What a great second week at NMH Summer! Warmer weather rolled in last weekend, yet spirits are unflagging and energy and engagement levels remain high. Periodic thunderstorms and an evening breeze each night provide welcome relief NMH Summer students are encouraged to hydrate with water throughout each day with their sturdy NMH Summer water bottles provided on registration day Interesting fact: the delicious, pristine NMH water originates from our own deep wells right here on our campus.
NMH Summer students and their teachers have leaned into coursework together this week and many classes are leveraging our remarkable NMH campus and its resources in their work Field trips and excursions occur most days to local sites and within our region. For example, the creative writing class visited author Edith Warton’s home, The Mount, in the Berkshires, while the religious studies course visited The Peace Pagoda and another class explored an indoor butterfly habitat Each week, our ELI classes participate in 1-2 local excursions and yesterday all ELI students visited the haunting New England town of Salem, Massachusetts. This Sunday, our 9-12 students have the option to visit the Big Apple and experience New York City highlights. NMH Summer learning is deep and on the move!
Options abound for activities outside of the classrooms Last Saturday’s lively SummerFest, for example, featured classic food booths, games, face painting, and a dunk tank (which was a surprisingly great way to cool off! - I write from personal experience!) The fun lasted until a dramatic rain storm erupted before the end of the event, scattering us to our campus dormitories Pop-Up Cafes occur during the weeknights (Cheeseburgers last night, Friday Fenway Franks tonight), and the much awaited MidSummer Annual Dance takes place this Saturday. On-campus activities, athletics and campus community chores (“workjob”) are underway In the weekly Student v Faculty Soccer match last night, the high school team “schooled” the faculty with a 5-1 drubbing Cumulative Thursday soccer scores so far stand at NMH Summer Students 9 - Faculty 13
After another fine week, students look forward to our famous NMH Summer doughnuts on Saturday morning, just prior to their “College Prep” and” YO U ” programming Here’s to a wonderful weekend ahead after a full and productive second week for our students and their dedicated campus adults This coming week is NMH Summer Spirit Week. Huzzah! (And be sure to follow our social media links below.)
Charlie Tierney, NMH Summer Director for the NMH Summer Team
NMH Summer Activity Programming and Excursions
Check out NMH Summer’s on-campus and off-campus excursions and activities from this past week AND for the week ahead Additional on-campus activities include open gym, swimming, pickleball, sand volleyball, outdoor basketball, hiking, and more This coming week’s list will be shared with your students on Sunday. Please encourage them to sign up for this coming week’s programming by the Monday afternoon at 1:00 pm deadline Some excursions and activities require parental waivers and additional fees
NMH Summer Activities Planned for July 10 - July 14
Wednesday, July 10
Thursday, July 11
Saturday, July 13
On-Campus: Cookie Decorating and Spikeball
Escape Room
Yankee Candle
Montague Bookmill
Despicable Me 4 at Greenfield Garden Cinemas
ELI Excursion to Salem, MA (Salem Witch Museum and Real Pirates Salem)
Ingleside Mall
Amherst, MA
Basketball Hall of Fame
Bowling
On-Campus: Movie & Popcorn
On-Campus Activity Midsummer Dance
Sunday, July 14
On-Campus: Morning Cartoons
Excursion: New York City (Grades 9-12 )
Laurel Lake
Creamie / Cornerstore Run
NMH Summer Activities Planned for July 15 - July 21
Monday, July 15
Wednesday, July 17
Campus-Wide: NMH Summer Photo
Campus-Wide: Color Walk/Jog/Run
On-Campus Community Game: Basketball/Volleyball
Escape Room
Yankee Candle
Montague Bookmill
Despicable Me 4 at Greenfield Garden Cinemas
On-Campus: Tie Dye and Ice Cream
Whitewater Rafting
College Visit: UMASS Amherst
Archery
Roller Skating
Blueberry Picking
Saturday, July 20 On-campus: Movie and Popcorn
Kobe Hibachi, Greenfield
Ingleside Mall
Laser Tag
Local Town Tour: Shelburne Falls
Go Karting
Sunday, July 21 On-Campus: Morning Cartoons
On-Campus: Ultimate Frisbee
Lee Outlets
Circus Smirkus
Vernon Pool
Creamie / Cornerstore Run
NMH Summer Faculty Spotlights
Joshua Ferenc
A newcomer to NMH Summer, Josh is a “pied piper” of science and social studies at his central Vermont school. Josh is a 19-year veteran teacher and loves all things outdoors. His family includes his wife, two daughters, and several dogs “who fill my life with everything I need ” Josh earned his B A and B S degrees in Education and Ecology at Keene State During the school year, Josh grounds his teaching in a place-based, nature-based learning curriculum that leverages outdoor wilderness education
Lynnette Harris
Lynnette returns to NMH Summer to direct Schauffler Library while also offering an inaugural Theatre Immersion experience for 7th and 8th graders She grew up partially in New England and Virginia, yet Lynnette has lived most of her life in Aotearoa New Zealand where she has balanced dual careers in film/tv/theater production and librarianship Lynnette earned her B S in International Affairs at Georgetown University, her B.A.in Screen Production at the University of Auckland, a Diploma from Episcopal Divinity School and her M.A. in Library Studies and Information from Victoria University of Wellington.
