TLC-OB Sailing

THE LEARNING CENTER FOR THE DEAF – OUTWARD BOUND

(A Letter to our sponsers:)

After three days of paid “course prep”, more than six months of planning, and maybe five years of my own dreaming, the students arrived with the noon sun. With only seven days together, we did our best to get onto the boats with an expediency of two instructors who know the power of life at sea. We checked their gear, gave them heavy duty foul weather gear (we would need them) and life jackets otherwise known as personal flotation devices. Then we had gave our required US Coast Guard briefings and an introduction to the 30-foot sprit rigged wooden ketch known to its sailors as a pulling boat. Finally, we granted our new sailors permission to come aboard, stow their gear and get ready to shove off. This is where the first challenge was given to them.

My co-instructor, John Wilcox, gave the “watch” the task. They needed to figure out how to get off the dock and to the mooring, which was about 30 yards away. They were given 5 minutes to make a plan, and then we shoved off.

It was not the prettiest rowing I have ever seen, but for this rowing initiative, it is never pretty. The beautiful part is watching the understanding that comes during the discussion afterwards – that they see it helps to have the rowers face the rear of the boat so they can see the captain, that it helps to approach from downwind, that the watch needs to plan out the entire maneuver, not just the beginning of it. They understand, not because we told them, but because they tried first, recognized some things worked, some things didn’t, and then could understand the why behind how best to move a pulling boat under oars. This learning methodology continued throughout the course.

We left our home port of Wheeler Bay under oars at around 1800 hours and were anchored safely in Long Cove at 1900 hours with a light southerly breeze of about 5 knots. John stayed in the cockpit to help the cooks make our dinner while I took the rest forward and taught them how to set up our shelter. Soon dinner was deliciously had, our shelter was up, the rotating anchor watch was explained and tired bodies were ready for their first night of sleeping on the oars – our long wooden oars are laid from bow to stern and students sleep on their foam pads which are laid over the oars. (Sounding worse than it is, I once had one watch so accustomed to sleeping on the oars that when we spent a night on a tent platform on Hurricane Island, the group elected to bring the oars to the tent platform so they could sleep on them.)

I was delighted to be woken up many times that first night by the anchor watch person as it proved to me that the students were taking their job seriously. The students questioned the rocks, the tide, and the anchor. These students were on it. And I could rest a little easier knowing they would not hesitate to sound the alarm should anything be amiss.

After each person serving roughly an hour’s anchor watch and sleeping a night on the oars, it was 0500 hours – wake up time. And then “dip” time. Each day, much to the early morning disgruntleness of students (and some staff), we take a “dip” into the ocean – to clean ourselves and to wake ourselves up. It can be quite enjoyable, especially after the fact, and frequently one student will tell another with a shrug of the shoulders, who is preparing for the morning ritural, “It’s not that bad.” After all, it was the end of July when the temperature of the water was a balmy 58 degrees F. This contrasts to the May water (and air) temperatures of the mid 40’s.

Breakfast was had, an introduction lesson on the charts was given, some new knots were learned and were were finally ready to sail. We raised our sails, lifted the “hook” at 0930h and were on our way south towards Burnt Island. We had a delightful sail, and the students learned the fundamentals of sailing – points of sail, tacking, gibing – along with more terminology – being in irons, leeward, windward, and so on. By the time we arrived at Burnt, they could tack and gibe and take the boat where they wanted. There was still some refining to do but they were doing very well for the first day of sailing.

The following morning we had a 0500 wake up and went for a run on Burnt Island. It was nice to get our legs on land again since we hadn’t been on land at all during the previous day. We ran through woods and fields and then took our dip off the Burnt Island pier which, at low tide, was about 15 feet above the water. This proved exciting for some and very challenging for others. All made the jump and all were awake and excited afterwards either for the fun of the jump or for the satisfaction of pushing through their fears. Back to the boat for breakfast and then out to the east (cliff) side of the island where the students would begin to understand what is known as “the brotherhood (or sisterhood) of the rope.” Climbing is rarely a solo sport, and there was much teamwork in getting each person to the top of their climb. With each climb a belayer standing below, in control of the rope, stood just above the high tide line. As most of the students had never climbed before, nor thought that they might be able to scale a near vertical 30 foot rock face, all were happy and excited at the end.

