Tide Pooling in Anchorage – Alaska Community Service

Alaska Community Service No Responses »
Jul 242011

Hello!

We are back in Anchorage!  It feels like we’ve returned to our home away from home.  When we last wrote, we were getting set to head to the Center for Alaskan Coastal Research Field Station in Peterson Bay.  We travelled there from the Homer Spit, which took about 20 minutes by boat.  We had a beautiful, sunny day for our trip across.

When we first arrived at the Field Station, we got settled in our Yurts (traditional Alaskan lodging) and enjoyed dinner and a campfire.  Everyone got to try some fresh Alaskan Salmon that our guide, Patrick, cooked over the fire.  The next morning, we got our first taste of the tide pooling in China Poot Bay.  We saw so many amazing sea creatures!  Octopi, Sea Stars and Sea Urchin…just to name a few.  Two bald eagles flew right by us and one of them had a fish in its talons – very cool!  The afternoon was dedicated to community service.  We broke into smaller groups to tackle a few important jobs.  Rebecca and Jessi fixed the plank for the dock.  Others cleared trails, hauled lumber and tore out an old set of stairs all very much needed by the Center.

The following day we went tide pooling at Otter Rock, where we saw more cool sea life and got to explore some caves that were exposed during the low tide.  After lunch, we set out to finish what we had started the previous day.  Jamie, Andy, Jessi, Dan, Philipp and Eric built some boardwalks.  Renee, Rachel, Rebecca, Abby, Ally and Zach spent the afternoon clearing the hiking trails around the Field Station.  In the evening, most of the group went fishing off the dock.  They caught lots of different types of fish.  Rachel even caught a flounder!

Although our work at the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies Field Station was hard work, we were happy to contribute and to complete what we had set out to do.  Tide pooling was well worth it and is definitely a highlight of the trip!

Since being back in Anchorage, we spent more time at the Food Bank of Alaska, sorting through a huge food donation they had just received and needed help with.  We also spent time at the Boys and Girls’ Club of Anchorage, where we hung out with kids, played some games and helped prepare and serve dinner.  The kids were great! Renee thought it was cool to see a lot of the kids offering to help in the kitchen.

Everyone is hard at work planning for our Fundraiser BBQ on Sunday and we are all looking forward to our glacier hike tomorrow!!

We’re on the home stretch and though we’re all looking forward to seeing family and friends at home, truthfully we’re all sad that this journey is coming to an end.
Sincerely,
Pam & Matt
Alaska Community Service

The Westcoast Blogger

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Cali & the Canyons Signing Off – California & The Canyons

California & The Canyons No Responses »
Jul 212011

Dear Cali and the Canyons Parents,

So the final scribe must be written and it’s time to say goodbye. Our amazing trip members will be coming back to you with souvenirs,  but the best gift will be lifelong friendships and memories. We can’t deny that leaving each other is hard. We’re going to cry; we’re going to miss each other terribly; we’re going to miss summer 2011.

But … perhaps the next time one of us catches ourselves giggling about one of this summer’s escapades … a fellow trip member may be giggling too.  It’s time to get back to reality; get back to our normal lives; get back to our everyday routines. We know each and every one of us will carry a piece of Cali & the Canyons with us everywhere we go.

Good luck keeping your teens busy upon their return parents! I hear they enjoy traveling!

With all our love,

Ashley, Shelby, Kelly, Patrick, Andrew, Adam, and Bretton

The Westcoast Blogger

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Greetings from Utah! – California & The Canyons

California & The Canyons No Responses »
Jul 182011

We are coming to you live from Bryce Canyon!!! As I write, our trip is split up into 2 teams competing in an Alphabet Scavenger Hunt! Why are we split into 2 teams? Lets start at the beginning…. Counsellors Andrew and Adam staged an argument with fellow counsellors Kelly and Patrick. The debate began when POP music was playing on the bus and an outraged Adam and Andrew insisted that we change the music to RAP. Kelly and Patrick argued that Pop music was better than rap and that they were not going to change it. After some back and forth banter our bus driver Gene got on the microphone and announced “That’s enough! There’s only one way to settle this! Let’s have a competition!!

