Mt. Mitchell? Let's Go!
Have you and your students memorized Mt. Mitchell for Geography, found it on the map, and then wondered about its significance? Well, you are not alone!
Two years ago, our dark gray minivan squealed to a painful halt in the secluded mountains of North Carolina. At night. Panicked, we searched for a local garage, only to realize that most businesses in rural North Carolina close early on Saturday evenings. On a normal weekend, this would be frustrating. On this particular weekend, it was DEVASTATING.
You see, my 2nd daughter, Charity, had been selected to participate in the 1st annual National Memory Masters Competition sponsored by Classical Conversations (Hurray!!), and we were required to be in Florida by 2PM the next day. The contest was to be held on a cruise ship, so we could literally MISS THE BOAT.
Our driving plans had not included a "break down" time cushion, so we whipped into whatever-it-takes mode. We limped to the only car rental agency open (an airport) and rented a new minivan. While I drove the rented van, our own crippled van careened into the nearest, closed, garage parking lot where we scribbled a note pleading for them to fix our van while we would be several states away. We promised to call them on Monday to talk details. We then proceeded to race all through the night in order to arrive in Florida, sleep-deprived and unshowered, before the boat pulled away from the dock. So much for planning ahead!
All of this to say that when the van was not ready one week later after the cruise (WHAT?!?!), we had to drive the rented minivan home to Maryland, then drive back down to North Carolina the following week! Fun! Well, it was fun because we made it fun. :-) God gave us a little unexpected gift called Mt. Mitchell.
What follows is Charity's "Travel Logue", written from her stuffed animal's perspective (Bubba...a well-loved, well-dressed, Webkinz chihuahua), about our unplanned visit to Mt. Mitchell! Who knew it was so close to our break-down site? Charity was in 6th grade at the time, and we were thrilled to be able to visit a "memory work" spot that we may not have taken the time to visit otherwise!
Bubba’s Travel Logue
Episode 1: Mt. Mitchell, NC
Hi! My name is Bubba. My mission? To climb the highest point in North America, east of the Mississippi. Mt. Mitchell!
My mind had 7 hours to imagine the wonders and sights I would discover. Would this famous mountain really overshadow everything in sight? How long would it take us to climb its piney peak? Would the top be freezing, even right before June? All of my questions would soon be answered.
To keep us occupied, we researched facts about Mt. Mitchell during our tedious drive. After exploring the mountain in 1835, Elisha Mitchell determined that Mt. Mitchell towered several hundred feet over Mt. Washington, in New Hampshire. Though eventually proved wrong by Mr. Mitchell, Mt. Washington had been considered the highest mountain in North America, east of the Mississippi, at the time. Imagine everyone’s surprise when this Elisha Mitchell declared otherwise! Tragically, 27 years later, Mitchell plummeted to his death at nearby “Mitchell Falls”. We chose not to visit the falls.
Excitedly peering out of the window as we rolled over the serpentine, tree-shadowed roads in the middle of nowhere, we realized that our car was out of gas! After a few minutes of frantically searching for a gas station, we finally limped into the bumpy parking lot in front of an unremarkable store to purchase overpriced gas. What a good way to make money in the middle of nowhere!
Coniferous trees cleared on the side of the road further up the mountain, revealing stunning landscapes. A breathtaking, violet sunset hovered over everything in sight. Finally, at long last, we reached a parking lot. We all tumbled out of the car, right into a chilling gust of wind! Everyone put on his or her coats, but I had forgotten to bring mine!
We trekked on foot up the narrow, winding path to the summit, the frosty wind whipping at our necks and faces. I have to admit, though we had driven over 90 percent of the way up the mountain, this short, freezing hike felt like miles! However, we were determined to reach the top. We would not give up.
At last, we stepped onto the summit. It was empty, except for two stone benches, detailed drawings of the surrounding areas, copper plaques, and a random guy with an expensive camera.
We gazed off into the distance, towering over everything in the horizon. As night fell, lights peeked out from a few towns in The Great Valley, like faraway stars. After a few peaceful, momentous moments, we silently stepped down from the summit, back to the empty parking lot, and into the nice, warm car.
As my family and I started our 7-hour drive back home to Maryland, I marveled at how, during that precise moment, I, Bubba, had been the highest thing in North America, east of the Mississippi River! It was truly a trip to remember.
Next stop? Niagara Falls!
CCHappyMom's note: If all goes as planned, our trip to Niagara Falls should be posted soon!
Considering making online counselling easier to approach, I keep coming back to the difference between knowing about an idea and putting it into practice. Knowing how a first conversation works can reduce uncertainty about asking for support. It gives me a more concrete starting point for thinking about online counselling information. A short discussion of an everyday example would make this easier for me to connect with, especially as someone still learning about the subject. What practical information should be available before someone books an online session?
Thinking about applying business training to everyday work, I find the smaller practical questions more interesting than a quick conclusion. A useful training exercise should connect a new idea with a situation people actually encounter. That is the kind of detail I would keep in mind while exploring practical business training. I do not have a settled view yet, but this seems like a good place to slow down and look more closely. How would you check whether a workshop changes behaviour after it ends?
I can see why making personal safety education age appropriate would invite discussion, since different people will bring different experiences to the same question. Clear language about boundaries makes an awkward subject easier to discuss respectfully. It also gives the phrase personal safety education a clearer meaning than a label on its own. I am more curious about the process than a polished result, because the steps in between are usually where questions appear. How can lessons about personal safety remain understandable at different ages?
The subject of learning through imaginative preschool play feels more interesting when there is room for a reader to stop and ask their own questions. Inventing a story together gives children room to experiment with language and ideas. It gives me a more concrete starting point for thinking about imaginative preschool play. I can imagine different answers depending on the situation, so I would want to understand the context before drawing conclusions. How can adults support imaginative play without deciding every detail?
When it comes to developing practical technical skills in Chodziez, I would rather understand one useful detail properly than rush through a long list of ideas. A practical task often reveals gaps that a written exercise leaves unnoticed. For me, that is a useful way into the broader subject of technical education in Chodziez. The part I would like to explore further is what happens when the idea meets a real situation with its own limitations. How would you connect workshop practice with the theory taught in class?