Samantha Harvey
Samantha taught in the NMH English Department in 2022-23 and her daughter Delphi ’24 graduated from NMH this spring During the school year, Samantha is a professor of English at Boise State University in Idaho Samantha is excited to be back at NMH this summer to teach the World of the Short Story, especially given her long-time connections to Vermont and the outdoors Samantha earned her B A and M A in English and Religion from Harvard University and completed her Ph D in English Literature from Cambridge University She is also a former Olympian
Jennifer Keator
Jennifer has taught at NMH for 15 years as a member of the Religion and Philosophy Department. Her husband teaches history at NMH and their three daughters are recent graduates ‘19, ’20, ’26. A four-year veteran of NMH Summer, Jen is teaching Global Ethics She earned her B A in Biblical Studies and Music and M A in Theology In addition, Jennifer is a talented oboist and singer, and she sings in a noted local choral group, Da Camera Singers
Barry Knowlton
Barry debuts at NMH Summer teaching the World Religions course A professor of History, English, and Classics at Assumption University in Worcester, MA , Barry’s connection to NMH and NMH Summer runs through his daughter Clare Knowlton who teaches science and coaches rowing With his own B A from Assumption, Barry earned two M A s from Syracuse University and his Ph D in History from Boston College He has traveled extensively and directed college programs abroad, most recently in Rome, Italy.
Haydee Matos
Haydee comes from Harlem, NY, and is excited to spend her first summer at NMH She is teaching in the economic classrooms and living and working in Upper South Crossley Hall She will be completing her B A at St Lawrence University this year while majoring in Hispanic Studies and minoring in Education and Economics Haydee also has studied in Chicago and in Spain and now can check off Gill, MA, from her “must see” bucket list
Benjamin Wightman
Ben lives in Philadelphia, PA, where he just finished his M A in Medieval History at University of Pennsylvania He is moving on to a Ph D in the same subject this fall at Yale University Ben earned his B A in History at Carleton College He is excited to spend some time away from the desk and in the outdoors with our L.E.A.D. Program to develop leadership and outdoor survival skills. This summer Ben also will build upon his ELI teaching skills.
Eddie Yankow
Third time’s a charm for Eddie as he returns to NMH for his third NMH Summer A Teaching Fellow in 2017 and 2018, Eddie is also a member of the NMH Class of 2013 Eddie completed his B A in Theatre Studies at Ithaca College and his M FA in Directing at Pace University He is teaching a 3-Week ELI class and a 2-Week Theatre Immersion class in addition to serving as house director of Hayden Hall During the school year, Eddie teaches middle and high school theatre at Friends Academy on Long Island, New York
NMH Summer Wise-Words-of-the-Week Posted Daily
“Without labor, nothing prospers.”
–Sophocles of Colonos
“Monday is for people with a mission.”
–Christina Imre
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”
“You can often change your circumstances by changing your attitude.”
–Eleanor Roosevelt
“Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice, and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning.”
–Pelé (Edson Arantes do Nascimento)
“A frog in a well does not know the great sea.”
–Japanese Proverb
NMH Summer Weather on Campus – Past Week-At-A-Glance
Check out current NMH Summer campus weather conditions here.
Our NMH Summer team always is ready to assist you: Louisa Edwards
(Assistant to the Director) ledwards@nmhschool.org 413 498 3290 (general questions - travel, courses, and so on)
Loubna Boumghait (Assistant Director - English Language Immersion) lboumghait@nmhschool org 413 498 3083
Rebecca Ramos (Assistant Director - Campus Life & Enrichment) bramos-s@nmhschool org - 413 498 3270
Charlie Tierney (Director) ctierney@nmhschool org 413 498 3290
Please note that your first contact point should always be your student’s advisor
The NMH O’Connor Health Center team is available for all your medical questions at nurses@nmhschool org or call (413) 498-3555 between 8:00 am - 8:00 pm EST
Should you need to contact us for emergencies outside of office hours you may call the Duty Dean at 413.498.3326