Orientation Pictures!

A glimpse of leader orientation at Base Camp in Windsor, New Hampsire:

More Pictures!

Small Things to Bring + email address + music

Thing 1:

Adam and I are in the middle of making phone calls to each and every one of you to make sure all of our travel plans are coordinated and everyone is psyched. If you haven't heard from one of us already, you should be getting a call in the next few days.


In the meantime, if you want to get ahead of the game, here are a few small things that we would like for you to bring:

• 10 camp ideas


• 2 quotes


• a small item that represents your home town or culture that you don't mind trading away


• good, sturdy shoes for hiking


• a bowl, cup, and silverwear


• at LEAST one recipe (each student will be head chef at least twice)

Thing 2:

If you have any questions before the trip leaves, or want to send us something, we now have an official trip email address! BridgeCaribbean@gmail.com


Thing 3:

Reminder that you are NOT allowed to bring ipods, mp3 players, or other personal listening devices with you on the trip. We are putting together a mix playlist, though, so feel free to email a few of your favorite songs to us and we'll add them to the list!

We are very photogenic

Hi!

Packing List Updates

You should have received a packing list in the mail several weeks ago. There are two major things that need to be added to it:

• Sleeping bag (preferably light weight; it does not get very cold at night in the Caribbean)


• Sleeping pad (foam, inflatable, other all fine, as long as it is compact (no air mattresses))

In addition, Adam and I are requesting that you bring a small trinket/token that represents your home town/community. This should be something that you are comfortable trading away.



14 more days!

-Kelly & Adam

Kelly's Leader Letter

Hello Tripees!

Wow, when did it get to be June? The recent weeks have blown by in a gust of twelve-hour workdays, sweeps week evenings, and Saturdays spent slowly accumulating my trip gear and a (barely) passable base tan on the beaches of Los Angeles. Earlier today I flipped open my calendar and realized I would be heading back to New Hampshire for leader training in a mere five days! The excitement of my second Windsor Mountain trip finally landed (along with the realization that I have a lot of laundry, cleaning, and packing to do this weekend.)

I grew up in Denver, Colorado, where I spent my youth hiking in the Rocky Mountains, skiing world-class mountains, and going on bike trips through the desert southwest. I was the bane of my mother’s housekeeping abilities, as I was constantly working on new crafts and projects, and leaving my masterpieces (and messes) scattered about every room in the house.

Between my junior and senior year in high school I discovered an amazing program that would allow me spend the summer studying theatre and traveling around Europe. I jumped on the chance to go, thus beginning my love-love relationship with Windsor Mountain, and my addiction to travel, exploration, and adventures (I think this is what Adam calls “itchy feet.” Glad to finally have an official diagnoses, because I’ve been putting off seeing the doctor for years.) This year marks my second summer at Windsor Mountain, and my first as a leader. I am thrilled to share this amazing experience with you!

I spent my undergraduate years at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, where I majored in Film and Television Studies, Modified (with philosophy, sociology, psychology, and theatre.) When not in class, I was a member of the improv comedy troupe, Casual Thursday, and a competitor on the nationally ranked Dartmouth Figure Skating Team.

For the past three years I have been living, teaching, tutoring, writing, working weird jobs, and accumulating “Hollywood” stories in Los Angeles, California (between adventures, of course.) I recently optioned my first screenplay, and this fall I will begin working towards my Masters degree in writing at the University of Southern California.

As the weeks, days, hours, and minutes count down to our departure, I’m sure you’re becoming more and more anxious and excited. As Adam mentioned, it would be fantastic if you could start thinking of ideas for our summer camp. Additionally, one of the important aspects of a Windsor Mountain trip is group living – we will all be taking care of each other this summer, including chores and cooking. If you could each find, practice, and learn at least one delicious recipe to share with the group before July, our taste buds will thank you!

