The Imported Food Blues was composed by Lisa, costume design was completed by most of the class (with Mel in the lead) and the educational photos were taken and edited by Gracie and Alex. Everyone helped with the displays and the volunteering. Check out the photos and quotes below for an idea of what students did and learned this quarter in CAP!

Overall, the Community Adventure Program at New Vista taught me many things. These things are not just knowledge about the topics discussed, but knowledge of how to be a better person and how to live in our ever-changing world. It has not only opened my eyes, but my mind as well to help make our planet and our lives better.
~ Josh Smith

Through this process of doing the Action Project I learned more than I thought I would. Before this class I always said I wanted to help our community, but I never actually knew how to go about doing this. I also felt that by being a high school student my help would be turned away by un-trusting adults. Now, I know that people are very gracious of anybody who is dedicated and willing to lend a hand. I have more faith in people now, and I understand that I can make a difference even though I am only one person. That fact makes me a very happy person. ~Maddy Green

Through CAP I have seen a change in myself. This class gives character, no it builds character. It teaches you to rely on yourself but at the same time trust in others. It shows you that you can have bundles of fun without the use of substances, and it’s more fun in life without them. Some of the games we played I showed my younger brothers, when I come home they ask me to play! I am so glad that I got into this class, taking it was one of the better decisions I have made and I will have these memories, skills, and attitudes forever. ~ Leesa Esterline

We made a difference in our community. We rose above and saw what the actual problem is, and how it is broken down into many problems. I have started to recycle everything that I possibly can, I ride the bus to school, and ride my bike to the stop. I never use Styrofoam ever. All these are small steps, but if I continue with these steps, a difference will be made. I hope to continue being environmentally friendly and to use what I learned in the future to help show other people how to make a difference. We need to be aware. CAP helped me learn this, to realize that we need to change in positive ways. I hope to take this class again and again. I also hope to go on my own camping trips and use the skills I have learned. CAP was a life-changing experience for me. ~ Mel Vellinga

Like always [this was Keelan's third time in CAP] this class has been a beautiful experience. I never get tired of the learning process I go through each time. These things I’ve learned are things that I will never forget, probably for the rest of my life. I think that if more people learn what I have, then the world will be a much better place. i can only hope that CAP continues in the future and provide for others what it has for me–True understanding and a love for that understanding. ~Keelan Sears

I feel pretty privileged to have been able to take CAP. I can do so much with what I’ve learned to help our environment. Even if it’s just telling my dad when we go shopping what we should buy because it’s locally grown. Even though we didn’t focus on bees for our action project, I find that I’m way more accepting of them and the way their lives work. I feel like if every school in Colorado alone had the opportunity to offer CAP as one of their elective classes we could achieve so much. I plan on taking what I learned and making other people aware.             ~Jen Arguello

In conclusion I think that CAP is such an awesome program to have. I am so grateful and happy I got the chance to be a part of it. I will continue convincing people to join so that they too can have the experiences I have. It has just taught me so much about the world. For me I loved this program so much because I bonded with awesome people. I learned and did a lot of things that not everyone gets to do and I learned about environmental problems and how to look at and solve them. Really that is all so important to me. Thank you so much Paige for being my teacher the last two years and helping me learn such important lessons. ~Remy Barrows-O’Neal

It’s not so much that this class really changed my views on the environmental issues of my community and the world, it’s more that this class educated me about what they are I can do about them. Also that even as a teen I have a voice in my community. ~Daisy McGuire

The CAP class has been so much fun and I’m really happy I got to take it while Paige was teaching it. If I reviewed everything I learned in this class, I would probably take up a whole page, but for now I’ll just state broad topics: environmental issues in Boulder and around the world, how to work with my classmates to get things done, how to keep peers on task, survival skills, and how to help myself and the community become more ecologically friendly. During this class I have become more optimistic about solving environmental problems and now all that needs to happen is to publicize these issues. This class has been a fantastic experience and I will use the knowledge I have taken away from it! ~Kelly Muller

