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TAGS: NOTES 2010 Fall newsletter, environmental education. Pat Begley, Ben Begley, Virginia C. Ballard, Reading Camp, Episcopal Diocese, reading readiness, radio WRCR, Grow Appalachia, Green Hill Elementary School, Community School Reunion, roof shingles replacement, Creech Cabin, Community Fair Day, Nolan Lodge, needs lists, events calendar, Troy Clark, Eastern Illinois University volunteer educator, Isaac Fields, Vista Technology Coordinator

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NOTES – 2010 FALL

“Notes from The Pine Mountain Settlement School”

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GALLERY: NOTES 2010 Fall

QUOTE xxxxxxx

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TRANSCRIPTION: NOTES – 2010 Fall

P. 1

NOTES FROM
THE PINE MOUNTAIN
SETTLEMENT SCHOOL
PINE MOUNTAIN ~ HARLAN COUNTY ~ KENTUCKY

A tradition of education and service since 1913

FALL 2010

[Cover photo: “A student from Rosa Parks Elementary School in Lexington looks for macroinvertebrates in Limestone Branch on Settlement School grounds. The aquatic life class helps students gain understanding of the important role of insects in the environment.”]

P. 2

October 2010

Pat Begley has taught environmental education classes at Pine Mountain for 22 years. Environmental Education is the School’s primary program. Each year, more than 2,500 students and adults attend classes here. Pat is married to Ben Begley, the School’s environmental education director. We asked Pat to write about her special Pine Mountain memories.

Dear Friends,

My husband Ben and I arrived at Pine Mountain in 1987. I remember the first time that we turned onto the campus. I thought it was a beautiful and serene place. In coming years, I took college classes in the sciences and the arts and began working as a teacher at the School in 1989. In this work, I found that my true calling was to teach young children about the wonders of nature.

We teach by hands-on learning, using streams, fields, forests and wetlands as our classrooms. We believe that there are no wrong answers because all answers provide opportunities to learn. As the classes progress, we see that nearly all students are excited to participate in answering questions. One of my favorite sights is to see children’s eyes light up when they have learned a concept or come up with the right answer. We believe that our method of teaching helps students develop self confidence in themselves and their ability to learn. We also strive to encourage students to help one another. Our four-mile summit hike is designed to do this. Before the hike, students look up from the School’s parking lot, elevation 1,756 feet, to the crest of the mountain at the elevation of 2,730 feet. You can tell that they are apprehensive and intimidated. We tell them that everyone can make it, but that it will take teamwork. I love to watch as students encourage their fellow classmates, help them over rocks, or rearrange themselves so that those students who need help are closer to the front of the line. As they reach the top of the mountain, their pride shines through. Some of them kiss the ground while others lift their arms skyward while yelling, “We made it!”

I feel blessed to work here and appreciate all staff who make this work possible.

In the spirit of Pine Mountain,
[Signed] Pat Begley
Pat Begley

Cover photo: A student from Rosa Parks Elementary School in Lexington looks for macroinvertebrates in Limestone Branch on Settlement School grounds. The aquatic life class helps s students gain understanding of the important role of insects in the environment.

P. 3

Reading Camp

Virginia C. Ballard, who lives in Versailles, Kentucky, has volunteered to teach at the weeklong summer Reading Camp for the last six years. Reading Camp is a cooperative effort between Pine Mountain Settlement School and the Episcopal Diocese of Lexington to help rising third and fourth grade students in Harlan and Bell counties who are struggling to master basic reading skills. We asked Virginia to write about why she volunteers her time at Reading Camp.

Reading Camp at Pine Mountain Settlement School is always a joy for me because I love to read and I love the children of Appalachia. I grew up in neighboring Letcher County. In the 1990s, I taught Level 1 and Level 2 (first grade and kindergarten) in Hazard, in nearby Perry County. This summer was my sixth to teach in the strategies learning center at Reading Camp.

For all children, reading well is the key to mastering subjects in school. Reading is also a way to learn about the world and other cultures while maintaining one’s place in the Appalachian culture. This year’s campers loved reading books from around the world which was the theme for the 2010 Reading Camp.

I return year after year because I know the campers deeply appreciate the opportunity to master essential reading skills. It is obvious in the terrific participation and effort they make. It is heartwarming to see how intensely they apply themselves in the small group learning centers. Returning campers exude confidence — leading and reassuring the new campers.

[Photograph: “At the pleasure reading center, students can choose to read about subjects that interest them.”]

