Clonlara Blogs

Grand Canyon days....

2011-05-17T09:55:00.000-07:00

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2011-05-16T16:10:00.001-07:00

I'm looking off the peak of the hill we camped on, where RVs litter the landscape of grass, rocks and trees. At the base of the hill there is a fresh water stream and a railroad track. Yesterday we spent fourteen hours in the hot sticky van but the payoff was one of the most beautiful land marks I have ever seen, the snow-topped Lookout Mountain range. When we finally did get to our camp site the first thing I did after unpacking was head straight for the showers. Feeling cleansed and relaxed I laid down in my sleeping bag, pulled it up until I was completely immersed within it then fell asleep. - Jackson

Badlands adventure by Felix

2011-05-14T08:21:00.000-07:00

So after fine putting up our tent we all went to bed. In the morning Jackson, Ollie ,Sam and myself found out that our rain tarp had broken. Thank god it didn't rain, after that everyone except Posa and Mittens went climbing up some of the many rock that are spread across the badlands. Sam, Ollie, Jackson and I went on a magic adventure through a canyon and Ollie took to many pictures. Then we drove for some time to go see some buffalo and also went to the legendary wall drug. Posa was not happy he didn't get to go.

Day 2?

2011-05-13T13:15:00.000-07:00

Beneath the half-eaten pumpkin moon, I shiver beneath a thin shell of sleeping bag and quilt. Arriving at the Bad Lands [the French dubbed thee as “bad land to cross”] I and others mistakenly conceived that South Dakota would be warmer than Wisconsin with the seemingly logical rationality that it was “South”, therefore it would be hotter and under the cast of somber clouds, we arrived before these strange lands. Harnessing the recklessness of teenage bravery, we crossed the fields and cacti to these odd shapes in the wilderness. Carrie warned that they would be particularly dangerous to climb after it rained and I echoed those words of wisdom as I sunk into the chocolate river [in actuality a mud river] and up into the cornflower sky.

Later as day faded to night, I stood shivering under the sheltered picnic tables and laid across playing cards for divination. What I discovered gave another face of understanding to the significance of this journey we took and have taken. The wisdom of these ancient lands shall remain after our own passing and shall endure within ourselves, if only we care to look.
あ！Sai Wei

Badlands arrivial

2011-05-13T11:54:00.000-07:00

we have arrived, but have VERY limited cell and internet here. more posts soon!

Devils Lake awesome adventure!!!!

2011-05-11T18:53:00.000-07:00

The lock in has come and past and was quite awesome. Played a bunch of games (zombies, super smash, JAILBREAK!!!!), pretty much the norm as far as lock ins are concerned. Me, Felix and Sam stayed up all night waiting in anticipation for the trip to start. We finally get in the van, everyone tired and dazy except suprisingly for the people who stayed up. 630(ish) we are on the road and on the way to our first destination, Devils Lake in Baraboo, WI. It was smooth sailing until just after we enter WI. Out of nowhere came a random hailstorm and - no joke - we drove thru some hail the the size of golfballs. It was rediculous. But that was the highlight reel of our first drive. When we finally reached devils lake around 3, it was pretty awesome. Some of us went up on these ginormous boulders on the side of this mountain/cliff/hill thing. Anyways the cool kids (me, felix and carrie) went on an adventure around the lake to see these awesome rock formations but ended up reading our map completely wrong and missing every one of them (there were 5. yeah laugh it up).
BUT it was still pretty sweet anyways. We all ended up meeting back at our campgrounds and we had a weenie roast of the ages (kinda).
I've been awake for so long, but I have still been out awakened by SAM, who has been awake for just over 36 hours now, and counting. All this from pure excitement. I feel defeated. So I give up. Good night - Ollie

Olders Field Trip 2011 - The Badlands National Park and the GRAND CANYON!

2011-05-08T12:17:00.000-07:00

Check in here for more details of our trip as we head out west!

Our route via mapquest -

Wed May 11th - Devil's Lake State Park, Baraboo, WI (click for their website)
Thurs May 12th - Badlands National Park, Interior, SD
Friday May 13 - Badlands National Park
Sat May 14 - Ami's Acres Campground, Glenwood Springs, CO
Sun May 15 - Grand Canyon National Park, South Rim
Mon May 16 - Grand Canyon National Park
Tues May 17 - Bottomless Lakes State Park, Roswell, NM
Wed May 18 - International UFO Museum and Research Center, Roswell, NM
Thurs May 19 - Tall Chief Cove, Skiatook Lake Park, Skiatook, OK
Fri May 20 - Shakamak State Park, Jasonville, IN
Sat May 21 - return to Clonlara School, 330pm

2010-05-25T19:49:00.000-07:00

Today we woke up at 8:00 AM and packed all of our stuff into the van and left for Luray Caverns. Luray Caverns is an awesome place, it is ridiculously big and the pipe organ that uses stalactites to play music is one of the coolest things I have ever seen. Although the van rides suck I am glad that the people around me are more interesting then watching a movie on an ipod you can't hear. Vans are obnoxiously loud when you are trying to sleep, never buy a van ever. And for all the people on the trip, I AM A SCOTSMAN!

