OSPREY WEEK 2013
After taking 2012 to refine animas high school's annual project week, we're excited to share with our community AHS's 2013 Osprey Week Offerings (May
13th -17th, 2013) osprey week options have been designed with student interest and affordability in mind. there will be a limited number of osprey week stipends available to students through an application process that will open in January 2013. Here's what's in store for this year's projects:
Trail Bounce Instructor: Jessica McCallum
Don't you just love our fine city's most excellent
network of trails? We will spend the week bouncing around on friendly
city mountain trails, having picnics in the woods, catching haiku in
our nets, and appreciating the beauty of Spring. To express our gratitude
for Durango's wonderful trail infrastructure, we will donate a day of worthy
toil to the trail maintenance effort. This experience will cost nothing
but sack lunches, sunscreen, and some physical energy. Walt Whitman is
coming with us, too!
Cost: Free
Osprey Outreach Instructor: Rachael Sands
Students will have the opportunity to engage in
volunteer work at various local non-profits in Durango including Trails 2000,
La Plata Humane Society, and Manna Soup Kitchen. This is a fantastic way to make a positive
difference in the place we live as well as an opportunity to build your college
resume. We will document our adventures
through photography and film. Be
Connected….Be the Change...Be of Service
Cost: Free
Jumbotron Instructor:
Dusty Grannis
Work with our tech specialist, Dusty to create a
Jumbotron using recycled monitors. This portable multi-screen monster will be the
front of AHS's displays both home and away. Learn skills in both hardware and
software.
Cost: Free
Hook & Bullet Instructor: Colleen Dunning
This 5-day experience will focus on hunting
and fishing. We will work with the Colorado Division of Wildlife and
local outfitters to learn about introductory archery, fisheries, fly-fishing,
hunter safety, and navigation & survival skills. This experience will
involve significant time outdoors and will require you to purchase a fishing
license.
Cost: $50
Change through Art Instructor: Sara Price
Do you enjoy being crafty and giving back to the
world? Join me for a week of making trendy DIY craft art to sell. We will then
donate all the proceeds to an organization that is working to create change in
the world. Some examples of what we will
be making are: doily lamps, funky home products, bike part furniture, or
anything you see on Pinterest that interests you! The week will start with a
journey to the thrift store to purchase any inspirational materials. Then, as a
group, we will research different organizations that are working to create
change and choose one that we will donate to. During the week we will also set
up a gallery at a local coffee shop so that we can sell our art. The cost of
this Osprey Week adventure is $50, which will cover materials (So start
collecting funky junk and saving your money).
Cost: $50
Build Your Own Computer Instructor: Effi O'Neal
Students will learn how computers are built. They will then build a computer. In the middle of the week students will learn
about local area networks (LANs). We
will set up a local area network and play some competitive video games. On Friday we will have a video game
competition using the LAN we create. The
winner of the LAN competition will win the computer we build. Students will need to bring their own lunch
to school daily.
Cost: $50
Gardening – Farming – Wild Foods Instructor: Lauren Lucky
4 full days spent working in one of the community
gardens around Durango. One full day spent on a local farm, digging, planting,
building… etc. One afternoon will be spent with Katrina Blair from Turtle Lake
refuge on a wild food / plant hunt. Bring your own lunch for 4 days (we’ll take
a lunch break at the gardens). One day we will eat with and visit Cocina Linda
at her Local Food Café to learn about her mission of supporting the local food
economy.
Cost: $50
Mending Is Better Than Ending! Instructor: Lori Fisher
Have you ever wanted to create your own
garments? Now you can! In this class we will be learning the basics
of sewing. By the end of the week, you
will know the basics of reading and choosing a pattern, selecting fabric,
cutting, and constructing clothing from a pattern. You’ll learn how to use a sewing machine
without sewing your fingers together, and will walk out of the class with a
custom made piece of clothing. This is a
great basic class that will give you the foundation you need to begin crafting
your own clothing.
