhode-island,3325)

Nanticoke River Watershed Conservancy

and please look to the next few days of the following discoveries. It is haunting how the above two events occurred on the same weekend, states apart, and yet reveal histories that we were never taught as students.

As you travel both of these journeys, realize, once you open your mind to what might be that have never known, you are free. I am so incredibly proud of how youth and younger generations can do such great things – and how it involves the past, often unknown, she is actually our future.

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Does 9/11 Mean Being Passive or Being Active- You Can Decide; It Starts With Sacrifice.

Posted on September 11, 2024 by Harry Brake

It goes without saying that what occurred on 9/11 did not exist in the memory of many students we encounter each day. Why would something students today cannot recall even matter, be worth rehashing, revisiting, or trying to learn? I hear this question countless times from students themselves, and easy to write off events and stories that are not appearing in front of them now.

I also see countless students that do not have the same upbringing as we experienced say even 20 years ago – but even more important, how often do we experience, literally EXPERIENCES where individuals sacrifice their time, their freedoms, as well as their opportunities for others? Today, despite being numbed/unknown to many of these experiences that have never occurred in their lives, (thank goodness),it is difficult for many to conceive that such horrors could exist outside of social media.

Some of the best examples of honoring the gifts that many have lost their lives for, mainly the gift of freedom, is passing the torch of serving others in honor of what we hope for each other – freedom in many scenarios. I would be remiss to point out on a local level how many individuals stepped up to just enable one day to occur. Take a look how powerful it is when individuals step up and sacrifice their time for others today:

Dr. Chisenhall and Ms. Ruse dipping into surplus inventory for finish line supplies for today’s 5k

Ms. Sharp as administrator letting students know “You are important!” and jumping into the ceremony to help all operate smoothly – lifesaver!

Students jumping into helping projects for the WHS graduating seniors.

WHS maintenance in and out of the school for weeks to perfect grounds conducive to all visiting schools and athletic areas. Especially Mr. Hilbert Smith and Landen Lucke who came in the clutxh for helping us – as they alway do!

Faculty willing to add even more time to their overarching schedule day to be a spokesperson for graduating seniors (Ms.Shiley, McDonough, and Mr. Malloy).

Ms. Redmond as faithful an attendee of all things sports as you can imagine, with photography alongside Mike McClure from the Seaford Star – we are grateful for their constant support.

Coaches from completely different sports to stop in the middle of practices to assist others in preparation of their own senior night (Athletic Director Dooley, Coach Trotta, Coach Short) expert DJ connector and amp hook up artist. Also from Jaycie Kerricks’s quick thinking over what could have been a more complex situation with a runner’s health).

First Sergeant Nathan Sparks and Staff Sergeant Sash Ann Martin implementing an important memorial to those that dedicated their lives to our country, to the freedoms we have currently and for the memories that might not be in front of us, but that remain with us every day, whether we see it or not in front of us.

I thought all this as I saw the above mentioned individuals and acts with the selflessness of the needs of others despite their tasks at hand that they were engaged in. Selflessness, optimism, possibility, leadership, are all elements that ca be experienced and seen, and not necessarily having to dig into a historical event alone. Events like 9/11 and worse carry mighty weight in hearts of those that grew up among these events. Even moreso, is the need for creativity, possibility, and insight for those that did not have to experience such tragedy, but still need to find pockets of compassion to prevent such events from playing out.

9/11 is certain to remain forever in our hearts by all who experienced or witnessed this tragedy, but also can serve as a beacon forward to modify what sacrifice and loyalty can meet for everyone.

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700 million strong x 2000+ – Literacy Can’t Be on the Wrong Side of Right

Posted on August 31, 2024 by Harry Brake

August 24th – it happened. National Book Festival. Of course many think is an event for bibliophiles only. True to a point but, realizations set in as I looked around at the over 2000 people, (really it had to be like 5000 or more) at the Library of Congress’s National Book Festival – I realized how many people have a vested interest in literacy in many different formats, books as a chief one but in many other ways.

It has become an adventure that picks up more people along the way, and this year it was awesome as usually (it is never not awesome!) – and Woodbridge icons Michelle Brown, James Weiler, and Sophia Emery took on the day.

