Not Quite Summer

Testing Paper Rockets

​Every spring, as the leaves begin to unfurl, a hazy softness falls over the world. Gaze into the distance, and you notice it — something yielding in the light, the edges of things not quite decided yet.

We find ourselves in that same in-between. The year has moved faster than it should have, and now four weeks remain: too few for new beginnings, too many to let slip by without intention. There's a palpable anxiety in that, and it's worth naming honestly. We see it in the student members around us — in behaviors that test boundaries, in a restlessness that can’t be named, in the quiet fear that the year didn't add up to what was hoped, in worries about what comes next. The end of our year is not a neutral moment. It carries weight.

And yet there is also an invitation here. What does it mean to finish well, without the pressure of finishing big?

We are all tired, and there's no use pretending otherwise. Summer is close enough to feel: the slow mornings, the warmth that asks nothing of you, the particular freedom of days without a deadline. That rest is earned, and it's coming. But it's worth remembering that rest isn't only what happens after the work ends. It's part of the work itself. 

Cultural habits are hard to shake. We live in a world that prizes momentum, and slowing down can feel like falling behind. But stillness is not the opposite of productivity — it's the condition for it. Our best ideas don't arrive under pressure. They surface in the unguarded moments, when the mind is free to wander into the quieter places where creativity and curiosity live.

Four weeks remain. Not enough for everything. Enough for something. Stay tuned.

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DRC News

Weekly Wrap-up

Our Monday was pretty chill as we eased into the new week. 
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We made up for it with a non-stop action Tuesday. In Kitchen Sink Science, the crew made paper rockets on straws to see how far they would go. A few of them extended the lesson to test out various theories on ways to make the rocket go farther or spiral. The cooks made tacos for lunch. The beaded spiders made another appearance. E, E, and K decided they wanted to make spiders and beaded bracelets to sell. Thank you to C for painting the backboard and to Chris for hanging it on the garage railing. The boys hung out in the backyard for the last part of the day, playing hide & seek tag.

Holy Cow, it was a wild energy Thursday. Some kiddos were in a mood that infected the whole crew, but somehow we still got a lot accomplished. B wanted to make a carrot cake, but the only carrots we had were already cut up, so they were too hard to hand-grate without nicking our fingers, and our blender gave up the ghost. Instead, they made a delicious yellow cake with a few carrot bits floating around, topped with real whipped cream. C made his famous Chicken Alfredo for lunch. Thanks to Chris and the triplets, the hole is dug, cement poured, and the bracket is set and leveled for the Little Free Library. Stay tuned for the reopening. It was finally warm enough to get some sustained outdoor time. The basketball hoop is a hit. And a few kiddos found some old kinetic sand to play with.

Heading into the weekend, we had a very chill and much-deserved quiet Friday. Our walkers spent some time on the SUNY Canton trail and the Grasse River.

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As mentioned, we have four weeks left before summer break. Our last day is May 22nd, when we will have a year-end party to honor our two members who are finishing their high school career and celebrate everyone's accomplishments.

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Looking toward the 26/27 academic year, we are seeking 8-10 volunteers who are excited to share their skills, talents, and knowledge with our student members for 2 days each month. This is an opportunity to build relationships with our youth and help them discover new ideas and fields of interest. If this is something you would like to explore, please get in touch to schedule a time to visit and let us know how you would like to help. 

These are a few of the fields we would be keen to include in our programming:

• Carpentry
• ​Building repair and maintenance
• Small engine repair
• Science Classes and Labs - biology, chemistry, earth science, or physics
• Computer repair 
• Computer programming
• Game Design
• Digital art
• Entrepreneurship
• High Level Math - Algebra, Trig., Geometry
• Social Studies - World History, US History, Medieval History, Social Justice
• Baking - cakes and cake decorating
• Arts & Crafts
• Art History

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We are now enrolling for the 26/27 school year. Contact Maria to learn how we can help your child.