To be perfectly honest at the beginning of CAP I was expecting to hate it. am not an outdoorsy type, I didn’t really like gardening or learning what was going on in the world, I would rather have stayed oblivious. After taking the class I am so happy that I did, I have learned so much and I enjoyed it a lot. During school it was the highlight of my day. I’ve learned that I actually love gardening and being outdoors. I will definitely take this class again in the future. ~Quianna Swing

Ghandi said “Whatever you do will be insignificant, but it is very important that you do it.” I really like that quote some people doubt themselves with making ecological choices because they don’t think taking an extra step for mother earth is really going to do anything, but I think it is absolutely 100% important. I”m glad I I can take what I learned in CAP and pass it on to my mother who will pass it on to her friends and hopefully will start a chain reaction of earth-conscious people. This class has done things for me I never expected it would and I’m really glad I took it and will be sure to pass it on to others. ~Gracie Currier-Tait

Usually I feel like what we learn in school is about something far away or unrelated. But the issue of food miles really hit home for me because it’s something we can take action on. This class was one of the best ones of taken at New Vista. It’s something so unique in our school. Even though it wasn’t a core academic class I feel I’ve learned more in this class than any others, and they are all things I can use in my life.~Joe Regur

During third quarter, or “Winter” CAP students decided to focus their action project efforts on Food Miles. After much discussion and deliberation students chose to prepare (and repair) the existing garden at New Vista High School (created by 4th quarter CAP 2009) for the 2010 growing season! In addition students came together to build a tool-shed for garden tools and other supplies.

In order to complete their goals students collaborated with several different community members and organizations. From volunteering hours at Growing Gardens in exchange for fencing, mulch, and seedlings, to connecting with Patrick Padden of Sunrise Ranch to learn about permaculture gardening techniques and apply them in the garden students learned a great deal about how growing food locally. To build the tool-shed students researched building plans and looked at other tool-sheds for ideas. Students also procured the materials for the tool shed.

This action project could not have been complete with out the time, dedication, and inspiring willingness of parent volunteer Jon Hall, who is a carpenter. Jon volunteered 8 + hours of time to help us create a tool-shed and teach students about building throughout the process.

Many thanks to all the incredible community members who are always willing to help students make their action projects a success.

Here are a few of the thoughts from students from the third quarter CAP class:

“With all the things that I learned in this CAP class I know that I have made a difference and will make a difference in my community. Since starting this CAP class I have built a compost bin, planted seeds, talked to my friends about our environmental impact, started recycling more, avoiding food with excessive packaging, staying away from most fast food, and in general beings aware of EVERY SINGLE THING I do having an environmental impact… I will make a difference in my community by setting an example of someone who can still live their life just as well without giving in to all the luxuries our society has forced upon us. With all the knowledge I have gained from this course, the most valuable piece of information I learned was that I can and WILL make a difference in my community.” ~ Jonah Eskin

“Cap class was a nice change from my regular classes. I thought it had a lot more depth than some other classes, and that the weekend overnights were a good opportunity. The action project taught me a lot about causing change. I also learned a lot from the weekend overnights even though I have taken many backpacking trips with my family. I learned that I have a large environmental footprint and that yes, there is something I can do about it. I am trying to convince my parents to begin buying local, organic food. This class helped raise my awareness of environmental and social issues that I take part in every day.” Evan Blum

“The overall experience of this class was very overwhelming but totally worth it. It takes a lot of effort and s requires leaderships skills, problem solving skills, team work,and many others. I feel by joining this class I began to become closer to nature and have it be a close friend of mine. I believe that some of the students were not totally committed to the class and over time this became frustrating! I learned a lot about people and how not everyone can have the dedication to school that some people do. I think that as a person I have become MUCH more aware of environmental issues and by passing this information on to my family we are making efforts together.” ~Maddie Dana

“This class has opened my  mind to the possibility that one person can make a difference and that doing small things still has an effect. I also realized that high school students have a strong voice and people will listen to you if you use it. Before this class I thought of myself as educated about the environment and now I have even more knowledge and ability to make a change in my lifestyle.” Liam Dodd.

