Our summer session has just flown by, with a variety of workshop sessions, visits with sponsors, two visits to Children’s Star Studio, robot demos at the Mount Olivet Rolling Acres camp, giving tours of our workshop spaces during a special Edina Ed Fund event, collecting and delivering back-to-school items for VEAP, and even a few team building activities (aka outside the workshop outings) added in.
In July, “The Green Machine” went on two back-to-back team-building excursions! We did this to take advantage of the canceling of the Gitch, an offseason tournament usually held in Duluth. Since we all had reserved the time to travel, we turned a misfortune into team building! First, the team went to Valley Fair. At arrival, we had many ride-anxious skeptics. But by the end of the day, initial skeptics turned into thrill-seeking team members. The team got to know each other better while waiting in queue for rides, shared the experience of getting drenched on two different water rides, and stopped (often) for delightful dairy and fried foods.
The day after, the team went to the St. Croix river to go on a canoeing trip. Time just flew by as we drifted and paddled down the river. The team set off in the morning, launching from a beach in Taylors Falls. Those unfamiliar with canoeing quickly picked up the skill set needed. The team stopped at two islands along the way, to recuperate, rest, and socialize. The bright blue sky presented a beautiful horizon to set our sights on as we paddled to our destination. Surprisingly, halfway through the trip, one of our team mentor’s, Mrs. Snyder even went so far as to meet us by kayak halfway, joining us on a convenient sandbar island at about the halfway mark.These outings presented great ways to spend time together, time which would have otherwise been spent apart.
We’re now looking forward to the start of school, welcoming new team members, and getting ready for the off-season events at East Ridge High School in September and at Roseville High School in October. Maybe there will still be time for one or two more outdoor adventures.
– by Alec B.