Practical Skills

We love hands-on training!  This week we have plunged into some of the funnest (most fun?) learning experiences at MTC.  Here you see Jevon transferring a GPS coordinance to a map.  (above)  Below you see us trying to figure out how to do triangulation – a compass exercise which can be a great help if you are somewhat lost in a wilderness, if you at least have an idea what some of the landmarks in sight are.

And here we are (below) with two teammates, exulting in a successful exercise in which we used our compasses to locate the much-sought-after orange tape.

And this is only the beginning (of the fun).  We also have labs involving batteries, solar electric set-ups, chainsaws, plumbing, and much more…

Part of the practical skills class is a bunch of rules we have to follow outside of class hours.  We are not allowed to use any electrical kitchen or bathroom appliances, and we have a lights-out curfew as we are supposed to be conserving energy in our imaginary solar electric set-up.  And we are cooking only from scratch – no prepared foods allowed!

Best of all: this weekend we venture out into the great Ozark wilderness (sort of wilderness), without a tent.  We do get to bring tarps and rope with which to make a makeshift shelter.  The forecast for the weekend only threatens a low of 40 degrees, so…with a few extra layers of clothes we hope the kids will thoroughly enjoy the adventure with us.  Hopefully when we get back we will have pictures to share, if we remember to pack in a camera.  Speaking of packing…I better get packing.

Well, have a happy weekend!  And stay warm, all of you.

Much love from the Rich family – Jevon, Danica, Cali, and Karina