9 days left

We're seeing much less of the kids in session 3.  One of the groups is out on a backpacking trip for most of the time.  I was at the family reunion, and the day after I came back the other group left for a 4 day climbing trip in Idaho.  So its pretty quiet around here.

Yesterday I mentioned to one of the directors that I kind of wished I could see Yellowstone, but was over it already - I'm not here on vacation and should have tried to plan it earlier.  She said I should go, and I reminded her that I just got back from being gone for 4 days..."oh yeah"...  This morning she told me she'd been "thinking about it more" and she thought I should go today.  I reminded her that we didn't have any extra cars right now..."oh yeah"...  Then she conferred with the other director who agreed that I should go, and the first one told me to take her car.  I called to Lael, "Do you want to go to Yellowstone?"  "Like, now??"  "Yes"  "Sure!"  And off we went, on a 10 hour round trip car ride.

Since I'll be home soon and the internet here is terrible, I can't be bothered to upload all my photos.  Here are my 2 favorites off my phone, as my camera batteries are dead...

Prismatic Springs - I stopped at one of the signs and learned a couple things.  The water is 160 degrees and is heated by the magma of active volcanoes.  The water is that amazing blue because of how the light fragments off particles in the water.  And the orange and copper colors come from the 'carpet' formed by micro-organisms. 

Jenny Lake - not, in fact, in Yellowstone.  But we stopped here on the way home and it was pretty cool.

End of Session 2

Session 2 boys have come and gone.  But we had a lot of fun!  And have quite a few stories.  Just to summarize, we went to the Rodeo and I've lost track of the cowboy count somewhere around 45.  I got as far as String lake, when we were trying to go to Leigh Lake, and ended up taking some boys in canoes out to a rock to to jump off.  It was about 10 feet high, I jumped off, the water was cold.  There is a video.  Our girl JETs worked their networking skills and got invited back to a board member's house to make dinner.  I was invited as well.  It was really fun and I haven't eaten so much in a long time.  And I now know how to make a goat cheese and basil chicken.  We had one camper that looks like Obama.  About half the boys here were from DC Prep.  The Jackson Hole Astronomy Club came one night which was awesome.  And the Teton County Fair looks a lot like the Belchertown Fair, only smaller.  The last few days, I could have sworn I saw a pig's head on a stake - we had to send a camper home early, there were 3 fights in 24 hrs, the JETs went crazy and were really disappointing.  I don't even like some of them now.

The first 2 sessions are finally over and the whole staff needed to blow off a little steam.  We were all invited to Bess' house (Bess is pictured above) to party it up.  It was hilarious and I will leave it at that, in this public domain.  But I'm glad I got to know all the counselors a little better and have a really good time with everyone, including my boss.

Session 3 will be totally different and I think it will be fun.  The Elite team is gone most of the time on a pretty epic backpacking trip, and the Leadership kids will be here and doing all kinds of cool stuff.

I can't believe that I'm off to the family reunion in a few days and by the time I get back I'll have less than 2 weeks!

My computer (and the internet here) is too slow to upload many pictures.  I chose the one here to prove that I've made some friends, since most of the ones I've posted are of landscapes :-)  Bess is awesome!  I will certainly post more pictures when I get home and can more easily sort through all the pics at once.

It'll be over before we know it...

More Pictures

Hiking Trip with the Ranger Girls, Session 1

Grand Teton National Park



Me and the mountains



Our kids, hiking off into the distance

More Horseback Riding

They pay me to do this?

Jackson, WY

Yes, there is a Town Square and there are carriage rides.



creepy statue peering around the corner



some pretty cool grafiti

last day campfire!

rainbow!

This one's for Aunt Anne



Cowboy count: 23...going to the rodeo tonight!

Session 2

Reason 1, why boys are way more fun than girls:  One camper arrived and said "This is going to be a really fun outdoor adventure!" 

Reason 2:  about 2 hours in one girl said "don't you work at DC Prep?"  Today, the boys arrived and I walked out side to greet them and I got 2 "Hey Ms. Baltren!"

Honestly I've been a little homesick.  I really miss being in the city.  But the last couple nights with no campers and just hanging out, it was a good refresher and I'm excited for the boys to be here.  I think its going to go by really fast. 

The boy JETs are really stepping up today.  Jordan and I like to think its because we did such a good job with them in the last 2 weeks :-)  But we can't be sure.  I think the next 2 weeks working with the girl JETs will be pretty cool.  We have some interesting stuff lined up for them. 