Exciting- when there we ran into DASL Treasurer and Smyrna librarian Jennifer MacDonald, as well as Heather Jones, and we found each other in opposite autograph lines. It was exciting to have solidarity in our own states!

It still amazes me how there has become a push against books or various genres / themes of books, without realizing with certified librarians, there is an automatic, appropriate check in place for ages that are appropriate for audiences. Without knowledgable librarians, things break down. I still wonder how many realize this – but that is another blog topic.

In knowing James Patterson was in attendance, my first identifying point for Mr. Patterson has always been his ability and energy to find ways to draw people to reading, of all ages. From silly, to creative, his main objective has been bring anyone to pages to get them into the literacy world and enjoy it – which carries more weight with me than I could imagine. I love that is a legacy he has created, as well as having sold over 700 million books, one of THE most read author around.

Legendary.

In hearing he had a new book out, about libraries and librarians, The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians – (check out page 29 Browseabout Books!) –

BrowseAbout Books

and I was hooked again. Worth standing in line for 45 minutes, absolutely. There were so many people in line that we were asked to have the page open already, and then conversation would not be possible to let everyone have their book signed. I thanked James Patterson for being there and what he does, and told him I was a librarian, he asked where, I said Delaware, and I moved on. (Little did I know when I turned to page 29 Bethany Beach Bookstore was staring back at me!).

Having written with Dolly Parton who visited Delaware as well as Bill Clinton and Michael Crichton, the depth and breadth of James Patterson is a small percentage of who he is. His note that it is VITAL that teachers and librarians are supported to give youth books that will turn them on early, and not turn them off early on – how true! Sometimes that is not what parents are interested in, but there is a difference between appropriate and motivating.

Also, it was awesome and ironic to hear thanks to the University of Florida, which seems to have the “vaccine” for literacy, that Florida is Number 3 in the U.S. for youth reading at grade level, and #1 for Latino and Black readers reading on grade level. With so many negative connotations applied to Florida, the successes need to ring louder than the negative that tries to push its way in. How refreshing to see authors like James Patterson moving that spotlight to the forefront.

Patterson remarked how people are not understanding how hard that job is (teaching) – and all I can say is AMEN!

When librarians and authors work together- it is nice to see the school community getting used to opportunities and success happening as a result. That should be the norm in education.

Please read to the left side, especially “Day after Day…” this is often not known from the outside and helps connect us all together during the course of the day.

As a member of the Delaware Humanities, I love that Patterson won the National Humanities Award in 2019 but it also is VERY important to know – the Humanities are not just arts, they are helping to keep the pulse of our history, legacies, and where we move forward from those two elements. There is so much more to say about this event, but I encourage you to explore the National Book Festival schedule, and cross reference to videos available from these sessions. Yes there is much more to say about what else happened here, so that post is coming soon. Check out the highlights from the 2024 National Book Festival here!

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What is a Legacy? Many Paths Are Available for us to Make a Difference…

Posted on August 14, 2024 by Harry Brake

Butler, PA. Obviously, Butler, PA is now in your view for a variety of reasons that before, not many people knew I was from there, let alone what Butler, PA was known for. Yet there are many exctiging things, positive things, that did, and have come out of Butler, PA.

Let me point something out – returning to my hometown and preparing ideas for our 1990 Butler High School Class reunion- the first time I had been to my high school SINCE 1990 – I was surprised and grateful for the Principal and Assistant Principal taking time to meet with us (Thanks Evan and Sherrie!) and recognizing the changes Butler, PA has had in demographics and the impacts on Butler High.

Some information on these two leaders:

Some exciting things you will start hearing about what is happening at our BHS –

Thank to Principal Jason Huffman (Inducted into the Redbank Sports Hall of Fame in 2021)

Info about Mr. Huffman:

A four-year starter in football, he was the starting quarterback as a freshman on the 1991 team that won Redbank Valley’s first District 9 title. He was also a starter on the 1992 team that won another district title. He was a First-Team All-Conference at quarterback as a freshman and senior, Second-Team All-Conference as punter as a sophomore and First Team as a junior and First-Team All-Conference as kicker as sophomore, junior and senior and was named KSAC Back of the Year his senior season. At graduation, he was also the all-time leading scorer in Bulldogs basketball (currently third) with 1,253 points.

