Exploration Week Offerings for 2011

Downloadable forms:

• Exploration Week Adventure Guide 2012
• Exploration Week Program Selection Form
• Exploration Week Financial Aid Form
• Exploration Week Program Acceptance Form

Tikkun Olam: Direct Service And Activism

Habitat For Humanity – 3 sites: Habitat for Humanity seeks to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. The organization accomplishes this by working in partnership with families in need to build homes, restore hope, and help them continue to be valuable members of their communities. Since 1976, Habitat for Humanity volunteers have built over 350,000 houses around the world, providing more than 1.75 million people in 3,000 communities with safe, decent and affordable shelter.

Participants will spend time reflecting on their experience and making connections between their work and Jewish values. Participants must be 16 years of age or older.

Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Participants in this trip will be part of a crew that will aid in the building of a home for a low-income family in need of adequate shelter.

Depart: Monday, March 28
Return: Friday, April 1
Maximum Number of Students: 12
Faculty: Rachel Arcus-Goldberg, Janna Dorfman
Cost: $500

Union County, North Carolina
Union County Habitat is 30 minutes southeast of Charlotte, NC, and builds 10-12 Habitat houses per year in the North and South Carolinas. In March 2011, it will be starting work on a new large project in Marshville, NC, that we will be helping with.

Depart: Sunday, March 27
Return: Friday, April 1
Maximum Number of Students: 15
Faculty: Ziva Reimer, Steve Wood
Cost: $1,200

York, Pennsylvania
York Habitat is centrally located between Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Washington, DC. They have a diverse need in their community and serve both a city and suburban population.

Depart: Sunday, March 27
Return: Friday, April 1
Maximum Number of Students: 12
Faculty: Rabbi Dov Bard, Sarah DuBeau-Farley
Cost: $1,200

NOLA
New Orleans, Louisiana
Be part of a delegation of Gann students working for a week in the New Orleans area. You will be part of work crews that will help to rebuild houses and neighborhoods for victims of Hurricane Katrina. You will meet with various constituencies and learn first hand about the difficulties of families in the devastated areas. The Gann delegation will also spend Shabbat in New Orleans and meet members of the Jewish community. Our delegation will be asked to raise money to be donated directly to victims while we are in New Orleans. Participants will be provided training by the St. Bernard Project for all the work that will be done. Participants must be 15 years of age or older.

Depart: Friday, March 25
Return: Friday, April 1
Maximum Number of Students: 18
Faculty: Sherri Geller, Josh Neudel, David Tabachnik
Cost: $1,200

Panim El Panim Conference
Washington, DC
What do you think of when you think of politics?  Voting? Debating a point on the floor of the House?  Signing a bill into law?  All of these are great examples, but it is easy to forget that doing Tikkun Olam to make our country a better place, communicating with your elected officials to influence their decisions and debating political perspectives with your peers are just as essential to the functioning of an effective democracy. If you like politics in any of its forms, come to the Panim el Panim conference. You will have an opportunity to debate policy, observe panels on a variety of hot political issues, lobby members of Congress, and work on Tikkun Olam projects serving high need populations in the D.C area. Come experience politics in all its forms.

Depart: Sunday, March 27
Return: Thursday, March 31
Maximum Number of Students: 20
Faculty: Jonah Hassenfeld, Elena Morgan
Cost: $1,100

Poverty and Homelessness in Boston
Gann Academy
Every night, close to 7,000 men, women and children in the City of Boston have no home. Founded in 1969, Pine Street Inn serves more than 1,300 homeless individuals daily and 10,000 annually, providing the full spectrum of services to help men and women reach their highest level of independence and get back to a place they can call home.

The goal of our week is to put a human face on the issues of homelessness and poverty while exploring direct service and legislative options to ensure that all people have decent, affordable housing and a shot at living independent dignified lives. We will work in different parts of the Pine Street Inn agency – the kitchen, with the grounds crew and at satellite housing sites. We will make food, clean and interact with residents and staff. The week will include learning and reflection components. We will meet with a panel of experts on homelessness as well as study secular and religious texts. We will meet with lobbyists and legislators on Beacon Hill who care about this issue. Ideally the week will challenge all of us to think about why these issues exist and how we and others can make a difference.

