Friday, February 12, 2016
Saturday, January 30, 2016
#50Supts Challenge
At #NCE15 one superintendent launched a personal challenge to meet a school administrator from all 50 states. That gentleman was Chris Swenson and you can contact him @ChrisDSwenson.
He and I didn't connect until the last night of the conference, but I was watching his progress via Twitter.
For #NCE16 I encourage you to take the #50Supts challenge while at the conference. Here is your chance to get connected beyond social media and meet folks face-to-face.
Let me know if you're game and I'll share a document with you to track your progress.
He and I didn't connect until the last night of the conference, but I was watching his progress via Twitter.
For #NCE16 I encourage you to take the #50Supts challenge while at the conference. Here is your chance to get connected beyond social media and meet folks face-to-face.
Let me know if you're game and I'll share a document with you to track your progress.
Monday, December 7, 2015
Annual December Paddle
It's that time of year again. The planning, prepping, and watching river levels all comes to fruition in another successful winter paddle of our little paddling group. What started as a silly idea has turned into an obsession for many of us. We look forward to this trip all year, and plan years in advance too.
Our plans changed a little this year with all the rain that came around Thanksgiving. It enabled us to paddle a portion of the Jacks Fork that would otherwise be too shallow in December.
We base camped at Alley Spring.
Thursday night we dined on winter stew in bread bowls. It was a little thick for bread bowls, but yummy none-the-less. In face I ate so much that I nearly returned some.
I was trying out a new sleeping bag this year and fell in love with it. It was roomy and warm. We also tried a new teepee tent. It has plenty of head room, but the door system could be better.
Friday morning was up early for some fried potatoes with bacon, onions, bell peppers, and jalapenos. Then it was off to a lengthy shuttle made longer by missing a turn. We paddled from Buck Hollow to Rymers. It's a bit over 9 miles with scenic bluffs and caves along the way. Jam Up cave is especially interesting, but it's hard to get out there - especially in a kayak in the winter. Only three of us explored the cave.
We returned to camp a bit before dark to begin cooking a dinner of pork steaks, corn on the cob, baked beans, and slaw. It certainly hit the spot. The beans were a particular hit.
The plan for Saturday was a bigger breakfast, shorter paddle, and hitting the Eminence Christmas parade.
Breakfast was fried pheasant with biscuits and gravy paste. I say paste because the gravy wouldn't flow through a slotted spatula. It was thick, but had a great taste.
It was then off to Bay Creek to put in for the day. I kayaked on Friday, but hit the canoe for Saturday; often times standing.
The whole group of nine boats on Saturday.
After getting off the river at Alley Spring and the shuttle run it was time to cook dinner.
We had an early dinner of vegetables and bring-your-own meat before heading into Eminence.
We've been to the parade before. When we asked folks when the parade started we were told "dark". We got to the courthouse to set out our chairs a bit before dark. The parade started a bit after 6pm. For a small town they put on a pretty good Christmas parade.
A little cobbler finished off the evening just right when we returned to camp.
Sunday was packing up and getting home.
Next year marks the 20th year of the trip so we'll be returning to the Eleven Point and where it all started with just three of us.
Our plans changed a little this year with all the rain that came around Thanksgiving. It enabled us to paddle a portion of the Jacks Fork that would otherwise be too shallow in December.
We base camped at Alley Spring.
Thursday night we dined on winter stew in bread bowls. It was a little thick for bread bowls, but yummy none-the-less. In face I ate so much that I nearly returned some.
I was trying out a new sleeping bag this year and fell in love with it. It was roomy and warm. We also tried a new teepee tent. It has plenty of head room, but the door system could be better.
Friday morning was up early for some fried potatoes with bacon, onions, bell peppers, and jalapenos. Then it was off to a lengthy shuttle made longer by missing a turn. We paddled from Buck Hollow to Rymers. It's a bit over 9 miles with scenic bluffs and caves along the way. Jam Up cave is especially interesting, but it's hard to get out there - especially in a kayak in the winter. Only three of us explored the cave.
We returned to camp a bit before dark to begin cooking a dinner of pork steaks, corn on the cob, baked beans, and slaw. It certainly hit the spot. The beans were a particular hit.
The plan for Saturday was a bigger breakfast, shorter paddle, and hitting the Eminence Christmas parade.
Breakfast was fried pheasant with biscuits and gravy paste. I say paste because the gravy wouldn't flow through a slotted spatula. It was thick, but had a great taste.
It was then off to Bay Creek to put in for the day. I kayaked on Friday, but hit the canoe for Saturday; often times standing.
The whole group of nine boats on Saturday.
And don't forget the ever beautiful frost flowers that appear on cold mornings.
After getting off the river at Alley Spring and the shuttle run it was time to cook dinner.
