History as a Story - March 12, 2013

Post date: Mar 13, 2013 6:52:39 AM

Hello from our third day in Yosemite;

Today was filled with stories, new and old. Two rotations the Stars and the Celebrities experienced the life of a black man at the turn of the century through the dramatic presentation of the Buffalo Soldier by National Park Ranger Shelton Johnson. His first-person representation of the Cavalry man from the 9th Cavalry moved both students and adults. His stories are authentic, striking, and personal for everyone. . After his presentation he told the students about his life at Shelton Johnson who created this character from his primary source research and his life starting from Detroit and more recently meeting with President Obama and Oprah Winfrey. He told the audience that there are many untold stories and still many injustices around us. It is their role to make the changes in the world. His manner was entertaining, educational and transformational. It was a privilege to meet with him. Everyone can enjoy his story again in his book, Gloryland. Some students remarked that it was the highlight of their day.

The new stories were made with trips to the cool pools at Indian Creek, a welcome relief from the warm spring sun. Others took the bus to the El Capitan area and waked the eight miles back to the village digesting the majesty of the El Cap and all the other sites as you absorb it slowly instead of a quick peak via car or bus. Others went to the Spider Caves and other locations around the valley. Rotations 1, 3, 4 in the valley today. Rotation 5 was skiing at Badger Pass, Rotation 2 was skiing and snowshoeing

eing at Crane Flat.

Tomorrow is a big moving day; the rotations in the valley are moving to Wawona and Rotation 6 is coming down to the valley. I should be a fun day full of changes.

Signing off,

Mary Enright