Celebrating Global Day 2015

On Global Day the Third Form traveled to the Quabbin Resevoir and the McLaughlin Hatchery. At the McLaughlin Hatchery students observed and learned about a man-made hatchery and the Fish and Wildlife’s fish stocking program. They also had the chance to stock fish in the Swift River. At the Quabbin they completed a trail service project, walked around the dam and learned about the construction of the dam and its impact on the animal habitats. They then walked out to the Y-Pool observing the clarity of the water and the red pine forests. Along the way they tested water & soil from the Swift River and its banks as it leaves the Reservoir. See Third Form photos here.

The Fourth Form students visited the University of Massachusetts Permaculture garden, Bechtel Environmental Classroom at the MacLeish Field Station, People’s Pint, Springfield Massachusetts Materials Recycling Facility, Atlas Farm, Bechtel Environmental Classroom, Bart’s Ice Cream, Sonam’s Stone Walls, Pioneer Gardens, The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, and Just Root’s in the morning. They asked questions of the people they met, including: How long have you and your family lived in this area? If you moved here, what attracted you to this region and why did you move from where you were? How did you decide what you were going to do here? How has your business grown and changed over time?, What do you do that is sustainable?, How does what is happening globally or locally impact your business?, and Where does your product go? Local or Export? In the afternoon each group visited a state park or forest and did an art project with objects that they found in nature. See Fourth Form photos here.

The Fifth Form, as rising Sixth Formers, went to Morse Hill Outdoor Education Center in nearby Leverett for Leadership Training. The goals for the Fifth Form were as follows: to develop an awareness of their class identity, to get to know each other more deeply as individuals, to have the chance to emerge as leaders and show their skills, to allow faculty to get to know them better and focus on their individual and collective personalities and qualities. See photos from Morse Hill here.

The Sixth Form studied the Deerfield River Watershed and did a cleanup in rest stops along the river. Then they took a wild ride on white water on the Crab Apple rafts. By all accounts the trip was exciting and great fun. See photos of the Sixth Form here.

In the evening, the Global Day speaker was Gabe Blanchet ’05, a former Eaglebrook student and the CEO of Grove Labs. He along with his partner developed a sustainable way for people to grow food year-round in their home. Mr. Blanchet is an alum of Eaglebrook, Deerfield and MIT. His story shows what you can do with imagination, motivation and ambition. The students had many well-articulated questions for Mr. Blanchet. They were particularly excited by his entrepreneurial nature and desire to make a difference. See a clip of Gabe speaking to the students here.