We had an early dinner of vegetables and bring-your-own meat before heading into Eminence.
A little cobbler finished off the evening just right when we returned to camp.
Sunday was packing up and getting home.
Next year marks the 20th year of the trip so we'll be returning to the Eleven Point and where it all started with just three of us.
Wednesday, December 2, 2015
Connect, Collaborate, and Learn from Others
Years ago one of my mentors told me he really felt like he began to make a significant difference for his district after starting to attend national conferences. He had long been a successful superintendent, but felt the exposure to innovative thinkers at the national level ramped up his leadership.
My experience would mirror that. I felt like I was doing a pretty good job as a school leader, but once I started getting exposed to innovative thinkers beyond my state we really started moving the needle of student achievement. It goes beyond exposure to innovative thinkers though.
It's connecting with high quality, effective leaders that makes you want to do better. You see what others are doing and want to replicate it. You also get to share what you're doing and find that others want to learn from you as well.
I'm thankful to have been able to connect with amazing leaders in my state and beyond. Each of them has helped me become a better leader.
#suptchat colleagues Michael Lubelfeld and Nick Polyak
Missouri superintendents at a state conference.
AASA Executive Committee members Tim Mitchell, Brock Womble, Jule Walker, and AASA President-Elect Alton Frailey.
My experience would mirror that. I felt like I was doing a pretty good job as a school leader, but once I started getting exposed to innovative thinkers beyond my state we really started moving the needle of student achievement. It goes beyond exposure to innovative thinkers though.
It's connecting with high quality, effective leaders that makes you want to do better. You see what others are doing and want to replicate it. You also get to share what you're doing and find that others want to learn from you as well.
I'm thankful to have been able to connect with amazing leaders in my state and beyond. Each of them has helped me become a better leader.
Missouri superintendents at a state conference.
AASA Executive Committee members Tim Mitchell, Brock Womble, Jule Walker, and AASA President-Elect Alton Frailey.
Monday, November 2, 2015
October Paddle
I was lucky to have an opportunity to paddle at the US National Whitewater Center in October. Meetings had me in Charlotte for a few days so I took a later flight home and spent the day at the center. The plan was to have a lesson at 11am and another at 3pm. Each was to last 90 minutes.
After grabbing a rental car I arrived at the center early enough to do some exploring. The trouble was that it was a bit cool and raining and I hadn't brought a rain jacket or poncho -- business travel you know.
There was a 5k and a 12k happening at the facility that morning so I watched them a bit, checked out their store, and explored just a bit. The center is a playground with climbing walls, bike trails, ropes courses, zip lines, and of course paddling.
As I explored I found a bunch of homemade boats. Later I learned that they were having a race down the competition channel. Due to the rain I left my phone in the car, but I wished I would have taken photos of the boats. Standing out were a boat that looked like a log flume ride, one that looked like the car from the Flintstones, one made out of blue coolers (didn't last long), and one made of over 16,000 corks. The guy had been gathering them for about a year. Restaurants from 12 states had donated.
I was getting chilly by the time it came time for my lesson. After meeting my instructor Dwight we geared up (splash top) and hit the upper pond. My goal for the day was to work on my roll because I had lost it over the summer. I was also wanting to work on ferrying and running a bit of water.
After working on hipsnaps and set ups my upper half was wet and I was starting to shiver. The plan was to get out and get the blood flowing, but I busted it on a slick rock getting out of the kayak and was now wet head to toe.
What finally started to warm me up was working our way down the wilderness channel. We practiced grabbing eddys, ferrying, peeling out, and eddy hopping to go upstream. A bit of a drop lay before us in the next section. The plan was to go through it and eddy out at the bottom end. I got sideways in the wave, leaned upstream, and went over. No luck on the roll (bad setup) and I was swimming. I hit the eddy, climbed on shore and watched Dwight as he guided the empty boat through the bigger water and the tail end of the run.
I re-entered the boat in the nearly calm water at the end and we paddled across the lower pond and onto the conveyor taking us to the upper pond. That was the end of the first lesson. I was tired, wet, and hungry.
They are used to wet people there so having lunch soaking wet wasn't an issue. Just wish their restaurant had been a bit warmer. After lunch I went to the car to grab some fleece. The hand dryers in the restrooms were most helpful.
Between lessons I grabbed some junk in the store, walked a lot, watched the homemade boats get torn up, and finally grabbed a poncho from a vendor. I was surprised by the number of folks out to watch the homemade boats in the rain. The rain had gotten more steady during the early afternoon.
For the 3pm lesson I grabbed a Farmer John to improve the warmth. It made all the difference.
After lots of roll practice again (still having set up issues) we hit the wilderness channel again. This time I made it through the wave that threw me and eddied out. The water downstream from this point was bigger than I wanted so I portaged around. That's what will really warm you up.