Finally, I have the pleasure of telling you that our trip has been selected by Windsor Mountain to create a special project – a video blog (vlog?) documenting our time in the Caribbean! You will all be responsible for planning, shooting, and editing short videos/documentaries/dramas/comedies/etc about our adventures. We will be posting our videos online at http://bridgecaribbean2008.blogspot.com/ (bookmark it so your parents can find it easily!) Adam and I will also be using this site to bring you pre-trip updates, so check early and check often!


The memories from my first Windsor Mountain summer (as a student) are fresh in my mind. Eight years later I am still in touch with every single member of my trip. Each and every one of them is doing something unique and interesting with their lives, from studying Shakespeare in London, volunteering in Patagonia, working for women’s rights in the Ukraine, juggling professionally, and interning at Rolling Stone magazine.

This summer you will meet a group of diversely amazing young people, face and overcome extreme challenges, and grow into the person you will become. Are you excited yet?!


Most amiably, sincerely, and long-windedly yours,


Kelly Morr

Adam's Leader Letter

Greetings Bridge Caribbean Participants!!!


My name is Adam Aronovitz, and along with Kelly Morr, I will be leading Bridge Caribbean 2008 this summer. Our group has an entire month to experience the glorious beauty and culture of St Vincent & The Grenadines! I am sure you are as excited as Kelly and I are for this summer, and I would love to take this opportunity to tell you a little bit about myself.

I grew up in the Boston area, spending my early years in Newton and the majority of my youth in a town called Sudbury, Massachusetts. I spent my undergraduate career at Tulane University in the majestic city of New Orleans where I fell heads-over-heels in love with the jazz, the magnificent food, and the unique culture of New Orleans and its inhabitants. I majored in International Political Economics, investigating the realities between international governance, the international marketplace, and all the invisible behind-the-scene forces that govern our international community.

I had a life-changing experience during the fall of my senior year. I enrolled in a study abroad program called Semester at Sea. For 100 days I lived and studied on a ship while circumnavigating the globe. Our ports of call were Japan, China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Malaysia, India, Kenya, South Africa, Brazil, and Cuba. I could spend years recounting my adventures but highlights included everything from volunteering at orphanages in Vietnam, India, and Kenya to seeing Fidel Castro speak in Cuba. Since this voyage I have constantly been seeking out opportunities to immerse myself in the unbelievable offerings of our planet. You could say that I have had “itchy feet” ever since.

Since I graduated from Tulane I earned a Masters Degree in London and I am currently teaching math and outdoor education at a middle school in East Boston. My school is a fascinating place. 70% of the student population is from Latin America and I really enjoy learning about their rich cultures and introducing them to the natural world through the outdoor education program that I designed.

This is my third consecutive summer with Windsor Mountain. In the summer of 2006 I led a trip to Puerto Rico which was an incredible experience. The highlights of this program were volunteering at a rainforest reforestation project and surfing on the West Coast of Puerto Rico. In the summer of 2007, I led Windsor Mountain’s Bridge Mexico trip in the Huasteca region of Central Mexico. This program had a very strong community service component. One of the highlights of my time on our fine, fine planet was organizing a ‘Medical Brigade’ last summer for indigenous communities in Mexico that had no access to medical care.

As the school year begins to wind down I find myself thinking more and more about our upcoming adventures in the Caribbean. We will all be taking this journey together soon and we will have an opportunity to talk before the expedition about certain details. In the next month try to spend some time thinking about your personal goals for our journey--what do you hope to get out of this program and more importantly, what do you hope to leave behind in the Caribbean?? As you know, a huge piece of our expedition involves designing, implementing, and running a summer camp program for the children of St. Vincent. Please be prepared with AT LEAST 10 ideas for activities that you could lead as part of the summer camp program. These could include games, songs, arts and crafts activities, and just about anything. Be creative!! Enjoy the rest of your school year; I look forward to meeting all of you!!!


Amor y Paz,

Adam Aronovitz