We will need to raise $300 to pay for supplies we will donate during the week.    

Maximum Number of Students: 8
Faculty: Rabbi David Jaffe, Dr. Francene Sokol
Cost: Free

Urban Education Seminar
Gann Academy
Interested in education?  How about in issues of poverty and inequality?  The Urban Education Seminar (UES) is an opportunity to explore important social justice issues in our own Boston-area community through service-learning and workshops. In the UES, students will have the opportunity to volunteer at a low-income preschool or elementary school. They will also learn from experts about issues facing low-income students in school in Boston and nationwide as well as about current school reform efforts to effect large-scale change in public schools.

Note: All three of the programs below are part of the Urban Education Seminar. If you select UES, please indicate if you have a volunteer site preference, and we will try to honor it.

Maximum Number of Students: 30
Faculty: See Below
Cost: Free

Maximum Number of Students: 10
Faculty: Julie Levine, Rabbi Avigayl Young

Ohrenberger School  Literacy Program
Gann students will have the opportunity to continue to develop our relationship with the Ohrenberger School in West Roxbury. Students will work with elementary school students on their reading skills, as well as their general study and learning skills.

Maximum Number of Students: 10
Faculty: Carol Englander, Lily Rabinoff-Goldman

Ellis Memorial
Ellis Memorial & Eldredge House is a non-profit social service. They have been providing programs and services for children and adults of Boston for 120 years. Established as a settlement house in 1885, Ellis Memorial continues to offer educational and social programs that support the diverse and underserved needs of working parents and families.

A favorite site from Freshman Community Service Days, Ellis Memorial is here for those excited to spend more time with the cute little ones. Together with faculty, this group will put together a lesson to teach to the children at Ellis Memorial and help the preschoolers throughout their day.

Maximum Number of Students: 10
Faculty: Deborah Klapper, Elizabeth Loewenberg, Rahel Nessim

DC Wonks
Washington, DC
What does it take to argue a case before the Supreme Court?  What does it mean to sit as a justice on the Supreme Court?  How does a bill become a law (from an insider’s perspective)?  How does the President know if what he is about to do is legal?  What are the inside politics that determine which artifacts and stories make it into (and which get left out of) the Smithsonian Museum?  If these questions excite you, this trip is for you. No ordinary trip to Washington DC, this is a wonks dream tour only for those who eat, sleep, and drink politics.

Depart: Sunday, March 27
Return: Thursday, March 31
Maximum Number of Students: 16
Faculty: Kelly Grieco, Yoni Kadden
Cost: $1,000

Eat and be Satisfied
Jewish Values and our Production and Consumption of Food
Gann Academy
Eating food is not a choice, but what to eat, how to eat it, how to prepare it, and how to grow/raise it are choices with profound ethical implications. The choices we make should reflect our values. During this Exploration Week Program, we will examine how Jewish values and our choices about food relate to the environment, farm worker's rights, health, global food security, and personal finances. Working within a limited budget, we will create menus and prepare food while exploring the implications of the choices that we make concerning food.

Maximum Number of Students: 8
Faculty: Nirith Avraham, Carrie Morenberg, Jeff Spitzer
Cost: $175

Encountering People of the Book
Gann Academy

True or False:

1. Most Muslims in the world are Arab.
2. The virgin birth is the same thing as Immaculate Conception.
3. Jesus was white.

The Boston Metro Area is one of the most religiously diverse regions in the country, and yet, many of us have never really encountered other religions, especially on their terms.

This program is your opportunity to reach outside of yourself and interact with other “People of the Book” living around you. Over the course of the week, we will be gaining first-hand experience with Christianity and Islam in the Boston area. Every day will provide us with a chance to understand and engage these rich and diverse faith traditions while wrestling with how these experiences inform and even challenge our own faith and religious beliefs.

