Magical Mountain Babes...The Life of a Slytherin!

Written by Rosie Kaplan-Hartnett

Thursday 13th July, 2017

Have you ever known about a rumor for two years and then found out it’s not true? Well, that’s what happened to me. Of course, it’s obviously not true, but I had some suspicion. The story began a long time ago in the doctor’s office “D.O.” One business day a little girl walked in to get her braces tightened (back then they had a headpiece that connected to one’s teeth). The dentist worker tightened her headpiece so tight that the girl passed out and died. Imagine someone choking you to death, literally! Last year the younger boys were spreading rumors of seeing a ghost figure of a young girl at night and the bathroom tap turning on and off. Anyway, you can believe it or not, but from my perspective, it’s not true!

Knock knock knock. "It's 7:00!" Madie says while blasting music on her stereo. We all reluctantly crawl out of bed and get ready for academics. Catherine and I bike down to breakfast while everyone else walks. Then we sit through Pete's "hilarious" morning thing-a-ma-jig, jokes, weather, and sports updates. My day: first I have study hall with a checklist of vowel types or worksheets that have to be done in a time span of 45 minutes. Then, writing where we learn prepositions, complex sentences, and entries for the blog, like this one. Next is art “where we have a break from academics and a blast in our day” (That's a quote from Logan two years ago.) It’s a time to relax and focus on funness. So this week we’ve been working on cardboard boats, and the race was yesterday! My team was named BORJ with Boux, Olivia, Rosie, and Josie. Our theme was tie-dye!

Last but not least is Tutoring with Ms.Jenny, my favorite class. First, we do Alpha chips timed, then sound deck, a few worksheets, white board spelling, cursive, grammar, the six vowel types, and we usually end with a game or walking Rozzy (her dog) to Jenny’s cabin. Then following tutoring is lunch, where we pass out buddy beads for afternoon readers and go over the outdoor pursuits. After that, the afternoon readers go and read, while all the overnight campers have cabin time. I help clean the cafeteria for 15 minutes then get ready for outdoor pursuits and do some homework. At 1:55 pm we all walk down to the vans and go our separate ways. There’s scuba diving, wild Colorado, rock climbing, mountain biking, horseback riding and river running.

Every evening at 5:15 when we hear the bell, all of the day campers go home for the day and the overnight campers can email, do social media, or have cabin time. I usually email or work on a blog post for most of the time. After that, we have dinner and buddy beads, which are basically the same thing as lunch except without the day campers. Then there is this thing called Misto Man were some “Mysterious person” goes around the cabins when we're in academics and checks for cleanliness. At dinner, Pete announces Misto Man on a scale from 0-5, so every Friday the cabin with the most points gets two privileges, and everyone else gets one.

Letters fly like dementors swarm as Pete calls people's names and aims for the roof. It's called Mail Call Wall, because he stands on a rock wall and well-- it’s self-explanatory. Later we play field games or make buddy beads. Dessert and bed. Good night!

Expository Writing Examples from Writing Class

The Penny Should Die by Jack

The penny should die. First, it costs more than twice as much to make it than it is worth, and it takes $130,000,000 from the taxpayers that could be used on healthcare which could treat 120 people with top level cancer care for 3 years. Next, it is not even worth picking it up off the ground like when was the last time you picked up a penny from the ground? Finally, most businesses don't want to deal with the penny it cost money to store move and use the penny then it is worth. The penny is a thing from the past, and it should die NOW!!!

Tornadoes By Josie

Tornadoes can be quick but dangerous.  If tornadoes touch down, they can lift heavy objects like cars. Make sure to move away from windows, because they can break and fill the building with wind. They destroy and flatten buildings in their wake.  Make sure to be prepared in these situations.

Our Thoughts on Camp so Far by Reeve, Mitchell, and Liam

Why Durango Mountain Camp is Fun  

                               by Liam                            There are many reasons why DMC is fun. First, you can go rock climbing. Next, it helps your dyslexia and makes you more creative. You can do stuff you have never done before. In conclusion, there are many things you can learn at DMC. 