Cost: $50
Creative Arts and Constructive Hearts… and Hands on the Trails Instructor:
Cathy Eagen
Creative Arts in the AM and Constructive Hearts
& Hands on the Trail in the PM.
Mornings: We will visit the Fused
Glass shop downtown 3 mornings where shop owner and glass artist will teach us three glass fusing
techniques. After learning the
techniques, participants will be able to create beautiful fused glass creations
using these techniques. Back at school
participants will also make stepping-stones creating smooth mosaic designs in a
cement stone. Afternoons: We will work with Mary Monroe and her crew of
Trails 2000 to get dirty in the dirt and do maintenance work at local Durango
trails, giving back to the community a few hours of our time with our helping
hands.
Cost: $50-$75
The Science of Delicious Instructor: Steve Smith
If you are interested in
cooking, interested in science or you just like to eat this Osprey week is for
you. Each day we will learn to prepare
several types of food and simultaneously learn some of the science behind food
preparation. We will also explore how
odors, textures and attitudes can influence taste. Possible activities include making bread,
cheese, soda, ice cream and flavor infused gelatin balls. We will also visit local restaurants and food
producers to learn about how they do it. This course will be contingent based
on the number of students who sign up.
Cost: $60
Peaks, Trails, and a Campfire Instructor: Dave Heerschap
Let’s get out into the woods and enjoy the
spectacular scenery that surrounds us in Durango! This osprey week option will tour the local
trails and peaks and will take place during the standard hours of the school
day from Monday to Wednesday and will include camping out on Thursday night
with a return on Friday. Each day will
have a goal and a theme. We may work on
orienteering skills, biological identification, bag some peaks, learn about
local geology and archaeology or just go out in search of moose or
raptors! Be prepared to see terrain,
flora, and fauna that you’ve never seen before!
Participants should be physically fit, have broken-in hiking shoes and a
backpack, raingear, camping gear and be ready to earn our views! We will overnight on Thursday at a location
TBA.
Cost: $70
Short/Documentary Film Creation Instructor: Nick Manning
Come and be creative to your heart’s content! We
will spend the week creating a 5-10 minute short film on the subject of your
choice. Start with an idea, write a treatment/storyboard, master interviewing
and cinematography techniques, and then put it all together through the editing
process. As a final note, submit your film to festivals around the country with
withoutabox.com. The sky’s the limit as you explore the versatile and powerful medium
of film while interjecting your own passion and interests. We will be using the
technology available at AHS and bringing in film experts while keeping the
subjects as local as possible!
Cost: $75
4 Corners Skateparks Instructor:
Matt Hughes
Join us for an exploration of the many quality
skateparks in the 4 corners region. Each
day we will get to skate a different regional park, returning to Durango every
evening. All abilities encouraged to participate. Skateboards and helmets required.
Cost: $75-$100
Paddle Boarding Instructor:
Roxy McKnight
Spend five days exploring the art of paddle
boarding. Start out by spending two days
on the lake learning all the tricks and techniques. Then we will upgrade to our one and only
Animas River by Wednesday. We will
paddle upstream to our desired location, eat lunch, and return by simply
floating back. Thursday and Friday will
be spent by starting North of town, and ending up back at Animas High School by
the end of the day. Extra time in am and
pm will be spent watching Paddle Board Races and Films related to Rafting,
Kayaking, or Paddle boarding in rivers or the ocean. Come see for yourself why this new sport is
spreading like spilled milk :) This
course will be contingent based on the number of students who sign up.
Cost: $100 - $200
Road Trip to Higher Learning Instructor: Jennifer Snead
Are you considering applying to one of the top
schools in Colorado? Are you curious what type of school is right for you? Do
you want to attend a private, public, small, large, liberal arts school, or
science/ technology school? Well this trip will answer all of your questions.
During the week we will visit University of Denver, Colorado School of Mines,
University of Colorado Boulder, Colorado State University and Colorado College.