After regrouping at the boats, we prepared for solo drop. One by one, and armed with only the essentials, we dropped the students off around the outer edge of the island. They would be alone during the afternoon and night - something that is increasingly rare in this day and age. They would generally enjoy the time to themselves after a day and a half of being on a 30 foot boot with 7 other people. They would have time to reflect on the first part of the course, the upcoming second part of the course, their life, or they could chose to do nothing at all. But regardless of what they planned to do, being alone on an island coast is an impactful experience.
I walked past each person’s solo site just before dark to make sure all was well. Some students were already asleep while others were sitting on a rock or log, quietly looking over the ocean. It is always a peaceful time.

We had a long way to go the following morning so students were picked from their solo sights at first light. All were well and when we discussed the experience over breakfast, it became apparent that the experience of being alone with only a tarp as shelter on the edge of an island on the Maine coast was not something that they will forget. Clearly, some self-confidence had been gained during the night.

The fog had rolled in during the night and it was to stay with us for two days. We had hoped to cross West Penobscot Bay and anchor near Hurricane Island but with the fog, the Northeast headwinds, and a foul tide, we soon realized it would be safer not to cross so that we would not be caught out in the fog as the sun went down. The navigation in the fog kept us busy, recording our headings and our speeds to give us dead reckoned positions on the chart. We made it to Mosquito Head cove and spend a nice evening there. With a light rain that had begun, the tarp was set up quickly and soon we had a cozy cocoon of warmth and relative dryness in which to cook dinner, write in our journals and chat before the meal.

As is normally the custom for a Hurricane Island sailing course, with everyone holding hands, a quote is shared with the group and followed by a moment of silence before our meal. But apparently this was no ordinary course. As you will see at the end of the video, this moment of silence quickly became a time where we would all shake our hands, laugh and smile at one another.

The fog continued the next day and we made slow progress back towards Wheeler Bay. We all took turns at the oars and made our way with a combination of wind power and human power. Rowing always makes the students very appreciative of the wind. We arrived the following day after a beautiful morning sail – what luxury to have a good wind and good visibility. The fog had finally cleared to reveal the beautiful Maine coast and a perfect wind had come up. An Outward Bound boat full of instructors came a few miles out to say hello and then it was time to head in. We arrived to many staff waving and smiling to welcome us home. After doing a very thorough boat and gear clean, we had a wonderful last evening meeting in which we discussed each day of the course and each student told what the course had meant - and was going to mean - to them.

On the morning of their pickup the students had their final challenge. The “marathon” - a long early morning run after a pulling boat row out to a buoy. The run completed and one last dip taken, it was time for the course to end. The students exchanged course certificates with their peers, in turn, commenting on how each person helped to make our group a great one.

Tears were coming from student eyes as they pulled away in the van and parents have told me of lasting effects. I wish the course had been longer but I was so happy that it really happened. We had rain, fog, sailing, rowing, rock climbing, swimming, running and lots of games. The students stayed positive throughout the whole course and showed great support of one another. There were many times when the whole boat was overtaken with laughter. As to what else the students have learned, I will let the DVD and the students’ sponsor letters speak for themselves. Thank you again for all your support.


Sincerely,

Ben Urmston and the intrepid crew of Pulling Boat #6

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do then by the ones you did. So throw off the bowline, sail away from the safe harbor, catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

HELP US BE OUTWARD BOUND!

Hello gang,

I have set up and am instructing a one week Outward Bound sailing course this summer, July 28-August 3, on the coast of Maine. I work at The Learning Center for the Deaf, in Framingham, MA, and when I noticed a lack of outdoor educational programs for Deaf youth, I decided to set up a course with Outward Bound, for whom I’ve been working for since 2001.

Outward Bound’s missions is ''To inspire character development and self-discovery in people of all ages and walks of life through challenge and adventure, and to impel them to achieve more than they ever thought possible, to show compassion for others and to actively engage in creating a better world."

I’ve seen the impact an Outward Bound course can have on all types of youth and I want this opportunity to be available to the Deaf youth I’ve been working with in Framingham and in other local Deaf school programs. Outward Bound has been very generous in giving every student a 50% scholarship, but at the reduced cost of $630 per student it is still too much for some to afford. We currently have six students but are required to have eight to have the program run. The students who are in need are already writing letters and doing what they can to raise the funds themselves.