Camp is Fun by Reeve

There are many fun things to do at camp. Rock climbing and biking even rafting! Witch are called outdoor pursuits. Before you go adventure you do writing tutoring and study hall. In between periods you have lunch and snack, so you have enough energy for whatever out door pursuit you chose. My favorite thing to do at camp is outdoor pursuits. 

Mitchell’s Hobbies by Mitchell

I have a ton of hobbies. One of my hobbies is drawing. I like to doodle and sometimes do scribbles and drawings. Games are also fun to do. Everybody has hobbies and I have more too.

Creative Writing in Period 2

Miss Mollie and Miss Jen have a very creative group of girls in Period 2 who expressed interest in developing their creative writing skills. Here are some snippets of their work from this week:

 The Bird Princess by Adaley

The soft grass swallowed the children's toes as they ran, their once-frigid popsicles turning to soup in the scorching sun. The birds whistled their lovely tune that flowed through the ears of those who strolled by. The song the bird sang warmed my heart with the stories from long, long ago. It reminded me of a story I was told at an age no older than the kids playing in the park across the quiet road. The story started with the song of a bird.

Jackie 

The first time I heard it, I was in my over-sized room on the 4th floor of our over-sized house. When I heard the yelp above me, I felt the pain, her pain. It shocked me and sent a jolt of tapering pain down my spine. I tried to get up, I needed to get to her but my small bare feet were rooted to the ground trying to keep me away from her, trying to keep me away from Lana. I hear it again, I need to get up, I need to go help her. I fight against the forceful pull keeping me away from her. I pull back but It feels as if someone is grabbing my legs, I can’t get up off my over-sized bed I feel helpless, I can’t breathe.

“JACKIE!” she screams

I need to get up to her. The pull stops and I fall to the floor sweating, my eyes swelling with tears, I blink them back. My mind goes blank.

“JACKIE!”

It all comes rushing back, the yelp, Lana, mother, attic.

North Central Kansas Free Fair Horse Show by Cajsa

My favorite part is always the flag race. Feeling the excitement flow from Sparks to me, and as he takes off into a gallop, my heart starts to flutter like a butterfly in my chest. The sight of the flag fluttering in the humid summer breeze. Hearing his hooves pound on the dry ground. Getting a mouthful of dust, as I snatch the green flag. Finally being able to catch my breath as I exit the arena. Smelling the sweat off the horses.

Trading Partners by Abby

“She never liked the cage. That’s Harper, this is her fourth time in the cage this month.”

I witness in uniforms men, well, I think they’re men, drag her out of the plaza and in through the gates. I was just released just a few minutes ago.

“Welcome to The Trade, I’m Nevada,” finally introducing herself after we watched Harper squirm, kick, and scream at the top of her lungs.

“I’m Hazel,” I say, as we awkwardly shake hands.

“Now, let’s get you introduced to everyone,” Nevada says, gesturing me to follow her.

As we walk down the uneven stone path to the East Wall, I glance up and see a bright blue sky and the sun beaming down on us, signifying that it’s noon. On either side of us, there were small abodes of different pastel colors, with long shaggy grass in front of them, and little paths leading to their doors. As we made our way from the plaza in the middle of our enclosure and we reached the side of our four-cornered area, there were letters on the wall in front of us that spelled E-A-S-T...whatever that means.

Deep Dark Woods by Elle

“I told you not to go in there!” screamed Miranda as she was running across the heavily wooded fields. It was early spring in Colorado now, all the trees and flowers were blossoming, but Miranda did not have that on her mind. All she wanted to do was get away from Gary Wise’s cabin in the deep dark woods before night fall, but little did she know that she was not going to make it.

“Ring ring, ring ring” Stephen calls awaiting my answer. I pick up. “Mel! You been accepted to DMC!” He says in excitement. “Finally...” I say in relief.  Stephen’s my dad, I’m Melia but people call me Mel, Rosie, Rose, Ray, Rosie Posey. I prefer Rosie.

by Rosie

Exploring Nature Through Creative Writing

In some of our Writing Classes, we've been adventuring into the great outdoors. Using our five senses to explore, here are some vivid sentences students created while observing this scenic part colorful Colorado:

The lightning danced liked a frog. 

The flames crackled at midnight! 