by Felix Nicol

Luray Caverns and Cherry Hill Campsite

2010-05-25T19:48:00.000-07:00

Tuesday

2010-05-25T19:47:00.000-07:00

Today is Tuesday (: lots happened between last night and today. Last night a few of us were walking on the beach, and we heard howling and barking sounds. It kept getting closer and followed us for about a half mile. We thought it was an animal, but then it started laughing. It scared the crap out of us (especially myself and Felix) we went back to camp quickly after being harassed by this wolf-man-creature, and told the teachers what happened.
So we reported it to the park ranger and they said they had been getting reports of this "wolf man" since 2007. No people have been hurt, but there were alot of mutilated animals that were like half eaten and that creeped us out. The rangers think its some crazy dude living in the woods. Im thinkin its a werewolf, but i guess it's debatable. Anyway, we left that campsite this morning to go to Luray Caverns. The van ride was super long but the caverns were INCREDIBLE. The lady giving us the tour lied to us and said that this bajillion ton stalactite fell four weeks ago and that it happens alot. After almost having an anurism i was informed that this was not true. After we left the caverns we drove for what seemed like forever. Finally we got to the second campsite, which is SO much nicer and cleaner than the last one (plus no werewolf!) and thats were we are at right now. Besides people's occasional complaining, everyone is behaving pretty well. Yay (:

Olivia<3

Garrett's Log Entry

2010-05-24T19:40:00.000-07:00

Today is the 24th of May, and i had a long day. We started the day by leaving a little earlier then noon to go to the aquarium. An institute that has problems with its mission prerogative. To save animals is important, to enclose and monitor nature is not within that goal. But, it was cool, i saw an octopus! Then we went to Virginia Beach, where the water is suprisingly welcome after getting used to it. Swimming is fun! Sand, clinging to every part of your body, is not. Following that, we had our dinner at a really good pizza place, i had a pitcher of tea! The last activity of my day was a walk along the beach, which was very relaxing, and helped me with my zen, sorta. The moon is behind clouds right now, which makes me a little bit sad, but i am going to bed! Hi mom! This was a blog post by Garrett VanHecke.

Monday

2010-05-24T18:26:00.000-07:00

I feel like crap. Yet still having an awesome time. One of the marks of a awesome field trip: You're lack of physical well-being does not cause lack of enjoyment. I'm having an awesome time and I've gone to the bathroom 4 times today.(Mind you we're in the woods.) I am perfectly content after staying on a toilet for half an hour for fear of getting up. I have no complaints. None. Not a one. On Sunday we woke up at six'o clock and stayed on the road for thirteen hours and I don't care. Tomorrow we will wake up at eight and stay on the road for three hours and I couldn't be happier. Ok I could do without the being sick and all but I am perfectly happy all the same. This is gonna be a good week.
-sam

Sunday

2010-05-23T19:58:00.001-07:00

So today we left at around 645 in the morning for our trip to Virginia. Our drive took a bit longer than we thought it would because of a few stops we made, but we still made it in good time. After we set up our tents and got the fire going, we ate some food that was donated by stadium market, and a few of us went to go check out the beach. Felix told some scary stories. Naoki accidently stepped on a crab but made sure that it didn't die haha.
That was pretty much it for our first night in Virginia.
- Charlie

Olders Field Trip this Sunday!

2010-05-20T10:32:00.000-07:00

This Sunday the Older's Program students will go on a field trip to Virginia Beach and Washington, DC. Below are some of the photos of our prep work as we prepare - setting up our tents (loaned from the Fortson and Nicols famlies, thank you!), shopping for driving snacks, tune ups for the van, cleaning the cooler, etc. Check back here during the week to see updates of our travels!

Olders Field Trip Schedule and web links

2010-05-19T11:08:00.000-07:00

The below information is a day-by-day schedule for the trip we will be going on, as well as links to some of the locations we will be visiting (check out the one for Luray Caverns, it is really cool!)

Saturday - Olders lock-in at Clonlara starts at 8pm. Van is packed and all get ready to depart.

Sunday - Van departs at 6:30am. We drive from Ann Arbor, MI to the First Landing Campgrounds in Virginia Beach, VA, estimated arrival time (with no traffic) about 730pm.
(see our mapquest route here)
(see the First Landing website here)

Monday - Enjoy First Landing's hiking trails, perhaps head to Virginia Beach to see the sights...

Tuesday - Head to Washington, DC to see Chinatown, the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the United States Botanic Garden, the Center for Portraiture and American Art, the Lincoln Memorial and whatever else we have time for - THERE IS WAY TOO MUCH TO DO!
(see our mapquest route from Virginia Beach to Washington, DC here)

Tuesday evening - Stay at the Cherry Hill Park Campgrounds.
(see the Cherry Hill website here)

Wednesday - Depart early from DC to see a tour of the stalactites at Luray caverns. Then return to the First Landing Campgrounds in Virginia Beach, and head to the Virginia Beach Aquarium for a last look at some sea life.
(see our route from Luray Caverns to First Landing here)

Thursday - Depart First landing at 6:30am, getting back to Clonlara School by 8pm.
(see our return route here)