Some of the field trips that we will go on include:

1. The Catholic cathedral in Boston (and hopefully an audience with Cardinal O’Malley)
2. A mosque in the Boston area
3. A non-denominational megachurch
4. An African-American church in Roxbury

So, come join us as we explore other faiths and our own.

Maximum Number of Students: 10
Faculty: Rabbi Jethro Berkman, Dr. Adam Marshak, Mark Rosenberg
Cost: Free

Local Farming, Local Food
Gann Academy
What would your life be like if lettuce, tomatoes, avocados disappeared from supermarket shelves from November till May?  What if there were no fleet of trucks and airplanes to ship fresh food to you from California, Mexico and Brazil?  What would it mean to eat only what was grown within 50 miles of your home?  Does anyone even grow food within 50 miles of your home?  In recent years, the idea of local food has become very popular, but what does that look like for someone who lives in Massachusetts?  In this Exploration Week program, we will explore some of the thinking behind the local food movement and get our hands dirty on a local farm as they transition from the maple sugaring season into the early part of the growing season. We’ll visit Boston area residents who are putting local food ideas into action with urban beehives and chicken coops. We’ll find out what the tradeoffs of local food are. Does a clear conscience mean 5 months of squash?

Maximum Number of Students: 15
Faculty: Matt Conti, Tim Fries
Cost: Free

Discovery: Physical Activity and Outdoor Adventure

AMC White Mountains Adventure
Gorham, New Hampshire
Like hiking? Like the snow? If so, this is the trip for you. On this trip, we’ll snowshoe up to a cozy rustic cabin in the White Mountains where we’ll stay for three nights with the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC). Mountain Classroom merges environmental education, personal development and team building seamlessly in a hiking-based program that challenges students and inspires an appreciation for the natural world. The program, taught experientially with the help of the AMC staff in the beauty of mountain environments, creates powerful memories of nature, camaraderie and fun.  

Depart: Monday, March 28
Return: Thursday, March 31
Maximum Number of Students: 20
Faculty: Brian Infante, Leora Perkins, Karyn Spero
Cost: $350

Horseback Riding
Raleigh, North Carolina
For this trip, students will travel down to Raleigh, North Carolina and spend three days at the Dead Broke Farm learning how to ride, care for and maintain horses before taking them out on several trails in the beautiful Raleigh countryside. Through ongoing discussion, we’ll explore how Judaism feels about the environment, the animal world and animal rights. In addition, we’ll spend some time exploring the rich history and culture of Raleigh itself. No experience is necessary and all those looking for a fun, informative and soulful experience are encouraged to sign up! 

Depart: Monday, March 28
Return: Thursday, March 31
Maximum Number of Students: 10
Faculty: Rachel Friedrichs, Josh Mocle
Cost: $1,200

Impact Boston
Safety, Leadership, and Communication Skills for High School Students
Gann Academy
If someone attacked you on the street would you know what to do? Would you know what to do if someone you were dating attempted a sexual assault? IMPACT will teach you. This program offers practical skills to help you respond effectively to threats, intimidation, and attempted assault. You will learn self-defense through realistic scenarios. You’ll also learn to use your voice for protection and practice speaking up for yourself in a variety of scenarios. Self-defense is something anyone can learn, and IMPACT will give you opportunities to learn and practice safety skills in a supportive, non-competitive environment. Whether you’re on your way to college, considering travel abroad, or just want to feel safer and more confident, this class is for you!