“I learned a lot about the environment from our guest speakers. I used to think that we had an unlimited amount of resources, and it didn’t matter that much if you threw away one plastic bottle when it could have been recycled. This class has made me recycle and use less resources, because I know understand the consequences of seemingly insignificant actions.” ~Ben Nageler

“I’ve always wanted to have a garden and it really makes me happy that New Vista is just that cool that we have one and we got to work on it. I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life before this class. But now I know I want to help this earth stay alive in anyway possible. There’s so much I could do to help and I just have to find one thing that makes me really happy and do it… I really have enjoyed this class. People I thought I would hate have now become my friends. I’ve learned to accept people as they are and that will really help me the rest of my life.” ~Kelly Percy

• The planning and construction of a garden shed to support our garden.
• Repairing and Reworking the garden paths and fencing.
• Volunteer work with Growing Gardens in exchange for seeds and help planning our spring planting.
• The first ever “Fruit Friday” at New Vista, instead of Cookies.

More to information to come soon…

• How much water do you use everyday?
• Where does your water come from?
• How long could you survive without water?

The second quarter CAP class chose “water” as their environmental issue. Students got excited about this issue after reading the New York Time article “The Future is Drying Up” by Joe Gertner. The article addresses water rights in the West and the imminent water shortage that Coloradans face if we continue to use water at our current rate of consumption.

After some initial conversations, much research, and feelings of being overwhelmed by such a big issue, students came up with the following problem statement:

In North America, the average American uses 600 liters of water a day, while the average African uses 6. In reality, humans need to use about 50 liters per day. Over consumption of water does not just mean taking long showers, leaving the tap running while you brush your teeth, or watering the lawn. One of our biggest consumers of water is industrial agriculture. To make one cotton T-shirt it takes 9oz of cotton. To make that t-shirt from that cotton it takes 25 bathtubs full of water. In homes, businesses, and industrial agriculture, our water is being polluted and unnecessarily used. As a result of the high demand for water we are putting our scarce supply of fresh water, and ourselves, at risk.

The students did a lot of research to be sure they were well-informed about water issues. The class met with the Keep It Clean Partnership, and took a tour of Boulder’s waste water treatment plant. They also read many articles from water experts. Students researched the sources of their own water and mapped their watersheds.

After much deliberation students decided to address this problem through an educational campaign at their school. The class divided into four groups:

• The art group created educational posters and a collaborative mural using provocative art
• A second group created educational pamphlets
• A third created a movie about water in arid Colorado
• And to tie it all together the class wrote and performed a skit for the whole school.

The students aim to have their mural displayed in the City of Boulder’s water office. They distributed their pamphlets after their presentation to the whole school. The movie, an animated film which shows what the future might look like if we don’t change our habits was a hit, with one teacher exclaiming, “That was one of the best CAP presentations I’ve ever seen.”

The students worked hard to create a fantastic educational campaign and their water posters remain posted around the school on bathroom doors, above water fountains, and over sinks.

Well Done CAP!

“This quarter I have been so fortunate to have an incredibly positive and fun environment to look forward to at the end of each day. This class has been one of the most rewarding, irreplaceable school experiences I’ve ever had. The overnights were such remarkable experiences for me. Each trip made me feel invigorated. I left feeling refreshed, passionate for environmental conservation, and conscious of my ability to slow down and take on thing at a time.” ~Marissa Bramlett

“CAP class has changed my point of view on so many things about the environment that I never would have thought of before. It brought new ideas to my attention. What I can do with the information I learned is just spread what I learned to others and hope they learn from it like me. The overnights were so great and they helped me out so much. If I could take CAP every quarter I would.” ~Taylor McQueeney

“The class as a whole was one giant new experience for me. I did and learned a lot of things that I otherwise would have never got the chance for. I went camping for the first time in my life! Twice, one of which was in freezing cold temperatures, that was a skill I never thought I had. I got to make music for a movie, and I really branched out and got to know my classmates a lot better. I feel like we developed a family like group since we were all so diverse yet had to interact with each other and I’m really glad I got to know all these amazing people that I otherwise wouldn’t have bother to get to know. ~Benza Maman

“This quarter I learned a lot, from helping the environment, to reducing my human footprint, to the one match fire! When I joined CAP I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I found out I really liked it. Overall this quarter I learned to look at people differently and to think differently, and how I can make a difference in the world.” ~Halsey Black