I thought I was going to portage to the bottom end, but Dwight had me enter earlier where I had to slide down the concrete bank to enter the water. The seal slide was fun, but it took me a few tries to get my weight shifted enough forward to break over and slide. Effort = warmth on a cool, rainy day.
Once at the bottom we hit the conveyor for another trip through. The third time through the wilderness channel I was gaining confidence in getting on the edge.
I was successful on the drop again (gotta keep the boat straight), but missed the eddy this time. Dwight yelled to me that there was no turning back and into the bigger water I went.
He was behind me yelling instructions as I went through the biggest water I've ever done in a kayak. And I made it through.
My heart was pounding at the end...not chilly anymore. At that point I had no more energy. After a lecture from Dwight on the importance of never missing an eddy I was done for the day.
It was a great day. I learned a lot and gained some confidence. Just having set up issues on the roll. I hope to return again and perhaps take a swiftwater rescue class.
After grabbing a rental car I arrived at the center early enough to do some exploring. The trouble was that it was a bit cool and raining and I hadn't brought a rain jacket or poncho -- business travel you know.
There was a 5k and a 12k happening at the facility that morning so I watched them a bit, checked out their store, and explored just a bit. The center is a playground with climbing walls, bike trails, ropes courses, zip lines, and of course paddling.
As I explored I found a bunch of homemade boats. Later I learned that they were having a race down the competition channel. Due to the rain I left my phone in the car, but I wished I would have taken photos of the boats. Standing out were a boat that looked like a log flume ride, one that looked like the car from the Flintstones, one made out of blue coolers (didn't last long), and one made of over 16,000 corks. The guy had been gathering them for about a year. Restaurants from 12 states had donated.
I was getting chilly by the time it came time for my lesson. After meeting my instructor Dwight we geared up (splash top) and hit the upper pond. My goal for the day was to work on my roll because I had lost it over the summer. I was also wanting to work on ferrying and running a bit of water.
After working on hipsnaps and set ups my upper half was wet and I was starting to shiver. The plan was to get out and get the blood flowing, but I busted it on a slick rock getting out of the kayak and was now wet head to toe.
What finally started to warm me up was working our way down the wilderness channel. We practiced grabbing eddys, ferrying, peeling out, and eddy hopping to go upstream. A bit of a drop lay before us in the next section. The plan was to go through it and eddy out at the bottom end. I got sideways in the wave, leaned upstream, and went over. No luck on the roll (bad setup) and I was swimming. I hit the eddy, climbed on shore and watched Dwight as he guided the empty boat through the bigger water and the tail end of the run.
I re-entered the boat in the nearly calm water at the end and we paddled across the lower pond and onto the conveyor taking us to the upper pond. That was the end of the first lesson. I was tired, wet, and hungry.
They are used to wet people there so having lunch soaking wet wasn't an issue. Just wish their restaurant had been a bit warmer. After lunch I went to the car to grab some fleece. The hand dryers in the restrooms were most helpful.
Between lessons I grabbed some junk in the store, walked a lot, watched the homemade boats get torn up, and finally grabbed a poncho from a vendor. I was surprised by the number of folks out to watch the homemade boats in the rain. The rain had gotten more steady during the early afternoon.
For the 3pm lesson I grabbed a Farmer John to improve the warmth. It made all the difference.
After lots of roll practice again (still having set up issues) we hit the wilderness channel again. This time I made it through the wave that threw me and eddied out. The water downstream from this point was bigger than I wanted so I portaged around. That's what will really warm you up.
I thought I was going to portage to the bottom end, but Dwight had me enter earlier where I had to slide down the concrete bank to enter the water. The seal slide was fun, but it took me a few tries to get my weight shifted enough forward to break over and slide. Effort = warmth on a cool, rainy day.
Once at the bottom we hit the conveyor for another trip through. The third time through the wilderness channel I was gaining confidence in getting on the edge.
I was successful on the drop again (gotta keep the boat straight), but missed the eddy this time. Dwight yelled to me that there was no turning back and into the bigger water I went.
He was behind me yelling instructions as I went through the biggest water I've ever done in a kayak. And I made it through.
My heart was pounding at the end...not chilly anymore. At that point I had no more energy. After a lecture from Dwight on the importance of never missing an eddy I was done for the day.
It was a great day. I learned a lot and gained some confidence. Just having set up issues on the roll. I hope to return again and perhaps take a swiftwater rescue class.
Tuesday, September 1, 2015
August Paddle
I did paddle in July it just wasn't a trip worthy of note. It was on flat water for skills practice. August, though, was a nice, short trip with friends.
One of the common ties among my paddling friends is Boy Scouts. More to the point it is WoodBadge. So with a closing WoodBadge luncheon with a river near by it was only natural to combine the two.
