Brewster, Environmental Alternative Spring Break
In both 2012 and 2013 I was a member of a team of students in the UW Pipeline Project's Environmental Alternative Spring Break program. After my acceptance to this program I had a service learning opportunity with Friends of the Cedar River Watershed where I further learned how to teach sustainability issues to students. In March 2012, I embarked on my first journey to Brewster, a small largely Spanish-speaking, orchard town in the lower Okanogan. I returned in March 2013 with a new group of students, this time as a team lead.
The process of EASB involved developing a curriculum over 10 weeks with fellow teammates and then implementing these curricula in five days of class. We also had opportunities to encourage students to consider college and connect with the Brewster community, expanding our perspectives on diversity.
The process of EASB involved developing a curriculum over 10 weeks with fellow teammates and then implementing these curricula in five days of class. We also had opportunities to encourage students to consider college and connect with the Brewster community, expanding our perspectives on diversity.
Adaptability
After the 4 hour journey to Brewster we managed to forget several supplies. One of our most important pieces was our "sustainability river," a poster that we would draw on butcher paper and then use to synthesize student ideas on sustainability. We left behind the poster paper. Instead I suggested that we use one of the blue fabrics that we used for another lesson as a "river." As you can see from the photo, it actually worked really well, giving more life to our river, and still allowing us to write ideas on the whiteboard for students to take individual action. Throughout the week we applied this adaptability throughout our lessons, especially with unexpected challenges like mistakes in lesson plans. These experiences in adaptation leave me confident in my ability to adapt to the unexpected, especially under the pressure to perform.
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Managing and Coping with Change and Uncertainty
Our Daphnia lesson was filled with uncertainty because none of our team leaders were able to focus on this lesson. As a team leader, I was responsible for managing with this uncertain dilemma. Instead of repeating the difficult curriculum from last year, I altered it as we went, asking my teammates to rotate between four stations to teach about ecosystems and physiology. These changes in the moment were overwhelming at times, but led to a great result with a much more engaged student body. I love to plan ahead, but this situation reminded me of the importance of coping with change and making the most of a situation. In the rest of my life I find ways to continually manage new challenges, and find peace in the moment so I can deal with these changes calmly.
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Building Community, Bringing People Together
EASB is not only about teaching, but also about community. Brewster is a fantastic place for its isolated location, but in the past I had not connected with the people of Brewster. This year I set out early to build the bridges to connect EASB to the folks in Brewster, especially the Mexican-American immigrant community. Thankfully, we met with Marlen Guzman, the student advocate for the school district, and had a candid discussion on immigration, Brewster, and her life story. This led us to a senior open house where high school seniors shared projects they had spent the year working on. At the open house I realized how warmhearted and welcoming Brewster was; this moment reasserted my passion for communities and seeing communities come together and rise above their struggles. I am grateful for my experiences meeting farmers like our host, immigrant families, and teachers, creating a more full perspective of our experiences in Brewster. It takes courage to cold contact individuals whom I have never met, but the connections built are worth the anxiety. With the contacts I have been blessed to meet I look forward to further partnerships next time I return to Brewster.
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Accountability for Successes and Failures
In Brewster I found it important to pause every day and consider the bigger picture, and check to see if our group was achieving our goals. We shared conversations about our struggles and triumphs each day, sharing advice in long car rides and lazy walks along the Columbia River. We found a beautiful plateau above the river gorge to watch sunsets and reflect and celebrate each extraordinary day. At the end of the week I made certificates for my fellow teammates as a small gesture of gratitude. Amidst our successes and failures, I maintained a mindset of thankfulness. Responsibility and reflection guided me through the failures, and I made sure to take moments to color, meditate, or gaze out across the horizon. These moments allowed me to understand the lessons I had gained through the week, and I continue to spend time each day reflecting, through blogs, conversations, or just a moment outside. When I find myself struggling I apologize for my weaknesses and seek strength in my failures, lessons for future endeavors.
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