Kieve-Wavus News Spring 2013 - Camp Kieve

The Bridge Year on the HorizonThey wake up early to the soundsof gulls and sea birds. Stumblingout of sleeping bags and tents into thecool mist of the morning, young peopleand adults begin preparations forbreakfast and breaking down camp.This is a familiar scene for those whoare familiar with Kieve-Wavus . . . butrather than continuing down the trail,these young people will pack up campto head down the beach and await thehigh tide and the sea-run salmon whoare returning to historical spawninggrounds on the Penobscot River inMaine, United States. As they wait forthe tide and the first fish it will usherin, they will cue their iPads to streamlive video of salmon for friends andcollaborators from around the worldwho have contributed to their workand research in a Field Study called“Coastal Waterways”.These students are a part of Kieve-Wavus’ new program, The Bridge Year,a year-long coeducational boardingschool for 24 rising 9th graders.Launching in Fall 2014, The BridgeYear blends the history, missionand strengths of Kieve-Wavus withrigorous intellectual pursuits. AtThe Bridge Year, students exploretheir academic core through campus,outdoor projects and field studieswhich are authentic, integrated,and personalized. Students learneverywhere, have extensive one onone attention and experience lifeas a daily learningopportunity. AtThe Bridge Year,students live theirlearning.The Bridge Years t u d e n t s w h ow i l l g a t h e r a tthe Penobscot River on this chillyfall morning will have a personalconnection to the natural processthey are witnessing: they willhave supported the viability ofthis process through combinedcontribution of research, includingdata collection, writing, recordingand service. In partnership with localDirector of Studies Thomas Steele-Maley and students immersed in the fall colors of DamariscottaLake as they compare timing of leaf changing here with data from other parts of the state.Wabanaki communities, businessleaders, universities, conservationorganizations and regional agencies,they will have contributed waterquality sampling, mapping and GISsupport, ethnographic research,salmon monitoring, evasive speciesremoval, and more to the dam removaland restoration work along nativesalmon spawning corridors. Theirstudy will be intense and memorable.The students weaveboth academics andservice into their“core” themes ofs t u d y ; s o c i e t y,e n v i r o n m e n tand economics,and in doing so,making meaningfulcontributions to support and benefitlocal Maine communities.The curriculum at The Bridge Year isstudent driven and project based withinnovative field studies. Students buildunderstanding and knowledge bydeveloping projects that are relevantto their goals and interests thenapply that knowledge with realworld experiences in the field. FieldStudies provide opportunities toapply student learning in a numberof environments and communitiesthroughout the state of Maine.Community Partners throughout thestate offer opportunities to deepenthe work of field studies and projectsand expand the diversity and depthof experience available to Bridge Yearstudents.When they are not in the field, theKennedy Learning Center will behome to The Bridge Year students andfaculty who live and work togetheras a family, supporting one another’schallenges, goals and successes.Students and faculty share meals,play time and work time, allowinglearning and growing to unfold atall emerging opportunities. Thiswaterfront dormitory and projectspaces are wired for full access to thelatest global technology while theworld class facilities at Kieve provideus with access to deep local explorationStory continued on page 14