“What I want to focus on tonight is being humble and being not totally about myself,” Huffman said. “The power of positive people is why we’re all hear tonight. The common themes are a strong family, check. Tons of support, check and most importantly you have coaches and people in your life that make you do things that you’re pretty sure that you can never do.”

“I love being around kids,” Huffman continued. “I’m the crazy guy that’s agree to have about 911 11-and-12 year-olds in middle school and I love every day. And at the same time, I try to coach as much as I possibly can coach.”

and Assistant Principal (Class of 1989 – Mr. Doug Ford) and on the School Community Committee for Organization and MC for the Butler Tornados 2024 Awards Ceremony:

They both took the time to meet with us as a reunion planning group and provided endless insight into what BHS wants to accomplish. Evan will be presenting you with some cool and generous opportunities they are willing to provide for our Class of 1990.

However – meeting Ethan Morton hosting a boys basketball camp

of all ages truly defines the direction that BHS is taking in the community. I do believe, in attending the BHS 1990 reunion in June 28, 2025, we as the class of 1990 have a chance to help make an impact that will positively impact our legacy at the 100th graduation class. Also to make amends for things that did occur that we wanted to occur while there. I do believe here is a chance of how we can make a mark, each of us, but I was pretty proud of what one alumni, Ethan Morton is doing as a legacy as well!

Ethan Morton as a Sophomore

Ethan Morton’s path to Colorado

Sports is one way to get youth to support them in their future. We have so many alumni from the class of 1990 that have skills and abilities from sewing, to investments, to IT tech, to drama and theatre arts, to SO MUCH MORE – I hope I can help expose those from our class, and others, to support the legacy of what can be and is becoming in the future.

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July 11th and then July 12th – Week 4 – The Flurry of Progress Amid Rains of July.

Posted on July 16, 2024 by Harry Brake

On July 11th we celebrated and thanked Gary and Holly Focht for the inspiration they provided to the Nanticoke River Watershed Conservancy as board members and contributors of moving us ahed with so many advances. We wish them the best of memories and times, as we know they will, as they move to Maine and look forward to their successes there- and are grateful/thankful for their countless hours here!

Obviously, with a day of well -needed and deserved rain, we found ourselves inside – but not without a long list of projects to develop and work on. So we did…

I. We further discussed the project of designing a system of breaking down plastic and converting such plastic to items to resell and repurpose, following the Precious Plastics model. We have reached out to many a institution and university, hoping we can collaborate to make this idea a reality to turn plastics in our schools and community repurposed and a path to being used again for the future.

II. We look forward to meeting with representatives of the Sussex Preservation Coalition and finding ways to work together for a more efficient and reenergized community that we find ourselves in all over Delaware. Additionally, we want to find a way to work together in the future and have events that are in collaboration with our nature-environment based organizations in DE.

III. We discussed Geocaching and introducing this back to the communities that surround us, to explore the environment in new ways. The ideas of a scavenger hunt but also utilizing coordinates to see the environmental details of landscapes around us is always a learni ng experience.

Between III and IV, we had the pleasure of interviewing the builder of our new NRWC building, (Charles Shiery and Shiery Construction) and creating a podcast based on that currently. We discovered some great insights into what we have as a work space currently.

Thank you Shiery Construction and Charles Shiery- Interview podcast with NRWC /Upward Bound Math & Science student, Marleny.

IV. We have been discussing the development of a pollinator garden at the NRWC offices and want to explore more from the University of Delaware, as well as finding ways to have a living classroom around us when we work outside.

V. We discussed clover and having this as a living mulch option. We are discussing ways to make this happen and we found an example of this as well. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lkd9S–1-kM

VI. We are asking a Seaford Cross Country staff member, Edsony, to reach out to the XC coach and see if we can include them on our July 27th event at the Vince Morris Trail at Chapel Branch (more on that soon below).

Upward Bound workstudy Edsony preparing silent auction items for the Lolly Festival July 27th!

VII. We continue to work on presentations and projects that best represent each week we have been working on various ecological topics, and discussed developing the Week 3 presentation where we were discovering indigenous species native to the area from our visit to a living native environment in week 3.