The rain stomped out the treacherous fire.

by Noah

The lightning danced across the metallic floor.

by Will

The tree burned as it rained on the hilltop. 

The beaver's dam flooded in the riverbank after it rained. 

by Mady

The mint exploded with vibrant flavors. 

by Damiano

The trees whished in the wind.

by Ever

The clouds are roaring in.

The cotton tree is whistling in the wind.

by Clayton

The thistles raked at my tender skin.

by Yony 

The pale daisies reached upstream towards the sun in the spring.

by Lilly 

The ants squirmed across the sidewalk. 

by Avery

DMC Boat Race 2017

 July 13, 2017

Olivia’s eyes widened with fear when Zane announced, “It’s time to battle!”  The boat was spinning, and Baux screamed, “Paddle faster!”  Olivia and Sean clashed above the seaweed for the win.  The cardboard bubbled and sogged, but the duct tape remained intact.  Now the fabulous BORJ rests at the bottom of Haviland Lake.

Written by:  Olivia, Baux, and Josie

DMC climbing 2017 by Justin Tschinkel

 DMC climbing – Justin Tschinkel, Senior Climbing Instructor and Counselor

Every afternoon participants in DMC’s climbing program leave campus and travel a short distance to one of the many climbing locations in the surrounding San Juan National Forest.  On some days, climbers would scale “X Rock”, or master their skills at Durango’s premier rock climbing gym, or rappel down the canyons of Cascade Creek, or free climb boulders at Turtle Lake.   All climbers have received instruction in the use of ropes, knot tying, commands, belaying of other climbers, and rappelling. 

            An important aspect of climbing is that it allows campers to set and achieve personal goals in a non-competitive setting.   Our climbing groups work together to learn the skills and also ensure each person’s safety by following climbing guidelines.   Often other campers would cheer climbers as they overcame particularly challenging sections.  Along with mastering new skills, climbing also contains a distinct fear factor.  Encouraged by other campers and staff, many climbers were able to push themselves through climbs they did not believe themselves capable of achieving. 

This has been a quick update of everything climbing we do here at DMC and will continue to keep you guys updated as camp continues to climb on!

Weekend Trip to Ouray by Elena

Last weekend we went to Ouray, it was super fun. We got to go to the hot springs and they recently remodeled it so it was a new experience for everyone. They added 2 water slides, the brown one went straight down and made your stomach drop so that was exciting. Then there was the white one that one just went in a circle, I guess that one was fun but it was more for the younger kids I think? After the hot springs, we went into the town of Ouray and  played a game called bigger or better. I was in a team with Adaley, Harper, Saige and Karina. That went pretty well. After playing bigger or better, Adaley, Harper, Saige, Karina and I all got dinner. It was very good. We got ice cream and we saw the Dirt Bags at the ice cream store, most of them were asking for money it was pretty funny. After we walked around town and got dinner, it was time to meet at the vans to hike up to a waterfall. It was soooooooo pretty up there and very fun. After the waterfall, we had a 2 hour car drive home that was b.o.r.i.n.g/I fell asleep for some of it. Anyways, the day in Ouray was awesome.

Rock Climbing by Baux

“Belay,”

“Belay on,”

“Climb,”

“Climb on.”

Rock climbing is a very fun sport. You will have a lot of fun if you do it. Justin and Logan are very fun to climb with. At Durango Mountain Camp, some of the rocks that we go to are harder and some are easy. This was the first week of climbing and I loved it. The first day it rained and that was not good but we did still climb. We went swimming multiple times in different lakes/rivers. One of the things that scared me but was cool at the same time were the MUD CAVES, they were really cool but like literally they were as cool as ice cream! Inside it was so dark everyone had a flashlight or a headlight. I had a headlight but it was really dull and not bright at all and that just made me more scared. The caves were very slimy and wet and all muddy! We got to one part of the cave that was full of mud and everyone got muddy, well I should not say everyone, I just watched on the slide but I still had a lot of fun. After we went to the mud cave we went to a lake and there was a snake in the water it was brown and had a light brown line going on its back. It was one that swam in the water it moved across the water as if it was a dolphin in the ocean. So, as you can see you will have a lot of fun if you do rock climbing!