Four of us (all former course directors) met at Sam A Baker to camp for the night before a Sunday morning paddle, and then to the luncheon. We arrived before sundown to find one of the crew sitting around a nice little fire.
The campground was nice and quiet so we enjoyed an evening of conversation around the campfire.
Sunday was up and on the water after making the shuttle run. The water is slow and easy. I have paddle this section more times than I can remember while teaching young scouts to canoe, but had not been on it in a few years.
The power of a flood is truly amazing. Downed trees not only dotted the riverbank, but also the middle of the river making some areas a challenge to get through. At the biggest strainer we met two guys from Arkansas who were finishing up an overnight.
They liked to paddle into November and backpack through the winter. The conversation around shared passions was amazing. They asked about our paddling club and were given club bling.
Overall it was a nice morning on the water with friends.
One of the common ties among my paddling friends is Boy Scouts. More to the point it is WoodBadge. So with a closing WoodBadge luncheon with a river near by it was only natural to combine the two.
Four of us (all former course directors) met at Sam A Baker to camp for the night before a Sunday morning paddle, and then to the luncheon. We arrived before sundown to find one of the crew sitting around a nice little fire.
The campground was nice and quiet so we enjoyed an evening of conversation around the campfire.
Sunday was up and on the water after making the shuttle run. The water is slow and easy. I have paddle this section more times than I can remember while teaching young scouts to canoe, but had not been on it in a few years.
The power of a flood is truly amazing. Downed trees not only dotted the riverbank, but also the middle of the river making some areas a challenge to get through. At the biggest strainer we met two guys from Arkansas who were finishing up an overnight.
They liked to paddle into November and backpack through the winter. The conversation around shared passions was amazing. They asked about our paddling club and were given club bling.
Overall it was a nice morning on the water with friends.
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Animas River Rafting
Thanks to 4 Corners Whitewater I had the opportunity to run the middle/upper Animas river. Ryan was a great guide. I didn't take a camera or phone so no pics I'm afraid.
Although it is a day trip I reported the day prior for instruction and swim test. The training is the same style video other rafting companies use. The swim test is a brief trip on the Animas through Durango. From 4 Corners we traveled a bit north to the put-in. Once in the boats we practiced executing commands from our guides. At Santa Rita Park we pulled over and walked upstream along the path to start our swim test through the last water feature at the park. I could have stayed a while to watch kayakers and SUP boards ride the wave.
After returning to our raft we headed downstream once again. At the bottom end of the park there was a fire truck and ambulance. The next day we learned a 56 year old man had a heart attack and died after his raft flipped in the rapids we had just swam.
The next morning we took the Durango/Silverton train, boarding at Rockwood, to Needleton and rafted down to Tacoma, barely making the train the return to Durango.
This video gives a taste of the Class V Broken Bridge rapid, but imagine the water much higher. Water levels were at the limit of paddling. We swam through Durango at 4,100 CFS, but it was almost 5,300 CFS the next day. Not sure what the flows were upstream, but she was up and moving.
We stopped 3/4 mile above Broken Bridge to scout the rapid. The left side was our line and we ran it one raft at a time. Once the last raft was through we peeled out for a long dose of Class IV rapids.
This was the most intense, big-rapid rafting trip I've done. I would like to have run the upper as well, but the water was just too high. You better be in decent shape to do this run because it will be work.
Although it is a day trip I reported the day prior for instruction and swim test. The training is the same style video other rafting companies use. The swim test is a brief trip on the Animas through Durango. From 4 Corners we traveled a bit north to the put-in. Once in the boats we practiced executing commands from our guides. At Santa Rita Park we pulled over and walked upstream along the path to start our swim test through the last water feature at the park. I could have stayed a while to watch kayakers and SUP boards ride the wave.
After returning to our raft we headed downstream once again. At the bottom end of the park there was a fire truck and ambulance. The next day we learned a 56 year old man had a heart attack and died after his raft flipped in the rapids we had just swam.
The next morning we took the Durango/Silverton train, boarding at Rockwood, to Needleton and rafted down to Tacoma, barely making the train the return to Durango.
This video gives a taste of the Class V Broken Bridge rapid, but imagine the water much higher. Water levels were at the limit of paddling. We swam through Durango at 4,100 CFS, but it was almost 5,300 CFS the next day. Not sure what the flows were upstream, but she was up and moving.
We stopped 3/4 mile above Broken Bridge to scout the rapid. The left side was our line and we ran it one raft at a time. Once the last raft was through we peeled out for a long dose of Class IV rapids.
This was the most intense, big-rapid rafting trip I've done. I would like to have run the upper as well, but the water was just too high. You better be in decent shape to do this run because it will be work.
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