“Our CAP class has learned a lot about a lot of things and done quite a lot too! We’ve learned and discussed the human footprint, including water issues and what we can do about it. We learned wilderness skills and about the electrical and heating system in our school and how to save on energy in our houses. I think we’ve really gotten a chance to think about what we cand o personally and in bigger ways to change some problems in our community and really look at those problems we would otherwise never realize.” ~Bayani Kawal

“I enjoyed doing the action project because I realized how big the environmental issue “water” can be, as well as some of the things I need to start doing to improve my environmental footprint. Working on the action project got me aware of the issues that we face today concerning water, energy, CO2 emissions and many more. After taking this class I will start changing some of my habits that impact the world even if they are small, every little thing counts and adds up. I will encourage my family to change their habits too.” ~Nick Smith

“The CAP program is a very unique and interesting class. I feel privileged to have participate in this class. One thing I didn’t expect what that I got to know everyone in the class extremely well. This class has taught me a great deal about myself and how I work in a group dynamic. I’ve never had to rely on the other members of my group they way I had to for this class.  This class forces you to make friends, it is almost impossible to just hide back and do the work, which I am used to. Being an informed member of our global community makes wasting and polluting much more difficult. I have found that because I know more it makes it much harder because I can’t make the claim that I didn’t know what I was doing.” ~Thomas Regur

“CAP has been a great opportunity for me. It’s allowed me to expand my horizons. I enjoyed all the activities and projects we’ve done. I honestly wish I didn’t pick CAP this quarter because it is one of the shortest quarters and I want more. I want more time to do things, and to bring more awareness to our action project.” ~Yaxa deLaGrange

“I started this class in all truthfulness because I am a senior and I thought it would be an easy way to kill time. First of all I want to say that it has not been easy, I have been forced to use every aspect of my being to lead myself through waht I thought would be my final walk in the park at New Vista. [It was] on the first overnight that I realized the power of this class…the overnight allowed me to believe that no matter what happened we would have a strong enough foundation to succeed [on our action project]. Throughout the project I found out that you don’t really have to care about something to put your heart into it, and also sometimes when you put your heart into something you realize you do care about it. Throughout this class I have had the chance to be myself and also to try to step out of my comfort zone and work on things that I never would have. What I love about CAP is that it is so much: it’s a chance to be yourself, a chance to learn about the environment, a chance to work with others, but most of all it’s a chance to make a change… I have even started to write about the environment in my college essays, and found myself talking to my whole family. Thoreau said ‘As if you could kill time without injuring eternity,” so while I started this class to kill some time, in some way I believe my life will never be the same.” ~Julien Scherliss

“This class has helped me to feel jazzed about being kind to the earth, and I feel inspired to take better care of my environment. Throughout my life, am here and now committing to do as much work to heal the earth as I can. It is a big task and the world needs all the helping hands it can get.” ~Tzuria Malpica

“I think the biggest thing I learned this quarter is that knowledge is power and you should abuse it. If you research something like water issues that everyone is a part of and don’t tell people about the affects that they obviously aren’t aware of, then you are not doing your part. Knowledge is the first step to change. When people understand that their 20 minute shower isn’t just excessive it’s also, in a way, stealing water from other people and animals downstream, you put the power in their hands.” ~Henry Giebler

“This class has given me hope for our future. It’s stunning to me that CAP is not taught in every school. It feels like it is essential to receive an education about the harsh wounds our earth is suffering. How are we supposed to mend the problem if we’re not given the tools to do so. In addition, I fear that this generation is losing it’s connection with nature. Technology has infected like the plague. CAP reminds us that we are a collective. Through CAP I have developed an increased awareness of my footprint. I also have a heightened appreciation for the rapidly fading natural world that we often take advantage of. Ernest Becker writes, ‘When we understand that man is the only animal who must create meaning, who must open a wedge into neutral nature, we already understand the essence of love. Love is the problem of an animal who must find life, create a dialogue with nature in order to experience his own being.’ Thanks to CAP, I can’t wait to hear the rest of my conversation with nature.” ~Tess Eckert