We'll Be Back One Day

A week and a half ago, the marvelous adventure of Conserve Semester 1 ended. I had to leave my family and the place I still call home. No matter how sad this was, I know the experience I had at Conserve School was more worth it than I ever could have imagined. I feel as though I have learned more in one semester in the Northwoods than I previously had in my entire life. I have a family that spans the entire nation and more good memories than I can could ever keep track of. This semester has truly been a fairytale. I want to thank so many people, even if they aren't reading this. I guess it's the thought that counts.
Jeff: Thank you for the wisdom, sharing of life experiences, teaching us to really think (and play), and inspiring us to write, photograph, read, or whatever our heart tells us. Thank you for being "a grand-house-parent" and for welcoming us into your home and making us family.
Jill: Thank you so much for all of the chicken soup. It was really nice always having somewhere to go when I was sick or just wanted to talk.
Michael: Thank you for teaching me to truly love history for the first time in my life. Also, you have been so accepting of my fear of public speaking and it was nice having someone who understood that. Thank you for feeding us and letting us bug you all the time about taking Wilson for a walk.
Kathleen: Thank you for being an awesome Exploration Week group leader and German mentor. It has been so great getting to know you. I completely loved cooking at your apartment. I actually say now that I LOVE Mexican food and hot sauce. Oh, and thank you dearly for never ever getting mad at me for totally slacking off about independent study. Somehow it still got done in the end...
Andy: Thank you for making a lecture class one of my favorites. I had no idea that was even possible. Thank you for being so hilarious all of the time and (not) letting us hug you. ;) You have an adorable dog and I can't believe I never got to take her for a walk.
Stefan: Thank you for being an awesome Exploration Week group leader. It's been great having a headmaster who is nothing like the scary stereotype. Thank you for taking us out to eat so much and giving me Nutella (mmmmm)and being in charge of the best semester of all of our lives.
Thank you everyone for being a part of my life. I love you all and miss you very much. Stay in touch!

Conserve School at First Sight

After flying here on a twenty-four seater plane and going through the process of unpacking and meeting new people all over again, I'm at home here. There are amazing people and the classes are great. Orientation weekend, we had a candlelit walk to a fire(we aren't aloud to call it a bonfire) and wrote down our hopes for the semester. It was great. Brief class overview, math is fantastic, pretty much independent study online which I love. AP science is interesting but I almost fall asleep during every class since we aren't up and moving. Regular environmental science is cool. We are learning about lichen currently and fun fact, they can even survive being subjected to saltwater. German has not been started but will be asap. History and English are combing quite a bit and we are building a dugout canoe, writing new drafts for the Environmental Act, and hiking a ton! Orientation weekend we were walking almost eight miles a day. Overall, boarding school is great although I haven't adjusted to the timezone quite yet and have been staying up till an unseemly hour.

Lichen is awesome! (Environmental Science)

The common room.

View out my window.

Desk.

Room.

First view of Rhinelander out of the plane. And might I add, it is beautiful here. Green and beautiful.

For those who don't already know, I'm Maren. I go to Waldorf, this hippy school where we do handwork and farm, and this year I'm going to Conserve School which is a semester program for environmental studies. So psyched! I leave in 13 days!!! I LOVE rock climbing, especially bouldering, and I'm a total hippy at heart. :) I also play soccer and love to do anything outdoors.