No time to upload pictures recently, but now the schedule is kind of back to 'normal'.  Yesterday we went and saw the 'shoot out' in the town center.  No joke, there's people in old western clothes and they close down the street every day at 6 pm to put on this 'play' of sorts.  Ridiculous.

Cowboy count: 23

Day 21, I think?

 Yesterday I was supposed to go on a 5hr horseback ride.   I did not.  Let me tell you why...

To preface the atmosphere, on Wednesday Pete (the camp director) came into the office and said "did you happen to see a pig's head on a steak when you came into camp today?"  Late-morning on Thursday both groups of girls left on 3-day/2-night trips.  The Mountaineers (2nd year kids) go on a pretty tough backpacking trip.  About 2 miles into their hike, we got a call about a student claiming she had heart problems and that her chest hurt.  As it turns out, she does not have heart problems.  However, between being dehydrated (apparently before she even left, since they only made it 2 miles), heat exhaustion, and what may have been a panic attack (worrying about her condition) she went into some sort of shock and totally checked out.  She didn't recognize anyone or know where she was.  The 2 directors had to hike up to go get her.  They took her to the ER and as they re-hydrated her she recovered quickly.  But, they didn't get back to the ranch until about midnight, the ranch manager who was going to take us riding had to do other stuff for them, and we didn't get to go :-(  Crazy story though, right? 

That same group got lost today, ran out of iodine tablets, and broke one of their water pumps.  What a mess.  But they made it back!  A lot of complaining, but I think they are proud of themselves.  I hope they learned something??

This is really a great experience for the kids but I think they could use some SLTP training :-)  Being here makes me appreciate a lot of things I learned there.  Hopefully I can share some of it.  But it also makes me appreciate all the sleep I get here!

Send me mail/packages:
Broken Arrow Ranch
13055 South US Hwy 191
Jackson, WY 83001


Cowboy count: still at 18 I think

Day 15

Today was my day off and I was soooo lazy.  I got up late.  I did some laundry and read a book.  I went swimming while everyone else was at lunch.  That gave me an excuse to shower.  Then I read some more.  I wasn't planning on going into town, but then I realized it was only 2pm and I had nothing else to do.  So I hopped in one of the vans and headed North.  About half way there..."Bang! FLAP CRACK FLAP CRACK FLAP FLAP FLAP..."  Of course, I assumed it was a flat tire.  I pulled over and...not a flat tire.  Even the guy behind me thought it was and he pulled over too.  Of course!  We're out West!  Everyone is helpful in their pick up trucks with tool boxes.  It was actually that the treds of the back tire blew off, or apart, I don't know how that happens.  The van does have a spare.  The man and his son generously offered to change my tire.  Unfortunately when they got the hub cap off, the lug nuts were too deep (the screws were too long) for their lug wrench, or the state trooper's, to get them off.  So, I had to pull the van up to a conveniently located pull-off spot.  Luckily, Colleen was just on her way back from town and I had cell phone service to call her.  We went back to the ranch and I had to tell Guy (the ranch manager) that he had to get the van and try to change the tire.

After that adventure I decided it was time for my day-off beer.  I headed to Camp Creek "across the street" for a beer and a burger.  I think I ate too much.  But I talked to my first cowboy!  He asked me where I was from and I said "Am I that obvious?"  He told me yes, but only because he goes there all the time and he didn't know me.  He actually knew someone who used to live on our ranch.  ...I came back and took a nap.  Now I'm up, writing for all of you, and I uploaded the pics on my camera to my computer.

I learned another word yesterday - Guh (adj): to be mad, embarrassed, or confused.  As in "I thought that candy was mint because it was green, but it was melon. I'm so guh!"...is the example one of the campers gave me.

I was also elected to supervise movie night last night.  We watched Grease.  One girl said "what's Grease?" and another responded "Its High School the Musical for old people!"  We almost had a coo at the beginning when we said we were going to watch "Stomp the Yard" and then I realized it was not in its case.  I calmed one almost could-have-been-a-huge-fight.  For the most part it was a success and they all actually watched it.

I wish I could take a picture of the night sky here...it is so awesome.

Cowboy count: 17

Day...something

I learned a new word today - Sice (or cise): (v.) to over exaggerate or hype up; used in DC slang.  I'm going to try to incorporate it into my regular vocabulary.  Until, of course, I am still using it and realize that no one else is.

All the campers left on trips today.  Almost immediately after they left we had a morning happy hour by the pool.  Such pleasant weather we're having.  And of course a sip of alcohol (especially at this elevation) is wonderful.  I also got  a jar of home-made rhubarb and strawberry jam.  Our cook is pretty great.