The trip has been split into Team Rap and Team Pop and will be competing in games and challenges to eventually determine witch music reigns supreme! Team Captains Jillian and Brian are leading Team Pop while team captains Kyle and Sarah will be leading Team Rap. We will let you know who triumphs in a later posting but first, let’s get you up to speed everything we have done in the past few days.

San Diego was an incredible stop that led us to the San Diego Zoo! Alexa M. impressed everyone by getting to see every animal in the zoo! She ran a zoo marathon! After a day with elephants, giraffes, hyenas, the trip showed their animalistic senses with an intense game of Laser Tag! We also had a great time surfing and spending time on the beach!

We said good-bye to San Diego and moved on to the fabulous Las Vegas! We jumped right into the Monte Carlo pool where Jackie and Hannah G. danced to the live music in the wave pool! We had a special treat at dinner that night celebrating le jour de Bastille (the beginning of the French Revolution) with our very own Gabriel! After some fun in the sun, we went to the top of the Stratosphere! Not only were we 108 stories high but our brave campers hopped on some rooftop rides! Our daring Daniel and Sammy D. hopped on a ride that dangled them over the Vegas strip! Alexa H. and counsellor Ashley were in awe watching everyone on the rides! The view from up there was unreal! We also got to go to the Forum Shops where Sami S loved the ancient Greek atmosphere!

The NYNY Hotel and Casino was a real treat! The scenery was too cool and Justin and Aaron hopped on the famous NYNY rollercoaster! Our final night in Vegas concluded with a stop at Gameworks where Madison racked up the points in air hockey!
Taylor and Alex R. were quite the gamers dominating every game!

Our drive from Vegas to Utah proved to be the most scenic drive yet! Emily snapped some incredible pictures as we made our way through the tunnel at Zion National Park! We all got a taste of the cowboy lifestyle with dinner at Chuckwagon where we put on a Western Skit that showcased some of our acting skills. Saloon girls April and Hana put on their boas and hats for a game of cards while Anthony ‘flirted’ with them! Jake L. played the role of wagon man with Lindsey by his side on top of a wagon! And Jared N.
began the skit as a very convincing howling wolf! Today we took an unforgettable Bryce Canyon Hike!

Stay tuned parents! More to come!

The Westcoast Blogger

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Farewell from Cali & The Canyons! – California & The Canyons

California & The Canyons No Responses »
Jul 172011

Dear Families of Westcoast Connection California and the Canyons,

The day has finally come to say goodbye to our new family. Over the past three weeks, we have seen and experienced so much. In San Francisco we went to Chinatown, visited Alcatraz, crossed the Golden Gate Bridge, and danced ‘The Toaster’ at a baseball game. We got to raft and camp in Tahoe, go waterskiing, and enjoy one of the most amazing afternoons on a catamaran. We
went to Universal Studios AND Disneyland, and pulled off one of the most amazing hoaxes on Rodeo Drive, with the ‘Kid from the
Show.’ We laughed at the Hollywood Improv, and at Venice Beach. We learned a lot at the Museum of Tolerance, and the LA Food Bank. We surfed in San Diego, visited the Zoo, had a blast in Vegas, and saw the incredible canyons. To end things off we had an unbelievable stay in Arizona, and went on a Pink Jeep Tour of Sedona.

Although we did so much, the most memorable aspect of the trip was the lifelong friendships that we have all formed. What was once a group of strangers from across the world is now a family. So many of our trip members took the enormous risk of stepping out of their comfort zones and doing something new. By joining Westcoast on their own, they put themselves on the line, and ultimately it paid off. Every single trip member has played an integral part in this family and on this trip.

I’m now writing from our banquet. Even though it’s very late. and we’re all flying out in a few hours, everyone is up enjoying the last few moments together. By the time this final blog will be posted, many of you will all be at home, and Cali and the Canyons will already be a memory. But the lessons we’ve learned, and the friendships we’ve made will last far beyond the 21 days we’ve spent together.