If you want to help these students and Outward Bound’s Deaf programming please send what you can, no amount is too small, made out to Outward Bound, to Benjamin Urmston, 79 Hollis Street, Sherborn, MA 01770. In return for a donation you will receive a DVD of our course and a letter describing the highlights of our course. Thank you for your support and for helping these kids to be OUTWARD BOUND!!!!

Deaf Week at SPACE CAMP

Since I had forgotten I wanted to be an astronaut between the school years of kindergarten and my junior year of high school, I never really had the chance to go to space camp...that is...until now.

Yes, it is true, I spent a six days of my April vacation in Huntsville, Alabama at SPACE CAMP'S Deaf Week. The Learning Center sent 6 sixth graders, me and two middle school teachers to Huntsville for a week of shuttle simulations, model rocket launches, space history, science lectures, and spinning chairs to ride in. Many months ago, my middle school supervisor had asked, during a department meeting, "Would any of you be willing to go to SPACE CAMP during your April vacation?" As many of you can imagine, my hand shot up. Here was the opportunity to go to SPACE CAMP, and get paid for it!

There were many Deaf schools at SPACE CAMP during the week many interpreters floating between groups with our other teachers picking up the slack.

It is still not clear who had more fun, the sixth graders or me. The other staff and I had a break rotation, but instead of going back to my room to read or catch up on sleep, I would head directly for the huge Saturn V rocket or the shuttle landing simulator.

We even got to do a staff shuttle mission so would know what the student would experience. I got to be the shuttle pilot - orange flight suit and all. I worked with the commander to solve all the problems that the flight controllers gave us. It was excellent. The students later did theirs and had video screens in which to sign to each other instead of communicating over the radio.

Needless to say, I was exhausted by the end of the week from the excitement of it all, and from seeing how excited our students got. It was a fabulous week and we all got a taste of what it's like to do a space walk, walk on the moon, feel what it's like in a spinning spacecraft, and many other things.

The SPACE CAMP staff loved our kids, and our counselor is now planning on taking sign language classes this spring. Many of the counslors were eager to learn the language and worked well with interpreters. Everyone was impressed with how our kids worked together and flew their missions. It made me very proud and I was very excited to see how much all the kids got out of the week. So maybe there are some future Deaf astronauts among us. I mean, don't they realize that if someone is space walking and the radio malfunctions...their going to need to communicate in ASL! I hope someday we see a Deaf astronaut.

Well, now we're back from Space, and trying to get used to life on Earth again. It is a beautiful world we live in. And don't forget to look at the stars every now and then. It's frightening how easy it is not to notice them. To infinity...and BEYOND!

Physical Education

It is official. I love gym class. I always have. And I always will.

Today we moved on from the basketball unit, which I quite enjoyed, to the racquet sports. My eyes quickly gazed upon the square wooden paddles that are used in one of my favorire sports: pickle ball. Some of you know what I'm talking about. Yeah...that's what I'm talking 'bout. The gym teacher then asked me, "Do you have any experience with racquet sports?" "Scoop of chocolate, scoop of vanilla...don't waste my time," is how I should have answered. Instead, I just said, "Yup." I looked at the tennis racquets, the badminton racquts, and the pickle ball racquets and all the memories of these sports I played in high school gym came back to me.

Running out to the tennis courts as fast as we could to get in as many games as we could into what was I think 45 minutes of a normal school period - a miraculously short time when the likes of athletic games with friends are concerned.

Then badminton - and the realization that badminton is no game to be played on lazy sunday picnics, but a game that deserves respect, to those that can wield the long racquet with finess and power.

And of course - pickle ball. The game that came out of nowhere, but captivated no less than a handful of us enthusiastic gym goers (some may have unflattering names for us) - saddened by the fact that gym class was only two days a week for juniors and seniors. (It just didn't add up...as juniors and seniors we should have more priviledges than the freshman and sophomores, and we should therefore have more gym classes.)

Race out of class we would when we heard the buzzer and into the locker room. Shame on you should arrive late, or be slow to change into your gym clothes. Test or no test, we demanded timeliness. No strings on the pickle ball racquets, just wood, and a whiffle ball type ball. A small net and let the games begin...And now let the games begin again.