The wonderful afternoon activities in environmental education, art, drama, outdoor games, and the simulated radio show on WRCR (Reading Camp radio) give the staff and teachers additional opportunities to have fun times getting to know the campers. Some activities feed the learning centers. For example, a trip to Sand Cave can inspire a camper to write about it in the daily journal.

I return to teach at Reading Camp because I know it helps the future reading success of campers.

I am grateful that Eastern Kentucky parents and guardians allow their children to stay at Pine Mountain for a week so that they can benefit from the Reading Camp experience. They should be proud of themselves. It is time well spent for all!

[Photograph: “For several years, Anne Simpson from New Jersey (at left) has volunteered to teach Reading Camp students.”]

P. 4

Community Programs

Grow Appalachia
As we embrace the change of seasons and welcome autumn, the Grow Appalachia staff reflects on the 2010 growing season. Looking out our windows to gardens full of cover crops and a few mustard greens, we remember the colorful bounty of this spring and summer. This growing season, more than 13,600 pounds of food were harvested from Grow Appalachia gardens connected with PMSS! Food was grown by twenty families in their home gardens, the PMSS community garden, and the Green Hills Elementary School garden. Through the Grow Appalachia project, PMSS staff regularly worked with forty people in their gardens, sold excess produce at the Tri-Cities farmers market in Cumberland, hosted five gardening workshops, and taught gardening lessons to seventh and eighth grade students at Green Hills Elementary.

[Photograph: Various dishes of food on a table.]

Grow Appalachia, a new project this year, was funded by John Paul DeJoria, co-founder of John Paul Mitchell Systems. The project was designed to help local families and students gain needed skills for growing sustainable, nutritious food; to provide training and equipment to help them learn how to prepare and preserve food; to encourage participants to share their new knowledge with others; and to develop a local farmers’ market to sell surplus food.

The Grow Appalachia project was a rewarding experience for Pine Mountain staff. They liked being able to bring together young and old people to work on growing their own food. Jason Johnson, a Grow Appalachia intern, counts among his best memories the time he spent hearing about local food traditions and residents’ hopes for a greater emphasis on agriculture in the Appalachian region. He recorded interviews with several participants for a documentary video project.

PMSS plans to continue work with the Grow Appalachia project and expand other community agriculture efforts in 2011. If you are interested in more information, call Randal Pfleger at (606)558-3594 or Maggie Ashmore at (606)558-3416.

Community School Reunion
In September, former students and teachers from the Pine Mountain Community School (1949-72) and members of the local community attended the annual reunion at Pine Mountain Settlement School.

[Photograph: “Matt Boggs of the Pine Mountain staff (left) enjoys Coburn Turner‘s humorous story.”]

P. 5

Creech Cabin Shingle Roof Project

[Photograph: “(Left) Wayna Adams, a preservation student, uses a froe to split rough shingles. (Right) Three generations of the Creech family – Bethanny, Bonnie and Daniel Harmon – use draw knives to shape shingles.”]

This summer, workshop students and community volunteers, led by master preservationist Jim Houston from Pennsylvania and Patrick Kennedy of the Kentucky Heritage Council, constructed a new board style roof for the School’s Creech Cabin. This 1871 structure was the first home of William and Sally Creech. William Creech was instrumental in establishing Pine Mountain Settlement School and securing the initial tract for campus buildings and agricultural lands. The cabin is also known as “Aunt Sal’s Cabin.”

The new white oak shingles for the roof were fashioned by hand using traditional techniques and tools. The 30-inch long shingles were applied in horizontal courses, with subsequent layers overlapping the previous by six inches.

Our thanks to all for help with this project. We encourage visitors to stop at the Cabin and take a look at the fine traditional style handiwork of the new roof.

[Photograph: “Jim Houston, workshop instructor, and David Shepherd of the Pine Mountain staff hammer shingles into place.”]

[Photograph: “Workshop students made more than 1,000 shingles for the Creech Cabin roof.”]

P. 6

Fair Day

The 2010 Fair Day in August drew nearly 300 people from the local community, one of the largest crowds in recent memory. The sunny day and moderate temperature provided a perfect backdrop for the many activities.

Fairgoers visited booths featuring crafts and baked and canned goods. State agencies provided information on health services and wildlife programs. The winner of the Pine Mountain Homemakers’ Fair Day quilt was Duane Miksch of Princeton, KY.