When I went into to town to buy some supplies, I also stopped for some home-made chocolate cabernet saviougn ice cream.  I ate it in the grass in the town square.  Cowboy count: 14

I used the rest of mom's cookies (yay care package!) to 'bribe' the JETs at the beginning of our workshop today.  I think they actually learned something!  I hope it was to do with my teaching, not the cookies, but I can't be sure.  I'm really excited to have the new JETs coordinator here.  He teaches a leadership class at SEED (and is a Life Skills Counselor).  I think its a great fit and I hope I can learn some things from him.

Then we took a trip to Hoback Market which is only about 4 mi. away and they were so excited that I was willing to take them when they asked.  Those boys love eating.  As do I, apparently, as this is the 4th paragraph where I've mentioned food.  Anyway, if a 30 min trip to get snacks is all it takes for them to like me, I'm on board.

I'm exhausted.

My Perspective

Welcome to Broken Arrow Ranch!




The "big house"

 



Inside our house

 




The lodge
(rec room, dining room, and the office)






My horse (her name is Mary)

 



Horseback riding on the trails!



Day 8

A little chilly today - about 65 degrees and cloudy.  When the sun comes out its really nice.  I've yet to be awake for a totally clear night, but I caught a piece of the sky last night to the NE (I think) and the stars are so bright!  It would get any kid interested astronomy.

We went horseback riding the other day.  It was awesome.  I was a little nervous, as I've only been once and I realized that was 8 years ago!  But it was really really fun.  I got a crash course on how to control the horse, when I was already on the horse.  The kids wanted to run which scared me, but I did it! :-)

I've been into town a million times already.  Getting pretty familiar with the place - its pretty touristy, actually.  But I ask the locals as many questions as I can about where things are so I can not go to the touristy places, and discover awesome things like the dollar store and the craft store.  Bess and I ate Thai food the other night (almost as good as a boy telling you you're pretty, is when you're actually trying to look nice and a bunch of 14 year old girls tell you how pretty you are and that you're make-up is perfect, because you know they wouldn't say it if they didn't think it).  And last night I went to see Bad Teacher with the interns and JETs.  Totally innappropriate, we are never taking them to see an R rated movie ever again.

Today is my day off.  So relaxing!  Though I do need to make some posters for the workshops I'm supposed to be running next week.  I'm going to try to upload some pictures somewhere today and send them out or something.

Cowboy count: 3

Day 3

I'm here... there was a crazy build up in the last couple of months - I think I want to be a school counselor, I think I'm going to apply to grad school, omg I have to find a new job, I'm going to WY?! I have to do my grad school apps NOW, I have to take the GRE 2 months earlier than planned... Somehow I pulled through, I took the GRE and the sense of relief was like a high, my grad school applications are completed, my subletter seems totally normal, I packed up, and now I'm in Wyoming.  What the ?

The last 3 days have been pretty cool.  Every day I wake up, walk out the door, look around, and think 'This is ridiculous.'  I will post pictures for you asap. 

So much has happened already, I'll share with you a few mental pictures that I tried to take for myself along the way...

First, these kids are amazing.  I met one kid for the first time in the airport and he told me about how he has 2 jobs, one of which is working with OSSE doing pr/educational events about AIDS and sexual health. He is 17. Awesome.

There are no walkways at the Jackson airport.  Everyone gets off the plane onto the ground and walks through the archway of antlers (true story) in the sliding doors. 

Eloise keeps saying how excited they are to have me here.  I thought she was just a really welcoming nice person.  Then at dinner the first night, someone asked what my role was, I said Office Manager, and Pete (one of the other Directors) said "we are so excited you're here" in such a relieved voice, I really believe them.

Day 2 we went white water rafting.  There was no way I wasn't going to do it, but when they were showing us how to get in the boat, and how you sit on the edge I really thought I was going to fall out, or get hurt, I was not comfortable at all.  I think I blocked out certain parts :-)  I remember the bald eagle sitting on the left bank.  I remember seeing a 5 foot wall of water and all I could think was "are you kidding me?!"  I think I screamed.

Today was my first day in the office.  So far so good.  Lots to do!  And I got to go into town to buy a bunch of stuff.  It was quite the adventure.  I would like Jesse McGee to know that when I got a funny look, I thought to myself "its because they don't have anything like me in Wyoming."  Also I saw 5 black people and 1 cowboy.  So far the cowboys are losing.  I totally intend to keep tally of how many cowboys I see.

So, cowboy tally total: 2