What to do now?

Well, I don't know what hurts, more, losing the third Project in a row, or seeing Kaleigh and Ashley pour their hearts out into the CH2M Hill Dreamers challenge and still walk out without a positive win under our belts. I definitely am devastated by this blow. I was so thrilled by this project, excited to be working with children (one of my biggest passions in life) and to be able to have a lasting impact on their lives, and granted, we did do that, but I thought we had done so much better than what the judges expressed.

And they were right, our team is full of visionaries and we did put together an awesome long-term program for them, but man it feels like we went down hard on this one. I don't know what to think right now. I feel horrible that I wasn't able to help my team get our first win, that I didn't carry out any leadership qualities in sticking to the criteria, that I didn't facilitate this project to each of our best abilities. I'm heart-broken that we weren't able to pull together after two losses and make up for them in one big hoopla like we wanted to.

Kaleigh, Ashley, Chris, and Cindy, I must say that you all did wonderfully and you all from my end deserve a HUGE round of applause for the work that you put into this. Now let's take those criticisms from this project and let's get down and dirty and slam this last project! We can do it and we will take this program by surprise.

 

Also, my congratulations to the 5280 Closers on their well-accomplished win yet again! I hope you all have a wonderful time in Winter Park.

What a week!

First of all, I simply must say this; the Dreamers in 6th grade of Ms. Erin Larrabee's class rock!

Not only did they whoop up on Mr. Peter's team in their 1^st Annual basketball game two weeks,ago but they also came and were wonderful participants in our Metro State Science Camp. Kids, you all were great examples of today's youth, and that fact was backed up by so many numerous compliments about your behavior and respect. You were amazing! Enough said. :D

 

Here are some pictures from both the basketball game in which the Dreamers from Smedley Elementary won with a score of 42 to 27 if I remember correctly, as well as our Science Camp day in which the Dreamers participated in seven different experiment and information stations. Big thanks go out to Steve Spangler Science for their donations to our experiments, to The Sports Authority for providing the incentive prizes for the kids, to Sage Hospitality, The American Library of Congress, and many other sponsors who helped us in creating a long-lasting program for after the 4 hour camp. We definitely could not have done it without you. And finally, thank you to each one of our teacher volunteers who helped us do each station on the camp day.

 

What a ride!

I haven't forgotten.

Hey all,

Yes, the third project is coming to an end and no, I haven't forgotten to post about it, but I have some bigger dreams about how I want to put pictures and a good amount of text into it, and I somehow just don't have the time to do it right now. So keep watching, and it'll be up before you know it! Can't wait to show/tell you more. :D

Benjamin

I’m Engaged!!!

Hey everybody!

So for those of you that have already read Noah's blog you may know, but for those of you that haven't heard, read, or otherwise seen, I am ENGAGED as of Sunday, March 16th, 2008!

 

Here's a quick story of how the day went:

Lydia and I prepared a snowshoe trip with our best friends for this past Sunday (in reality, I was planning the day to ask her, and everyone else who went knew except for her). So we went up to Breckenridge on a simple and beautiful trail off of Boreaz Pass Rd. We strapped on our snowshoes and started hiking into the woods. We had a blast, pushing each other over, stepping on everybody else's snowshoes, and trumping through the pristine, fresh, two feet of powder. We sat down for lunch, ate, and then continued onwards.

 

When we came upon a clearing with a beautiful view, I knew it was the perfect location to ask her. We took various pictures of everybody there, in order to keep her from thinking that we were the only one's getting pictures, and then, after taking a few pictures of us together, Lydia thought we were done and started walking away from me. But I pulled her back, fumbled to get my pocket unzipped, pulled out the ring, kneeled down, (but ended up sinking down to two knees because the snow was so soft and deep) and simply said "Lydia Randerson, will you marry me?"

Of course, I had been working on a little longer speech and question for the previous three weeks, but when I got to the actual moment, it didn't seem right, so instead, I told her what I wanted to say to her later. Obviously, she said YES! immediately and was speechless from then onward. :D

I put her ring on her finger, taking extreme care not to drop it into the snow, and we took a few more pictures and then hiked back off the mountain because there was a storm moving in quickly.

 

We spent the rest of the day in Breckenridge, hot tubing, and eating a wonderful dinner at Eric's Downstairs (which I highly recommend for their scrumptious pizzas)! It was a perfect day for both Lydia and I and now we are beginning the processes of planning our wedding for May 2009. Thank you to all of you who have said congratulations! It means so much to me.

 

Benjamin

Kids light up my world!

If you had been withThe "A" Team today, you would have had a blast! "Why do you say that?" you might ask. Well, I'll tell you why. We met with some of the kids that will be coming to our Metro State Science Day, from Smedley Elementary school and others, for Project #3, the CH2MHill Dreamers Math and Science Challenge. They are sixth graders and they are incredibly smart and energetic! If you show them a camera, they are simply thrilled to get in front of the screen.
 

You encourage them to do their homework, and sure, just like every other sixth grader they will talk about everything else in the world before even looking at their homework, but you persistently encourage them and they will eventually get it done. And when they are working they do work with a fairly good focus, given that they are 6th graders. I was honestly surprised that they were able on getting things done, even with us there.

You bring up anything about sports teams and many of them are not just excited, but are overflowing with opinion about their favorite team and facts about that team's current position in the season. You tell them that we're going to be practicing for their upcoming Basketball game against the 5280 Closers' team on Wednesday the 19^th, and they will sure as heck try to get their homework done. There were about 22 kids that showed up today for Erin Larrabee's (Colorado I Have a Dream Foundation Project Coordinator) after school program, including some that hadn't been for awhile, and we had a great time working on currency conversions from US dollars to Chinese Yuan and reading a short "Scenario" about the water shortages in India.

 

Then there was the physical activity for the afternoon (but more like the physical activity for the first time this year for me). We went to the gym and began playing basketball with those who wanted to play next Wednesday, and the others went out to do other activities, including Hula-hooping and soccer. We definitely have some skilled players and all I can say is that, Peter and the Closers better watch out because this game is going to be one easy sweep for our kids. They are awesome! :D
 

On a side note, one thing that I was disappointed about is that Erin informed us that with the recent decision from the City of Denver, Smedley Elementary will be closed after the finish of this semester in May. It is really too bad, because the building has been around since 1902 and it is gorgeous! The structure is beautiful (see picture at top of this post) and really deserves to be preserved and maintained, so I hope that the City will keep it for future generations, maybe at least make it a museum or something. I don't know, just a suggestion.
 

Well, I look forward to getting to talk more about this project! We have lots of GREAT stuff planned for the kids, so I can't wait to expound more on all of that! Until then, Saludos!

Benjamín

Challenges (no pun intended)

Wow, what a bummer. Project #2 came and went quickly and again The A Team has lost. This is incredibly difficult to take, especially amidst the other challenges of school, homework and going through the processes of leaving one job and trying to find another one. Well, the good thing is we did get a ton of tools for El Centro Humanitario and we were able to help them set up some firm long term goals to help grow the company.

With that said, we're moving on! Here comes Project #3, the CH2M Hill Dreamers Math and Science challenge. My team and I are thrilled about this project and the chance to work with 30 or so children that are sponsored through the Colorado I Have a Dream Foundation. I can't go over our plans for obvious reasons, but we're excited to get three hours to show these students the multiple possibilities of the futures that await them through Engineering, Science, Math and Technology.

I can't wait to talk about more, but I currently have a test to be studying for, and if I spend more time on this I won't be prepared for the exam. Congratulations again, to The 5280 Closers on a job well-done for Project #2. You all did wonderfully!