Work Weekend!

Work weekend was incredible! We had more than 50 volunteers spend Saturday and Sunday (some a few days more!) jump starting our 2012 season.

Not only were the big jobs taken care of but the details too. This might be why I loved the weekend so much- everything was attended to with great care and enthusiasm. I really didn't know what to expect. As work weekend approached, our list of things that needed to be done kept growing longer but Deb and Andy assured me that when the work weekend family got here- all would be done. And it was! 

The docks went in with ease courtesy of The Borg. And the dock crew had enough energy and spirit to move right into tent setup afterwards. The library was arranged, swept and de-webbed. Flowers were planted and leaves were raked. Each cabin got the opening and deep cleaning it needed from a truly dedicated crew. Pine cone after pine cone after pine cone was picked up and carried away.

The kids crew was incredible… every one of the “kids projects” was completed in record time! And no the turkey was not sighted in her nest.

Other moments of note pictured here: dedicating the apple tree to Andy and Deb...and then seeing our hole was filled with water and everyone taking turns to fill it back up with dirt, Chippy and Bob's birthday cake and the first 2012 ringing of the bell.

The enthusiastic and caring volunteers make work weekend a great success! We have fun, work hard and eat well! If you haven't joined us before it feels like family getting together to open our place for the season. Everyone here has deep roots in Ohana.

The energy that work weekend brings without a doubt brings Ohana to life… the trees stand up taller, flowers are brighter even the dirt looks better. We all get infused and inspired from this weekend.

I can’t wait for you to see Ohana this year!

Sugarhouse preservation project

Work on the sugarhouse is well underway! At Ohana we use our sugarhouse as our woodshop. (and in turn, get our maple from our neighbors, but that is a different story). The sugarhouse was in need of some care and repair. And really, what could be more appropriate for Vermont than a sugarhouse being used as a woodshop?

Here is what we are working on- The back shed was removed from the outside and a new roof was installed. As Austin is showing above, drainage is also being worked on at the back of the building to help keep things in good order. The floor has been pulled up and leveled and new hickory boards are ready to go down. The inside is also getting a makeover with new benches and shelves and even a little straightening of the walls. You will hardly recognize the place!

 

Our head carpenter on the project is Bill Shepard. He has been working with Austin and Andy to get the job done. For the last few years Bill has been part of the Ohana staff teaching woodworking with hand tools, and leading lots of projects- the most popular of which is spoon carving!

Bill is also our resident birder so it makes sense that a mama phoebe has taken residence in the rafters of the sugarhouse. Her nest has been built and her eggs have been laid. We have been calling her Mrs. Phoebe. She is not too happy about the work being done and has kept a watchful eye on us.

Thank you for all the ingenuity to get the work done. I am looking forward to seeing the finished job… and getting started carving my first spoon while listening to the birds nestled all around us. What a great place to be!

Staff Profile: Scott Brierley

Hi! My name’s Scott (or you can call me Scotty). I cannot wait to come to Ohana camp this summer and become one of the family. I’m most excited about getting involved with every aspect of camp, especially archery and down at the waterfront, meeting lots of new people making new friends, and creating lots of memories.

So a little bit about me. I’m from Birmingham, England and I live with my brother. I’ve nearly finished my final year at the University of Birmingham studying Business Management, but still haven’t decided what career I want to go in to. I’ve had lots of experience working with people of all ages from volunteering at a primary school, being a peer mentor at secondary school and a student ambassador at university, to being an administrator in a nursing home. I was the Vice President of the International Volunteering Society at university, and worked in a Bulgarian orphanage, and wa also the President of the Freshers’ Off Campus Society arranging events for people living at home whilst studying.

I love going out with my friends whether it be for a meal - my favourite food is undoubtedly chicken, or chocolate! - cinema trips, nights out, or even just for a random drive with no specific destination to see where we end up! In my spare time I like to go to the archery course, and keeping fit by running, swimming and going to the gym. I’m a film, television and music geek, I love keeping up to date with things, and experiencing different cultures. I apologise in advance for any sudden singing of random European music!

Travel is also a big part of my life. I’ve been to quite a lot of European countries and have been to the USA twice before, spending time in Florida, Boston and Cape Cod. I’ve also taken part in some charity hitch-hikes across Europe with friends raising around £1000, in the first year we got to Belgium and in the second year Austria (placing third overall).

My favourite holiday memory is probably jet-skiing off the Greek island of Crete. Me and my friend Sarah were jet-skiing, and then when we slowed down to less than 5mph to turn the jet-ski around, I fell off and brought Sarah with me. We then had the hilarious challenge of trying to get back on to the jet-ski, whilst in the middle of a laughing fit, with the jet-ski drifting further away!

 

 

I’m known amongst my friends for dressing up for any occasion! I’ve

dressed up as Pharoah Tutankhamun, Edward Scissorhands, The Mad Hatter, a vampire, a Union Jack, a sumo wrestler and even a polar bear. My favourite outfit though, is probably my morphsuit as you can mix it up all the time!

My most incredible outdoor adventure was probably my Duke of Edinburgh Silver Award practice expedition where myself and a group of students had to camp out and trek for three days across the Welsh countryside. It was such a challenge as the bags were ridiculously heavy and the weather was horrific, (non-stop torrential rain and we were all completely soaked) but this didn’t stop us having an amazing time as the views were stunning. We took part in lots of other activities but I was most known for my clumsy moments such as; When sea-level girdling, I got caught on my rope half-way across and was hanging in mid-air, whilst wave after wave, hit me in the face. Falling on the biggest rock I have ever seen in my life, but somehow didn’t notice it was there until it was too late. Accidentally knocking down a natural stone wall with my heavy rucksack. Sinking a kayak as I was using it (I’m convinced there was a leak!). And finally getting stuck up to my waist in a boggy field and after a friend failed in attempting to get me out with a tiny stick, I had to be lifted out by my Geography teacher – one of the most embarrassing moments of my life.

In the future, I want to do travel more. And then settle down with a family doing a job that I really love.