June: Graduations and Grade Reports

We wrapped up May (full of birthdays) by enjoying spring flowers and rhubarb pie, but with weather that kept some swathed.

With June's arrival, we now have a high schooler in the house, and a middle school mover and shaker.

When school let out, we headed south for Monterey, CA.

 The DMP and the pedal boats were on the desired list.

 We drove the 17 mile Pebble Beach Drive with intermittent stops.

While the Monterey Peninsula can be quite expensive, it doesn't have to be for the budget minded. We skipped the aquarium and counted 21 seals in the bay as well as many otters, explored the sandy spaces, little cove caves, and hung around in Carmel.

We stayed at the Monterey Hostel in a brand new private room with private bath (which sleeps 5 in a queen, twin, and bunk bed) and enjoyed the lovely common rooms and access to a kitchen. The hostel was only two blocks from Cannery Row.

In Carmel, we splurged for lunch at Forge in the Forest and it was good, even if quite warm in the garden. If we ever go back, I think I'd try the Tuck Box.

Then we wandered Point Lobos State Park for a few hours before heading south to Cambria, CA and CalPoly (in San Louis Obispo) for a much anticipated graduation.

We are so proud of him and excited to watch what he's up to at a space propulsion company in CA.

 It was great to experience this campus, and hang out with family in Cambria.

It was a fast five days, but we hung with super cool people!

We also had our first In-N-Out Burger experience. Love how cheaply one can feed a family and the food was tasty!

As June heats up, we are still learning and trying to stay cool. She's participating in a Learn to Row weekend with her father. She's slowly, this spring, been moving from the coxswain's seat to a rower's seat. I spend my time praying about the river, and reminding myself not to let fear dictate decisions and experiences.

Brother and I spent yesterday helping the LBCC Space Exploration Club launch one of their solar eclipse payload balloons, and then we all took in a Timbers U23 game in Salem. The ticket prices are super!

They both have camps this week. He on circuit boards and she on smart cars and robotics. I'm enrolled in an educators drone training class. Here's to keeping up with summer!

Blessings,
Kim

May: When Lilacs Bloom

We're still here. 

Had visitors this month - an unexpected charming handful!

 I am so often easy to please - in the driver's seat. 

Safe Families for Children remind me of my need to trust and let go.

Let go, and let God. 

 That Asher: he's a handful of happiness. 

 Then there's happy, delicious, which Miss C baked, and we ate!

 He's been busy on Grandpa provided projects,

 and many many hours of spring soccer. 

 For someone's 12th birthday we had red-neck sushi.

It's a deep fried tempura battered pork roll with sweet sauce.

 He acquired his ham radio license!

 Yes, that cake was dry; it was.

Can't win em' all. 

The hat - it's a birthday must. 

She spent much of her spring building a Mars Axel. The Axel is the next generation rover to go to Mars. She also wrote a 7 page paper and did an amazing slide show presentation. So proud of her hard work.

It's May and a bit of warmth embraces us. The rains still fall, but the garden is tilled and ready to go. I will plunk plants in ground this weekend. She's intent on summer blooms.

We are working to finish school and STEM work strong and keep engaging with Safe Families. Don't know where my writing has gone, but searching for it this summer. 

Read a few books this winter. Ayn Rand Nation really got my attention. Here's a few more which spoke loud: Mountains Beyond Mountains, Tides: The Science and Spirit of the Oceans, Undeniable: How Biology Confirms our Intuition, Leaders Eat Last, There is Life After College: What Parents and Students Should Know, The Wood for the Trees, and The Zookeeper's Wife. 

We also enjoyed these this winter:McFarland, USA, Hidden Figures, and The Queen of Katwe.

Here's to a summer of learning and loving!

Spring's Arrival

Sitting smart in the Governor's chair.

In March, she was a page in the House of Representatives. 

She's pondering paging in the Senate next.

She learned a lot and had fun.

Me?

I eavesdropped on Senators and Representatives in the cafeteria. 

A few conversations were deep, engaging, and involved.

A few were...hmmm....disappointing. 

Let us get involved...

we the people.

   We got out of dodge for a few days over spring break.

Bunkering at Fort Worden

 Dosewallips State Park

The Olympics rising above Dosewallips.

Fort Worden

   He made a friend in camp, which ironically, was the son of a man who attended the MATE ROV class we attended in January. They had a blast. They both, of course, did not pack enough clothing for the amount of water, sand, and salt they dredged up, and both their mothers were chagrined.

   He too, is having a busy spring. He had a band concert, but I forgot my camera. It's amazing what a few months of band practice can do!

Almost Spring & Still the Snow

 It's been a cold winter, and the forecast says it's not over yet.