The week-long format offered by Gann Academy provides an optimal environment for in-depth learning. Topics covered include:

• Verbal and physical skills for situations in which the student is approached by the assailant
• Conflict de-escalation
• Four techniques for rear attacks
• Ground fighting skills for situations in which a student is either thrown to the ground or chooses to fight from the ground
• Eight techniques for sexual assault scenarios
• Assertive communication
• Skills for date and acquaintance rape scenarios

Maximum Number of Students: 10
Faculty: Dr. David Novick, Joanna Novick
Cost: $550

Lacrosse
Gann Academy
Learn more about one of the oldest and fastest growing sports. Lacrosse, a sport dating back to the 1,400s, was played by hundreds sometimes thousands of players at once with the game lasting sometimes three days with goals miles apart. Lacrosse was used as a vehicle to settle conflict and heal. The game and the technology have since evolved, but the themes of competition, collaboration, community, and spirituality are still very much part of the fabric of the sport. Varsity Boys’ Coach Rik Alcid will return to teach the fundamentals and strategies of the sport while focusing on team building, leadership training, conditioning and community service. Students, both new and returning, will have the opportunity to learn and improve their games. The course is open to all levels (never played before to the experienced), all grades (seniors, it's never too late). Have fun, learn more, and build new relationships. It's a great opportunity for returning players to improve their game before the season and for new students to test drive a great sport. The group goes on a community service day with one of the other groups. We will also go on a trip to an indoor complex to scrimmage, and do an overnight at Gann.

Maximum Number of Students: 12
Faculty: Coach Rik Alcid
Cost: $150

Spring Training
Tampa Bay, Florida
The Varsity Baseball coaches, Brian Tanguy and Collin McAlpine, and former coach Ken Kornreich, will lead this five day trip to Tampa Bay, Florida for students who are interested in developing their baseball skills, competing in games versus high level high school competition, participating in team building activities and extending themselves to those in need in the Tampa Bay community. The baseball schedule will include practices and/or games Sunday-Wednesday at the former Tampa Bay Rays spring training facility. Interested students must have played some competitive baseball in the past three years. On the program selection form, please indicate what positions you have experience playing if you are interested in this option.

Depart: Sunday, March 27
Return: Thursday, March 31
Maximum Number of Students: 15
Faculty: Coaches Ken Kornreich, Collin McAlpine, Brian Tanguy
Cost: $1,400

Boys & Girls Tennis
Gann Academy
The Varsity Girls’ Tennis coach, Boxer Clark, offers a week of tennis training, team building and community service for new and experienced players.

The group will travel each day from Gann to the Waltham Athletic Club for five hours of fitness and tennis training. One hour each day will be dedicated to sport specific fitness with a club certified trainer. The remaining four hours will be focused on skill development with the club pros as well as competitive play. One day will be set aside for a community outreach effort in the Boston area.

Maximum Number of Students: 8
Faculty: Coach Boxer Clark
Cost: $500

Create in Clay: Pottery on the Wheel
Gann Academy
Imagine spending all day creating pots on the potter’s wheel!  If this sounds dreamy to you, we invite you!!  Beginners through advanced students are welcomed to learn and develop their skills and creativity with support from two teachers who love ceramics. Sasha B. Lichtenstein and Noni Armony Erel will offer their technical guidance, inspiration, and compassion to the lucky five to seven students who will join us for a week of playful community making expressive pots.

Maximum Number of Students: 7
Faculty: Noni Armony Erel, Sasha B. Lichtenstein
Cost: Free

Culture Vultures
Gann Academy
Do you love the Arts? Film, Painting, Theatre, Music, Dance, Archticture? Can’t get enough? Join us! Boston is one of the most culturally rich cities in the country . Join us as catch shows of all kinds, wander through museums, wear snazzy berets and sip espresso in swanky cafes. The Arts faculty will be joining us along the way to share their excitement and insight about the Arts. No experience required, and NO PAPERS! Just enjoying the Arts together and hanging out.