We are so grateful for the time we got to spend with you. We hope this trip has meant as much to you as it has to us.

Wishing you all the best,

Your Staff: Lauren, Michael, Louis, Jill, Carly, and Laura

 The Westcoast Blogger

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Adventures in Sin City – California & The Canyons

California & The Canyons 1 Response »
Jul 172011

Hello family and friends!

Our stay in Sin City was very exciting! We began our adventures in Las Vegas at the amazing Monte Carlo hotel, where Corey, Devon, and Ethan S had a blast riding the waves in the wave pool. After enjoying the hotel amenities, we then headed to the world famous Stratosphere! Everyone had a blast riding the daring coasters. Maddie and Sarah G took in the amazing view of the city from on top of the Big Shot, while Eli M and Zoe laughed at the photos taken of them from the wild ride. We then headed to the Bellagio water show, where we amazed onlookers with our flashy dance mob! Beth bravely started the fun dance and others quickly joined in! On the walk home, Jaime and Daniel appreciated the historic hotels and buildings we passed, amazed by the
strip.

After a fabulous night, everyone was excited for the relaxing day ahead. We hung out in the sun, splashed around in the wave pool, and took a relaxing ride down the hotel’s lazy river. We then headed to New York, New York to eat dinner in what felt like the streets of the city that never sleeps. Pierre and Gabriel enjoyed classic NY pizza, while Asher ate a sandwich from a
classic NY deli.

The next day, after visiting beautiful Zion National Park, we headed to the Chuckwagon Cookout and starred in our own version of a country western movie, where Sam A made the group laugh with his role as the ladies man. After a rustic home cooked meal, the staff surprised everyone with A TRIP OLYMPICS!!! The group was split into three teams. The Villains (red team) were lead by captains Jonah and Emily, while the Superheros (blue team) were lead by captains Ethan R and Kaila, and last but not least, the Sidekicks (green team) were lead by captains Sam D and Taylor. We ended the night excited for the friendly competition to come, with spirit cheers from the three respectable teams echoing throughout the bus. The green team’s creative cheers were very loud, thanks to their very own spirit cheer captain, Rachel.

The next day, dressed in team colors, we headed to Bryce Canyon. Although a bit challenging, the amazing views were worth the hike. Cliff, who was a bit hesitant at first, finished the hike with flying colors and was very proud of his achievement. We headed back to the campsite to begin the Apache Relay! Sam F’s soccer training paid off as she ran fast for the blue team, while Isabella (blue team) and Alex (red team) both found their chocolate chip in their bowl of whipped cream in record time. Jason quickly painted his nails for the green team, while Emma attempted to eat saltine crackers and then whistle for the red team. Hannah (red team) and Edison (green team) quickly reversed their clothes in their sleeping bags in the blink of an eye. The relay ended where a representative from each team had to write down all 46 trip member’s names.  Nina (red team), Tyler K (green team), and Alyssa (blue team) quickly remembered each name, impressing everyone. The afternoon ended with an egg toss, where Olivia threw the winning throw for a red team victory.

Later on, before dinner we played a fun game called “Bite the Bag”. Cara and Tori impressed everyone with their flexibility! After dinner, each team performed their own skit and song. For the red team, Carrie, Danielle, Pedro, and Tyler M looked great during their song with their own creative dance moves. For the blue team, Sarah L sang with her team their own lyrics to Katy Perry’s “Friday Night”. For the green team, Allie, Anne-Sophie, Brittany, Eli O, Jordyn, and Micheala made the group laugh with their TV show skit. After much deliberation, the judges added up all the points and decided that although a close, close race.. the green Sidekicks won! Each team did an amazing job and the staff are all so proud of each trip member and the enthusiasm they brought.

The days are flying by and with only a few days left on our amazing trip, we’re determined to make every second count before we unfortunately have to return your teens!

-Your Cali and the Canyons Team

Shelby, Dana, Anna, Amanda, Billy, andDuncan

The Westcoast Blogger

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