Archive for the 'SWS' Category

Hello SWS 3 families!

Caitlin and Colin sent their blog post to me this week – enjoy!

“SWS 3 (aka Team XTREME!) is having an extremely grand time in Santa Fe!  So far, we have had a week full of service, working with the Santa Fe National Forest, Food Depot, Food for Santa Fe, and the Boys and Girls Club each afternoon.  On the second day in Santa Fe, team XTREME acquired a mascot (a picture of a unicorn) and we named her Leslie.   Leslie has been like a 15th member of our group, going everywhere with us.  We even celebrated her birthday today- cake, ice cream, streamers, and balloons!  Other highlights from our trip so far include an impromptu whipped cream fight, ice cream bar, quesadilla night and grocery shopping. We have also had extreme weather here, ranging from hot hot hot, to storms with hail. We are looking forward to a restful, relaxing weekend!   Our plans are to make pancakes, go to Nambe Falls (a waterfall) and go to Tesuque flea market.   Oh, and team XTREME has gotten extremely good at playing a game called “zoo”!”

Sounds like they’re having a great time!  Check back next week at the end of the trip for pictures from SWS 3 on our SmugMug website.

-Liz

Hello from Santa Fe!

Caitlin called in with the blog update for the week and it sounds like the girls of SWS 2 have been enjoying themselves and the beautiful Santa Fe weather during their first week of Southwest Service.  This week they’ve devoted their time to two major projects – mornings working with the Santa Fe National Forest and afternoons volunteering at Sweeney Elementary School.

“Working with the Santa Fe National Forest is awesome,” says Caitlin.   The girls have learned a lot and combining the challenging trail work, where they’re clearing hiking trails, with fun breaks – learning how to take beautiful photos of the area and making up dance moves named after the various tools they’re using!  She says the group is hilarious and having a great time!  In the afternoons, the group is volunteering in classrooms at a summer program in Santa Fe and having a blast working with the younger students, who just adore our girls!

When they’re not volunteering the group plays lots of games (ninja and wah! are favorites), explored beautiful downtown Santa Fe and the plaza, and watching the sunset from the beautiful open landscape at the Institute of American Indian Arts (see photo below), where their dormitory is located.  They’ve also been “cooking up a storm” – lots of veggies, make your own salad bars, baked chicken with asparagus and corn, homemade mac & cheese, and more.

They finished off their week with a trip to the Santa Fe Farmer’s Market and plan to see the new Harry Potter movie and head up to Taos, NM for a day trip this weekend!  Check back after the trip is over to see pictures from the leaders on our SmugMug website!

-Liz

Hello SWS families!

I spoke with Colin this week to get an update on our Southwest Service group in Santa Fe and he had nothing but positive feedback for how their first week in New Mexico has been.   The girls have shown ” a lot of unity and friendship in just a few short days” and seem to be enjoying their time together.   Their favorite volunteer project to date has been working at Food for Santa Fe.  The girls made up 1,000 bags of food on Wednesday morning  and then on Thursday they spent the morning passing out those bags to families in need who come during pick up hours.   At the Sweeney Elementary School, where our group has been volunteering in the afternoon, the group has been welcomed by the friendly and inclusive staff and our girls have paired up and gone into classrooms to help out with games, lessons and projects.  With the Santa Fe National Forest, the girls have spent the morning clearing water diversion bars and hiking the beautiful trails of the Santa Fe mountains.

The girls have dubbed themselves “Team Tumbleweed” – thanks to the abundant tumbleweed near their dormitory! – and have spent their evening dessert circles outdoors near the dormitory watching the spectacular Santa Fe sunset.   Their favorite group game is ninja and they’ve made their own twist for the game – playing it on one foot!  Cook crews are on top of their game: burritos and stir fry were popular dishes this week with upcoming cook crews planning a big salad bar, personal pizzas, and tacos.

“It’s a really great group!” says Colin.  They’re looking forward to their trip to Taos this weekend and a chance to do some more hiking and exploring!

Students fly home on Friday, July 8 and I’m sure they’ll give you the full recap when they get home that day!

-Liz