VIII. We played a cool game known as, yep, Poop Bingo.

We played several times and worked on developing species native to the Chapel Branch area and creating a game based on what individuals would see and discover at the Chapel Branch Trail. We reached out to a NRWC member to get some help with developing our own game based on our own area. We came up with over 48 items native to the area we are located at in Chapel branch trails and hope to develop this game to represent what the visitor to the trails would see.

IX. We began developing ideas for the NRWC online store to represent various items to maintain as a way to represent the NRWC in the community and online (Student-created, nature-based jewelry, hats, coasters, totebags, fannypacks, bumper stickers, golf ball sales, and more!

X. We looked ahead to see if there might be a possibility of our NRWC students presenting at an upcoming inservice for teachers and providing ways to connect all disciplines in to activities into ways to involve youth in their immediate communities.

XI. We made an excursion to the local public library to print out copies advertising the upcoming Lolly Festival on July 27th – and planned planned planned.

We always have visitors and always like capturing them as well:

XII. With overhead transparencies, we hope to create ways to develop cool tools to identify local fauna, animals, and more and create an interactive activity with this.

XIII. Of course we worked on what will be the Lolly Festival July 27th – celebrating all things nature, the environment, and our involvement within. The weather might have been ugly but we made so much progress in plotting, planning and created, with the environment at the center!

Lolly Festival Registration: Spanish – https://forms.gle/V5tyHtS4zkm1Gwqq7

Lolly Festival Registration – English – https://forms.gle/oLDpaDpUcRW3fPcM9

Mark July 26th on your calendar and definitely scan or enter your RSVP to attend and take part in the activities led by our work study students that day from 9 -12. We are working with about 15 RSVP’s and hour from 9 -12, so reserve your spot to see how they have incorporated the environment into an outdoor classroom for our Delawareans (and bring some spending money we have some amazing silent auction items thanks to SoDel and DogFish Head!

As we ended the day with warnings regarding the weather on the horizon, we also saw a promise of hope on our horizon too!

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Week 3 – July 5th – Exploration Into Our Delaware Indigenous Roots

Posted on July 15, 2024 by Harry Brake

Hot. Yes, absolutely, extremely HOT. Which made today’s planned trip even more important. Thanks to the generosity of community members Glenn Mellin and Lenny Truitt, the NRWC Upward Bound students, with last year’s volunteers as well, Christian and Brianna, Upward Bound Spanish instructor Ms. Martinez and her niece, and my cousin and newly adopted member of our family Toto (recent graduate from Galludet!) we visited the aboretum, which provided treasure after treasure. From 8:00 -11:00 AMish, we discovered treasures of trees, plants, and plans of Indigenous peoples’ planting in the Delaware peninsula. We dived into the availability of their published book, Ritual Landscapes.

I do not want to take away the thunder of the presentations the students are in the midst of creating currently, but after this excursion it was obvious, thanks to guidance, how the plants and trees indigenous peoples purposely planted in areas provide a literal grocery store of food everywhere you look. The irony is this is vastly often overlooked when we look at certain plants and trees, not aware of the potential they can provide for nourishment. We all filled notebook after notebook of details, genus, and scientific connection to so many aspects of trees, plants, and growth simply not seen anywhere else in the state.

It was deeply moving and inspirational. The countless images of environmental treasures in the below gallery show you how rich with information this experience was. (I refrained from naming and classifying these as our students are putting the oomph! into their experience and this will be upcoming!)

While there are links to lists of native indigenous trees, we learned from Glenn and Lenny how some trees actually serve less insects and life than others, and when this knowledge is retained, it is a more productive way to move forward and encourage trees serving more populations of insects and life to survive over those that are less serving to so many types of wildlife.

After a information pack-filled day, we returned to the NRWC property, and sat down to plan a variety of countless projects to complete in the lessening weeks we had ahead. We ventured out after a couple hours of planning and rehydrating from the heat, and chose a section of ground that needed to be reestablished as a flower bed under our bat boxes, to be prepared in the future for seeds to bring back wild flowers in that section.

It was amazing to feel how incredibly hot it was even in the shade, and yet this reminder, of how crucial the valuable information we have been handed down from indigenous populations is important to us today. Without future generations that can see and find ways to bring us back to what matters most, the future surely is a dismal and very hot one.

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