Warming up pickle ball style with a student, the gym teacher noticed our competence and asked if we'd do a demonstration for the rest of the class (the whole 30 student middle school). It was fun vollying back and forth and when we had finished our volly demonstration the teacher said, "That was really good." Needless to say, the student and I were quite pleased with ourselves.

My deepest respects go out to Ross - Rosco-pico-train, my partner in crime for most of these racquet games and other gym activites.

Prior to this day of gym, I along with the other teacher's aides had come to gym class, or "P.E." as some like it to be called, wearing normal work clothes. Today, though, I brought my gym clothes. As soon as the end of gym class sign is given, I raced for the basketballs for what has now become, for me and a few enthusiastic and talented middle school students - one of whom was my partner for the pickle ball demonstration - our customary series of wildly intense knock-out (foul lind and three-point line distance). Last Wednesday, I had not changed, and had to call it the series short, because I was starting to sweat, and was fearing repercussions from going to an hour and fifteen minute department meeting hot, sweaty and smelly. Today I was prepared to go the distance. And go the distance we did. Game after game after game. Legs burning, lungs aching, and the rest of me happy as a clam because of it. Sadly we finally had to call it quits, and to the coach's shower I went to take the coldest shower I could stand.

Life is good when gym class is all in a days work...and I think there may even be a floor hockey unit later on...

D.E.A.F., Inc. Holiday Party

So into Allston I went to a D.E.A.F., Inc. holiday party. Always seeking opportunities to practice my sign language and to further get to know the Deaf community, in I went on a fine Saturday afternoon. I was nervous on the way in, not feeling confident with my signing and frustrated with traffic, but I kept on going and soon I found myself at the party, with a few people that I recognized. It was a low key gathering, which I always prefer, and there were several Deaf Blind folks there.

I sat down with my lunch next to a woman and across from two men. I had noticed that two of them were Deaf Blind and having never comnmunicated with someone who is both Deaf and Blind before, in my head I said, "Well, here goes..."

It was an incredible experience. I sat down and the woman quickly signed to her friend, that she wanted to know who was sitting at the table. Seeing this, I introduced myself to her friend, who then introduced me to her. She then put her hand out, palm down, and I put my hand just below hers, touching her palm. I signed normally to her all the while her hand resting lightly on my right hand wherever it went, feeling the handshape, the palm orientation, the location, and movement of my hand. She understood everything. Then she signed to me and when it was my turn again, she would put her hand or hands out. It was really an amazing. I later watched two Deaf Blind folks chatting. One pair of hands on top, then they would switch. They carried on like old friends, which they seemed to be, laughing and smiling and having a great time together. I couldn't help but smile along.

School continues to go well. Slow improvements come, but always I want more. My days are very busy and it seems most days I come home and go to sleep...then get up and go back to school. All the things and side projects that I thought I would have time for while spending a year at home are not getting done. They have all been pushed aside for the time being. All focus and energies go toward the language and the community. And slowly, ever so slowly, it's coming along.

Happy Holidays to all.

Halloween, JV Soccer and Four Square

Much has happened now as I've passed the two month mark at TLC. I feel like I'm in some sort of immersion program, except that I sleep and eat breakfast at home. Otherwise, I spend most of my time at school, though I get paid for only about half of it. Soccer season is still going and I've been helping out the goalies on the varsity teams. I've also had my debut as a head coach (one of three) for a JV soccer team that the three of us volunteered our time to help prepare kids for the varsity team. We have a record of 1-1 now, just recently posting a 5-4 victory before a home crowd against the American School for the Deaf. It was extremely exciting, especially for the kids, of whom many were about to burst after scoring goals. It is controlled chaos on the field, but we're slowly improving as the kids learn how to make legal throw-ins, how to play their position and how to work as a team.

The varsity coed team just won a tournament (for, i think, the fifth year in a row) among the Rhode Island School for the Deaf, the Austine School for the Deaf in Brattleboro, VT, and Governor Baxter School for the Deaf near Portland, Maine.

Meanwhile, school has been progressing. I am slowly improving, though never as fast as I would like naturally. When I'm driving on the highway, I practice my numbers and letters by signing every license plate that passes me (yes, I'm usually in the slow lane as some of you can attest to). Or I try to sign to the songs that I'm listening to.

