Mike came to our room about 7:50am. We were ready except for our shoes. We put on our shoes (but forget the fruit to take as a thank you) and join Mike in the car.
We start the day at the center with Mike trying to teach us how to say good morning—there’s aang and quilach (the end sound is quite gutteral). I’m so butchering it… I’m afraid to try. He recommends we say this to Sally and Crystal. It’s only after I’m introduced to them that I realize they were the ones I was supposed to greet—oops.
We sit down in the relatively empty center and eat our breakfast. I have a half a biscuit with sausage gravy and a hard-boiled egg. Liza and I thank Carla, Mike, and Traven (the only people here at the time) profusely for including us. We know it’s a big deal for us to be here. We’re also trying to compensate for the fact that we have no idea what we’re supposed to be doing.
Mike invites Liza and I to the beach for the sea survival class with the 5th-7th graders. We agree to go, since we don’t know what else we’re supposed to do. We set off about 9:20am and Carla tells Mike we should be back at noon for lunch. There are 11 of us altogether. You can tell the boys are aiming to be a handful even in the first 100 feet of walking. Some of the boys are kicking dirt, others are spitting, and still others are lagging way behind.
One boy, Sam*, disappears far ahead of the group. I’m glad I’m not in charge—and not just not in charge, I’m clueless, I can’t do anything—as this would make me so nervous.
We reach a cliff (or drop-off or something) and begin to make our way down the side. It’s quite steep and I wonder if I’ll fall. About 2/3 of the way down, one of the boys notices a pipe—they call it the peepee pipe. I think they’re kidding, but later Mike says we should find another way back to avoid the sewer pipe. Apparently they weren’t kidding. Yuck.
We begin by walking about a quarter mile on large volcanic-like rocks. They are slippery, which the boys tried to warn us about. I try to walk on the seaweed instead, but it’s even more slick. Everyone is just picking their way along. The students are so resilient, though. Many of them slip and hop back up—just to look for a boulder to climb higher. Suddenly, the rocks change to smooth, tumbled rocks. They aren’t slick and slimy. Instead, they roll from side to side as you try to walk. I lag behind as I try to pick out each step. One of the boys, Bryan, is always behind me, though—which is a bit reassuring. We stop when we finally meet up with Sam—he was way beyond us.
Mike gathers the group and talks with them about what Sam did. Mike emphasizes the need to stay together. He asks the group to recommend an area to build an emergency sea structure. The boys point off into the distance. I couldn’t figure out why there and not right where we were. I asked the boys why there: They said because it was flatter. Simple enough.
Mike asks for 2 leaders and 2 followers. The 2 leaders are Jacob and Jackson. The 2 followers are Robert and Mark. Jacob and Jackson need to make sure no one is in front of them, and Robert and Mark made sure no one falls behind. Robert and Mark adapt to this role by picking up rocks from the beach to occupy their time while others pass.
Eventually, we stop in the spot to which the boys had pointed. The area has a lot of wood. Mike explains about the tides and the grass and trying to choose a place that is protected from water and wind.
I am the first to fall in our survival spot. My foot slides down a hole between 2 boards. Other boys fall; so, we evaluate a few other locations. When we can’t find a better spot, we return to the initial location.
Mike gives the boys several tasks. First, they have to trample down the grass. They leave the grass on the edge standing, as this helps break the wind. Next, the boys are to get pieces of wood. There is a lot of driftwood—so this is relatively easy… although several boys goof off, which delays things significantly.
Mike guides the boys in laying the logs on the side and bolstering these with rocks. The sides are about 18 inches off the ground. The boys then gather pieces of wood to create a roof. They lay the pieces of wood cross-wise to the logs. The boys then tear off grass to lay in the cracks of the roof. This completes the project.
The boys have a terrible time cooperating. It is rather farcical. Liza, Mike, and I agree that, if our survival depended on them, we would die. We have a few near misses with the wood planks (mostly people almost getting bonked in the head and a few almost getting hit in the face). Several kids fall too; but, the worst injury is a scrape.
Initially, Mike was going to get Jacob wet and then the boys would try to keep him warm in the shelter. By the time we get to this point, though, none of the boys are interested in getting in the water. Instead, each boy takes a turn crawling under the shelter. They are pleased with themselves and leave it out there in case “someone needs it to survive”. Given that the shelter is a 15 minute walk from the nearest house that seems relatively unlikely, but pleases them nonetheless.