During each college visit, we will get a private college tour, get a taste of
the college food, and enjoy the local activities. The cost of the trip includes
travel, all meals and all lodging. The goal at each college is to get a true
feel of the campus and the surrounding area. Due to a college grant procured by
AHS this trip is a steal for any student interested in a college in Colorado!
Priority for this trip will be given to Juniors and Sophomores.
Cost: $150
River Rats Instructor: Dave Haffeman
Learn about the Animas River while learning an
exciting new sport! We will also be
learning about the ecology, politics, and importance of the Animas River to our
community. We will partner with 4
Corners River Sports to train you in the fundamentals of kayaking. "Learn
and become comfortable with fundamental kayak skills and maneuvers. This level
of class starts with wet-exits in our pool, and then advances to the lake and
finally the river. We begin on flat moving water and progress to class I/II
whitewater, working on paddle strokes, edging, bracing, eddy-turns, peel-outs,
and ferries." -description from 4 Corners website.
Cost: $225
Art in the City Instructor:
Roxy McKnight
11 of you Durango art deprived students will take
off on an adventure to Denver to look at and discuss works of art that will
never be available to us down here in our mountain town. We will go over logistics Monday and make
sure everyone is on the same page. We
will leave first thing Tuesday Morning, hike for about an HOUR during our
drive, and arrive in Denver to check into our hotel and all eat dinner
together. Wednesday we will visit the
Denver Art museum and look at traditional art displays. Thursday will be spent at the contemporary
art museum looking at newer installations.
Friday will be spent driving back looking at and discussing everything
we saw on our trip. There will be a
required hike on the way back as well. This course will be contingent based on the
number of students who sign up.
Cost: $250 - $350
White Rim Mountain Biking & Camping Adventure! Instructor: Becca Katz
We will spend 1 day preparing and then 4 days
riding mountain bikes and camping out on the White Rim Trail in Canyonlands
National Park. The 103-mile trip is non-technical but will require decent
fitness levels to complete a few challenging climbs and potentially long days.
This trip will be supported by Rim Tours out of Moab, Utah. They will provide:
a vehicle, driver and insurance for the experience. Every other component of
the trip, including: menu planning, cooking, gear, camp set up, bike
maintenance, and transport to and from the White Rim is up to us. This will be
an awesome adventure to see a beautiful part of canyon country while enjoying
the amazing fun of riding mountain bikes and camping out! Additional $160 to
rent a full-suspension mountain bike for 4 days if you do not own a bike.
Pre-requisite: basic mountain biking proficiency.
Cost: $250
Rock Climbing in Durango! Instructor: Cara Kropp & Steve Smith
Come climb outside at your local climbing crags.
We will rage East Animas, X-Rock, Fume Wall and Cascade Canyon. This week will
focus on rock climbing techniques, top-roping, belaying, repelling and rescue.
Students will have 2 AMGA certified rock guides accompanying them all day long.
Students will have a gentle progressive curriculum based on individual needs.
If you really want to dig deep into an extreme sport come join us!
Cost: $295
Shreddin' the Gnar Backcountry Style Instructor: Ashley Carruth
"The purpose of this course is to provide
students with a sound decision making framework and fundamental skill set for
the planning and execution of travel to alpine ski objectives in winter
environments. Students should expect to
plan for and actively engage in a wide variety of terrain objectives. The course is intended for beginning
background skiers with no previous experience in wilderness mountain skiing BUT
a Level 1 Avalanche course is required as a prerequisite for this course. Additionally, students should be able to
ski/board any black diamond rated run at a ski resort and be in good physical
shape. Students will get to play a role
in trip planning and route selection after gaining skills in terrain selection,
snow stability and avalanche awareness, and backcountry navigation. We will be
partnering with San Juan Mountain guides as we head up into the San Juan
Mountains around Silverton and Molas Pass to ski/board. We will culminate the week with an overnight
hut or camping trip. Beacons, shovels and probes will be provided for all
students."
Cost: $450