I now have lunch duty two times a week. This means I help watch the kids at lunch. But more importantly, it means I get to get in on the post-lunch four square games. The kids got a kick out of seeing me in the four-square line. It had been probably maybe twenty years since I'd played (back at Pine Hill School) but thankfully, I still had the touch.

To generate some school spirit before homecoming, which was last weekend, we had spirit week. Monday was pajama day, Tuesday was formal wear, Wednesday was Halloween costumes (as seen above with my English class - the pirate is the teacher), Thursday was twin/triplet day (we all dressed up like our supervisor) and Friday was school colors - the blue, black and white of the "Galloping Ghosts". The below picture is of my ELA (English Language Arts) class. Of course, I dressed up as an astronaut in a blue flight suit with NASA patches. At the beginning of the day, I felt a little subconscious in my blue suit, but by the end of the day, I thought, "I could get used to wearing this thing around." Perhaps someday...

I am still having fun with the kids. Last week one of them was trying (very successfully) to make me laugh by humming. Being the only hearing person in the classroom, I was the only one that could hear it. But so unnatural was the sound of someone humming loudly during a class without anyone noticing, that I could not help but smile. Soon I was chuckling to myself and before long, all the students were aware of what was going on, and I was covering my mouth to stop from bursting out laughing telling myself, "Ben, you simply cannot burst."

Well, that's the latest at TLC. Still having fun. I was lightly scolded (with a smile) last month, when after one student had finished his homework during the study period, I told him he could pick a book out from the shelves and do some reading (as I was supposed to.) However, the student picked a book about making things out of paper and came to me asking if he could make a paper airplane, modelled in the book. Of course, I was game and we proceeded to make a few stunt planes and naturally flew stunts thereafter. Needless to say, the teacher was out of the room and thankfully did not return while we were in our flight routines. She came back while one student was showing another how to build them. I was told that students should be reading if they finish their assignments. My argument, that the activity CAME from a book was did not override the initial rules. Nor did my encouragement of science win over an English teacher. My airplane has now been grounded to the bulletin board by the teacher. It's day to fly again will come.

I am still not a good signer, but the same English teacher, says that's okay, because I have "Teacher Gut". I'm slowly improving with middle school classes, ASL classes, ASL gatherings, and soccer practices. All in all, things are good, I'm still having lots of fun.

Feel free to email with any questions.

Week One at The Learning Center

So, yes, i'm continuing to write, this time not about the physical explorations of the world, but about the explorations into a different community, a different way of living, and how I find myself fitting into it all. Last week I started work as a Teacher's Aid at The Learning Center for the Deaf (TLC) in Framingham, Massachusetts. Not being fluent American Sign Language (ASL) user, there have been some challenges. I knew enough to get through the half hour interview, but that's about the extent of my signing knowledge.

I am working with the Middle School, with about twenty-seven 11-14 year-olds. With each bell/strobe light signal, I switch classes and teachers I'm working with, and my daily schedule includes math, english, social studies, science, sometimes art, and hopefully some gym later on. All the classes are taught in ASL. At this point, I am able to understand the math classes pretty well, being numbers and charts and graphs, but the vocabulary of social studies is significantly more daunting. English is challenging but also rewarding in the gains that I make as the students explain the intracacies of ASL while also getting a better handle on their English skills. (ASL does not spell out each word, and ASL grammer is nothing like the English written language, so it takes students (and me) a while to get the hang of their none native language. To these kids, English is a SECOND language.)

Thankfully, I've been given the job of morning attendance taker so I'm slowly getting to know all the students. And slowly I am able to understand them when they finger spell their names without having to ask them to repeat it a few times. During class, I try hard to improve my skills. Always with my dictionary on hand, I sit and use a few different methods of paying attention. Often times, I will try to get the general gist of what the teacher is signing. (Often times this does not work.) Other times, I will try to focus just on the signs, just to recognize individual signs, so that it's not just a blurr of hand movements. This is getting easier, but with this method, I often miss out on the big picture. My third and least effective method of learning is when I suddenly find that I've been zoning out which greatly reduces my understanding of what is going on. With this method, though, I hope my subconscious is filing everything into nice neat ASL folders in my brain. Needless to say, at the end of the day, my brain is thoroughly exhausted.