The single injury (a scrape) is impressive given that the hike back is straight up the steep beach side. (We avoid the route we came because of the sewage pipe.) I go first, and, frankly, I’m surprised I volunteer as trail-blazer. There isn’t a clear path (or really any path). I scurry up, often on all fours, and grab at plants to secure my way. I catch one plant under my nail which hurts immensely… but I don’t want to let go for fear of ending up on the rocky bottom. Even so, I am pleased to go this route rather than walk the half mile back on the rocky shoreline.
When we get to the top, I pull out the snack we were given—Pop-Tarts. I can’t even remember the last time I’ve had a Pop-Tart (although I did try a mini one with my mom as a sample at Costco—yuck). It’s the Cinnamon and Maple Sugar flavor and delicious… or maybe it just tastes good because I’m tired. I’m dizzy and realize I’ve had hardly any water since I arrived in Sand Point. I drink the water in my small bottle and feel a bit better.
Some of the students aren’t able to make it up the sides of the cliff. They end up having to go up another route that Sam finds.
When we are all at the top, we sit in a circle and Mike debrief. (Mike is finishing his Master’s in anthropology and his Doctorate in Education—so he’s video recording a lot of our trip too.) Most of the boys agree it’s better to work together and summarize the ideas behind building a small shelter away from tides and wind.
We head back and somehow I’m drawn to the back where Bryan is lagging. Robert is nice enough to hang back with Bryan and me. Eventually, Bryan is walking too slow even for me and I try to encourage him to walk faster. Jacob circles back around and walks with us. When we finally catch up with the group, Jacob’s parents have arrived with a truck and take all the boys back to the Center. Liza, Mike, and I decline the ride and walk the last bit back.
When we get back to the Center, we see that lunch has been served and quickly join in. Lunch is white rice with a curried ground beef gravy.
During lunch, Liza and I sit with the kids and end up visiting with Norma, who is also sitting at the “kids’ table”. Norma works as a mental health aide at the medical clinic here. She is eating a rice noodle dish. Liza asks about it, and Norma says she bought it at the Trident Store. Norma mentions that the AC has changed their prices to make things most commonly used by her Filipino culture (like rice) more expensive. This seems unfair.
Carla talks with us. Apparently there are 2 parts of Culture Camp. Until students are in 5th grade, they do a 2 hour program which is some science and some arts and crafts. I’m told the progression for girls, but sense that it’s more flexible for boys. In 5th grade (or their first year of camp), though, girls make necklaces. In their second year, they make a Bering Sea Headdress. In their third year, the girls make a full headdress. In their fourth year, the girls work on their regalia.
After lunch, I wander over to the beading table. The instructor isn’t particularly welcoming, but I find an empty seat and ask permission to watch. After watching for almost an hour, I finally approach the instructor—Merle—and ask her if she would please teach me to make something. She sighs and says, “Well, what do you want to make?”
I reply with, “Whatever you will teach me to make.”
Merle sighs again and says, “Well, I guess I could teach you how to make an Aleutian Circle necklace. Pick out some beads.” Merle won’t teach people in the Anchorage area how to make the Aleutian Circle, because it is her design and she sells her work in the Talkeetna and Anchorage markets. She will be at the Dimond Center during Fur Rondy and I’m looking forward to getting a piece.
It takes me a while to get the hang of it… the Aleutian Circle is made in a 5B1 S4 pattern, which is my shorthand for remembering how to do it. Liza joins in after about 30 minutes. I spend the rest of the day working hard on my necklace, as does Liza.
Dinner is served at 5pm for the instructors (and us). It’s pineapple-glazed ham, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn on the cob, and butterfinger ice cream cake.
Traven, Ithaca, and Ingrid asked me and Liza if we had any suggestions for their first and second grade class. The class was at the very end of the day (from 4pm-5pm) and there were a few students who derailed the whole class. We suggested assigning roles and some other basic ideas.
After dinner we go back to our necklaces. It’s really meditative and requires my focus.
At 7pm, adults come in for adult classes. I just keep working.
At 9pm, everyone goes home. Mike takes us back. I pretty much collapse into bed. I’m ready to sleep. So far, I’d say that camp is more interesting than fun.
*I’m going to change the boys’ names, because I don’t feel comfortable sharing kids’ names on the internet.
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