We've been busy playing and learning.

 We boarded the NOAA Ship Rainier in Newport - that was cool!

We still have this squirrelly beast, and we added this one.

 Welcome, Asher. 

He is as sweet as pie and FFA compatible!

 Times are changing. The fire truck bunk bed got taken down.

The entire corner is now a full blown maker space.

We'll be back soon with the spring blooms!

MATE ROV: Marine Advanced Technology Education w/ Remotely Operated Vehicles

Because even adults can learn a thing or two! 

A Saturday workshop at the Barbey Center in Astoria. 

The Pufferfish Kit from MATE ROV 

We had some buoyancy/balance issues, but for building and constructing in under 90 minutes, we felt pretty good.  

I soldered the entire circuit board. I am very proud of myself!

If underwater marine robotics is of interest to your students or you, check out:

• Spare Parts: Your local library will likely carry both the book and movie.
• MATE ROV and their workshops
• The Hatfield Marine Science Center is hosting the underwater robotics competition on Saturday April 29th. Go check it out! 

   I like MATE ROV for a couple of reasons: one, it seems less intense than Lego (and I do like FLL Lego Robotics)!  Second, it does not start at the beginning of the school season like FLL, but starts in December which makes the start to your school year a bit less intense. Third, registration is a bit cheaper if you are in the 3 least experienced tiers. You register your team for the tier you feel they are ready for: beginner, beginner/intermediate, advanced, and expert. Fourth, students on teams must vote their team mates into positions i.e., you have to work your way into that position with intention. Fifth, the kits for underwater robotics are cheaper and teams are encouraged to do as much as possible with what they have on hand and with renewable items. Finally, the future of underwater robotics off the Oregon coast and for development is huge and interesting to many and will create great opportunities for many students. 

 Teachers: you can now sign up your class for one of these Pufferfish workshops at the Columbia Maritime Museum in Astoria.  Homeschoolers, you too, can get a group of students together and take this class.

What is required of future marine electronics in the world of energy?

1. They must generate enough energy to have their cost justifiable.

2. They must withstand extreme ocean conditions for years and years.

   Did you know that the Pacific Continental Shelf has enough wave energy to supply 1/3rd of the United State's energy needs?

OSU Wins $40 Million for Wave Technology Facility

Science. Technology. Engineering. Math.

    "Applied curiosity; an insatiable desire to know and a drive to create." ~ Mark Lewis, STEM Director, Oregon Education Investment Board
 

What is scientific literacy?

   Scientific literacy means that a person can ask, find, or determine answers to questions derived from curiosity about everyday experiences. It means that a person has the ability to describe, explain, and predict natural phenomena. Scientific literacy entails being able to read with understanding articles about science in the popular press and to engage in social conversation about the validity of the conclusions. Scientific literacy implies that a person can identify scientific issues underlying national and local decisions and express positions that are scientifically and technologically informed. A literate citizen should be able to evaluate the quality of scientific information on the basis of its source and the methods used to generate it. Scientific literacy also implies the capacity to pose and evaluate arguments based on evidence and to apply conclusions from such arguments appropriately. ~ National Academy of Sciences

   "We look at science as something very elite, which only a few people can learn. That's just not true. You just have to start early and give kids a foundation. Kids live, up or down, to expectations." ~ Mae Jemison, first African American NASA astronaut

   The item above just returned from space and the student who designed and built it goes to Linn Benton Community College in Albany, Oregon.

NASA Space Grant Symposium Take-Aways:

1.  "It is statistically easier to become an astronaut than become a major league sports player." ~ Catherine Lanier, NASA, OSU
2. You don't have to work for NASA to do NASA research. Students from all over the nation work on NASA projects at universities all over the nation.  
3. Attending these kinds of events puts new vocabulary in their brains (and yours)! They, and you, may not understand it all, but it may create an interest that leads to a passion that leads to a future filled with intelligent and creative work. 
4. The NASA leaders and professors that come to these events are passionate about what they do and are great at inspiration; they welcome younger students!
5. Science is a bunch of "what-if's" right now. We are once more in a creative, scientific, and technological revolution. Everyone in the room is learning from everyone else. There are very few experts, and if they are experts, they seem pretty humble.
6. Learning to navigate a very large college campus when you are 11 vs 18 can be a great confidence booster. The ability to navigate life with your God-given brain in a GPS world is mighty important. 
7. NASA Space-Grant Symposium food is darn good, and they are happy to share it.

   "Success must include two things: the development of an individual to his utmost potential and a contribution of some kind to one's world." ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

Bravery, Bold and Cold

Let bravery be thy choice, but not bravado. ~ Menander