“The retreat brings people together, builds community in the forest, gets participants outside and off their screens, and uses nature sustainably to heal and inspire minds and souls,” stated Great Mountain Forest Executive Director Michael Zafros. Retreat registration closes on July 30.
Over the five days, teachers and students work in teams to solve real-world problems in a classroom where hands-on experimentation, critical thinking, and collaboration.
For many years, Mount Everett has been the little school that could in regard to the robotics competitions aspect of its STEM work. The school’s robotics team, called “Hyperspace,” has competed against teams from much larger suburban schools from towns like Lexington and Lincoln -- and won.
There was not the population for a dedicated vocational school and, over time, the number of programs offered dwindled. Now individual fields will not be stressed so much as the habits of mind and preparation to adapt to rapidly changing circumstances.
His later work focused on programs directed to broadening the participation of women, underrepresented minorities, and persons with disabilities in STEM fields.
The Mt. Everett Robotics program has been in existence for a decade. In that time, the high school team has won three State Championships and the middle school team made it to the quarterfinals at Regionals last year.
Flying Cloud Institute has just received $25,000 from Berkshire United Way to support its Young Women in Science after-school and summer programs reaching more than 360 girls in grades 3 to 12 from Sheffield to Pittsfield.
“We take ourselves into schools because that’s where you can change the way education is delivered. You have to be in the schools to change them.”
--- Jane Burke, founder and director of Flying Cloud Insitute.
“This is the ultimate in project-based learning...the kids have to think creatively as well as technically, and then communicate their ideas and work in a group environment. These are all top level 21st century skills. They have to build, wire, and program all while facing a competition deadline.”
-- Chris Thompson, Mt. Everett Regional High School Technology Coordinator
Richard Coons, chair of the Monument Mountain Regional High School Building Committee advises that the so-called Alternative Approach to Renovating Monument "reflects a lack of knowledge of virtually every aspect of law, building planning, design, construction and educational program needs."