Maximum Number of Students: 12
Faculty: Lindsay Metivier, Jason Slavick, Malcolm Roberts
Cost: $275

Glass Works
Gann Academy
This experience will be an exploration of different types of glass work, including four full days of classes at the Diablo Glass & Metal studio. The Diablo staff will arrange an introduction to techniques in the Flame Shop and the Hot Shop. In the flameworking studio, the class will cover all the basics of shaping colorful glass over the flame of a stationary propane/oxygen torch. Through periodic demonstrations followed by plenty of practice time, students might create glass pendants, beads, marbles, small vessels and/or sculptures. In the Hot Shop, Diablo instructors will work closely with students to guide them in techniques with molten glass, “gathering” the glass and using glassworking tools to create solid glass paperweights and sculptural forms. In the Flat Shop, students might try a sandblasting project or work to attach different glass elements into a sculpture. On Fridays, students will work at Gann Academy on simple projects in Stained Glass, using the copper foil method and lead-free solder to create sun catchers or small boxes.

Maximum Number of Students: 18
Faculty: Christine Carpenter, Deb Carroll
Cost: $650

Improv Comedy
Gann Academy
This is a one week intensive improvisational comedy workshop. You'll learn all the improv basics and get introduced to some more advanced skills as well. Days will be split between workshops and watching videos of improv or improv related films, clips, etc. We will also be taking a day trip to New York City for an improve workshop and to see a live, professional improv show.

Maximum Number of Students: 10
Faculty: Rachel Klein
Cost: $300

The  Writer’s Life
Gann Academy
Have you ever thought about becoming a writer? Have you ever wondered what it takes to write song lyrics or a script or a novel? Have you considered the possibility of publishing your work on the Internet? We’ll discuss these questions and more as we spend a week living the writer’s life—and for musicians, a bit of the songwriter’s life, as well. To fuel our literary ambitions, we’ll follow the footsteps of our writing forbears, look to other art forms for inspiration, and practice the rituals of being a writer. We’ll spend one day in Cambridge and another on Beacon Hill, and if the calendar cooperates, we’ll take in a museum, a play, a music performance, and/or a reading by a poet or novelist. Every day will be divided between writing time, workshop, and our travels around town. In addition to writing poetry and prose sketches, you’ll work with a writing partner and create a scene for the stage. You will present this scene (from memory or as a staged reading) in the Black Box Theater on campus at the end of the week. You’ll also assemble a booklet of your completed writings (with optional artwork) to keep for future inspiration. Please note that we’ll often be walking and traveling by train, and at least one event will take place during evening hours. Parent drop-off and pick-up may be requested for certain venues.

Maximum Number of Students: 12
Faculty: Dr. Joe Coulson, Abby Shapiro
Cost: $150

Astronomy in New Mexico
Cloudcroft, New Mexico
Experience what it is like to be in a place so dark the stars cast shadows. Learn the night sky and the major constellations, how to use a star chart, and how to use a telescope. See our amazing universe amid the beautiful mountains and deserts of southern New Mexico. Daytrips will include some of the most spectacular natural wonders in the United States: Carlsbad Caverns National Park, White Sands National Monument, and hiking in the picturesque Sacramento Mountains.

Depart: Thursday, March 24
Return: Friday, April 1
Maximum Number of Students: 12
Faculty: Laila Goodman, Jacob Pinnolis
Cost: $1,200

Programming Through the Looking Glass
Gann Academy
The students in this exploration will learn the basics of computer programming using an innovative 3D programming environment known as Alice. We will learn fundamental programming concepts in the context of creating animated movies and simple video games.

Maximum Number of Students: 12
Faculty: Chris Senhouse
Cost: Free

Sea Camp - Newfound Harbor Marine Institute
Big Pine Key, Florida
Snorkel with fish over the only living coral reef in North America. Sea kayak in a sheltered aquatic preserve. Study aquatic life on board a “flattop” oceanographic research ship and live at a marine research institute. Explore an area of The Florida Keys with some of the most extraordinary sea and shore wildlife in the world. These are some of the opportunities you will have at Newfound Harbor Marine Institute (NHMI). Based in the Florida Keys, NHMI provides an opportunity to explore marine habitats, including coral reefs, mangrove islands and tidal pools. Participants will come away with new discoveries an)@ÛeCLŒrWµî8‡=9é™ìî!Q»÷÷Œöp@ÁÕÒx6Ç