Slowly, though, I am learning. Through the help of my supervisor and the teachers as well as the students, day by day, I know more signs and after a week of classes, feel like i'm getting to know the students. The highlight of Friday was helping a student figure out a math problem that involved simple planetary motion. I was able to communicate everything I needed to, the student was engaged and was miraculously able to understand what I was signing - and i was able to understand her. I was amazed to find myself, at only the end of the first week, to be saying to myself, "I LOVE this job!" And I'm getting paid for this!

There are a number of things that I have had to get used to:
-Conversations often occur between people across a room, and as a third party to those conversations, my neck gets a good work out going back and forth.
-When in class, if I look down to write something down, I miss what is being signed.
-Deaf students are anything but silent. They are very vocal and if they cannot get someone's attention visually, they will try for a tactile method which can mean hitting desks, book shelves or anything else that will send the vibrations to the other person.
-By school policy the primary language of the school is ASL. This means that even if i'm talking with a hearing teacher we will shut the door. (My supervisor and the two teachers I work with are deaf, and the other two teachers are are hearing.) Generally all communication, even between two hearing people, in the spirit of open and clear communication, is done in ASL.

It is strange to be in one place for the next 11 months (school ends late July) and it is strange to be indoors all day, and it is strange to not be getting ready for another adventure somewhere away from home. But biking the seven miles to school keeps my legs happy while sitting at the desk, and the metal concentration and stimulation are more than enough to keep me excited about what I'm doing. I have a long, long way to go as far as the language is concerned and I need to spend much out of school time doing homework of my own, but that's why I'm here, and I'm very happy to be at the middle school. I hope that the middle-schoolers will be able to learn as much from me as I will learn from them.

NOLS Waddington Range Mountaineering

NOLS: North Cascades Mountaineering

The past 30 days were spent in the mountains and valleys of Washington state, instructing a NOLS North Cascades Mountaineering course. Ten students and one other instructor and I headed out for 30 days of glacier mountaineering. But first we had to get there.


From the dense forrests we climbed up and up and up towards the snow in our not-so-trail-friendly plastic mountaineering boots. We had a ration periods of 8 days, then two 10-day ration periods. With each re-ration we had to descend into the lush forrest to get another 10 days of food. Not easy to add 20lbs of food to a pack that was just starting to feel good, and then start heading up again. But I was always happy to be heading back up towards the snow and rocky peaks.


The work was hard, but the living was simple, as I like it. Keep yourself dry, warm, fed and rested. No phones, no television, just the team and the surrounding world. Here are my favorite pics:

During my week off, I flew east to NYC to see my brother, Chad, play in his band, Dispatch for two of the three sold out shows at Madison Square Garden. It was an unreal experience to be in New York after this last month in the wilderness with our small team, and then seeing 20,000 wild fans singing my brother's songs.

I am now back in Washington getting ready to head out on another 30 day expedition. This time, we are heading to the Waddington Range of British Columbia. We spend more time on the glaciers here, getting resupplied not by van or horse packer, but by... ....helicopter. And we get into the wilderness not by van, but by ... ... float plane. Yes, I am very excited. It will be fun. All the best to you all.

New Job!

I've just been offered, and have accepted, a job for the entire school year of 2007-2008. I will be a teachers' assistant at The Learning Center for Deaf Children in Framingham, Massachusetts. My sign language skills have a long way to go but I was able to get through the half hour interview all in sign. It's a bit daunting right now to consider being in one place for 10 months and to be using a foreign language most of the day but I imagine there will be a pretty steep learning curve, at least that's what I hope...

Florida Outward Bound

Down to Key Largo, Florida after two full days at home. Sort of felt like I hadn't been home, though magically, I had less bagage, and quicker flights. It was great to see old friends, and familiar boats. The winds were good, as were the students (ages 15 and 16), and we all had an excellent time.


I am now home trying to sort everything out. Not an easy task after being away for six months having been in Antarctica, New Zealand, Australia, Hawaii, and Florida. Thanks, again for all your interest. I am flattered and you all make it more worthwhile. To Washington State this summer for NOLS mountaineering courses. The next few weeks will determine what comes next fall. We shall see...

All the best to you all.
Ben