We want to thank the volunteers, organizations and businesses that donated goods and services to help make this year’s Fair Day a success: Erica, Lacey, and Taylor Boggs; Megan Cornett; Harold Lewis and Flav-O-Rich; Daisy Ray; Marshall Tolliver; University of Kentucky Harlan County extension agents Jeremy Williams, Theresa Howard and Raymond Cox.

[Four photographs:]
“Breanna Bray enjoys a game of ring toss.”
“Friends compete in the horseshoe tournament.”
“Nolen Lodge’s pig roast always draws a crowd.”
“Cowan Creek musicians entertained attendees.”

P. 7

How You Can Help

Income to operate Pine Mountain’s programs and maintain the physical plant comes from three sources: interest income from the School’s endowment fund, earned income, and contributions. From time to time, we seek grant funding to help with particular projects, equipment and building repairs.

We appreciate all contributions and are prudent in our use of financial resources. Your financial contribution makes it possible for Pine Mountain to carry out its mission and to continue to be a strong institution in an underserved area.

Pine Mountain Settlement School exists to serve people in the local community and beyond. To accomplish this, we strive to:

• • • Teach others about the natural environment and promote protection of ecosystems
    • Incorporate into our operation energy conservation, renewable energy sources, local materials and healthy food, and share this knowledge with others
    • Provide supplemental educational experiences for local students which strengthen, enrich, and extend their academic education
    • Protect and maintain the natural lands and historic structures at the Settlement School
    • Celebrate, interpret, and promote the cultural heritage of central and southern Appalachia
    • Serve as a center for recreation, fellowship, and lifelong learning, welcoming all who come

Pine Mountain is a private, 501(c) (3), non-profit corporation. Contributions to Pine Mountain are tax-deductible as allowed by law.

Pine Mountain accepts online contributions through Network for Good. Please see our Web site for more details.

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NEEDS LIST

Those interested in helping with these items may donate part or all of the cost.

Hanging finisher for copier $350
Rainwater catchment systems $30-$500
Stihl F250 Weedeater $400
Circular saw $200
Power drill $150
Archival shelving $750
Disc harrow $600

Adobe Photoshop software $80
Tents for events $45 each
Twin-sized sheet sets $20 each
Asparagus $20 for 10 crowns
Rhubarb $25 for 2 plants
Display building materials $500
Potato plow $200

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P. 8

Events Calendar

Pine Mountain Wildflower Weekend    April 15-17, 2011
Black Mountain Wildflower Weekend     May 6-8, 2011
In the Footsteps of Lucy Braun Forest Study Workshop     June 8-12, 2011
Community Youth Day Camp (K-6th grades)     June 13-17, 2011
Community Youth Day Camp (7-12th grades)     June 20-24, 2011
Reading Camp     July 10-16, 2011
PMSS Alumni & Friends Homecoming    August 13-14, 2011
Creech Family Reunion    August 14, 2011
In the Footsteps of Lucy Braun Forest Study Workshop    August 17-21, 2011
Fair Day    August 27, 2011
Community School Reunion    September 3, 2011
Fall Arts Weekend    October 7-9, 2011
Fall Color Weekend    October 21-23, 2011
Nativity Play    December 11, 2011
Historic Preservation Workshops    To be announced

For more information or to make an on-line reservation, please visit our Web site at www.pinemountainsettlementschool.com or call (606) 558-3571 between 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

You may also write to: Operations Manager, Pine Mountain Settlement School, 36 HWY 510, Pine Mountain, KY 40810-8289 or e-mail: office@pinemountainsettlementschool.com.

New Faces at Pine Mountain
[Two photographs: “Troy Clark”; “Isaac Fields”]

Troy Clark came to PMSS in May for a month of training in environmental education and has now returned as an intern to teach alongside PMSS staff. Troy is a native of Bloomington, Illinois and a graduate of Eastern Illinois University with a bachelor’s degree in geography, computer mapping and international studies.

Isaac Fields, from Whitesburg Kentucky, worked as an independent computer technician before he started his year of service with Americorps VISTA. Isaac will serve as the Vista Technology Coordinator at PMSS, working closely with the Pine Mountain Residents for Broadband to help find innovative solutions for the lack of broadband in the community. He will also be offering technology related trainings for the community.

We want to welcome this talented duo and hope they will have a wonderful time here at Pine Mountain Settlement School as they work to educate students and serve our local community.

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Previous:
NOTES – 2010 Summer

Next:
NOTES – 2011 [Missing]
NOTES – 2012 [Missing]
DEAR FRIEND LETTERS 2012 December
NOTES – 2013

See Also:
FARM 2010 COMMUNITY Fair Day

Return To:
NOTES Index

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