Tools for The Journey
Yet another thought to improve the student experience at The Saxifrage School: A Freshmen Supply Basket. Some things a new student will need to start College equipped, focused, and encouraged for their journey ahead.
Prior to Arrival
- Copies of Key Texts for every student to read prior to the start of school (Y.T.D.)
- Spanish Language preparation materials (to prepare for test at start of school)
Upon Arrival
- a heavy-duty, leather-handled hand-woven carrying basket (a lot of these items will be held in this)
- Spanish Test (must be completed and passed upon entrance or pay a $250 lazy-penalty and retake test)
- City Transit Pass
- Laminated City Map
- Custom Made Nomad Campus Map
- @saxifrageschool e-mail account information
- Bicycle (if they lack one) and Bicycle Building/Maintenance Course
- Personalized Leather Work Gloves
- Gardening Tools + Supplies
- Hand Tools (including bicycle maintenance tools, hammer, screwdriver set, etc.)
- Journal, Pens, Drawing Pencils, Watercolors
- Basket of Local Produce (for good 1st week eats and to inspire good future eating)
- Library Card
- Ultra-Portable Tablet Device (iPad?) for seamless communication, digital textbooks, and connectivity
——–this in particular will be necessary for the smooth operation of the nomad campus
- A Cookbook
- 2 heavy duty canvas grocery bags
- metal water bottle
These items are meant, in part, to shape the future experiences students will have while at school; to promote creativity, independent pursuits, self-sufficiency, health, personal responsibility and community, while improving the student’s capability to have a successful entrance into College.
What is missing? Is this a good use of resources?
Maybe reusable grocery and produce bags along with metal water bottles.
definitely agreed. i will add them to the list.
Instead of providing them with reusable grocery bags maybe you could tell the students to bring some old material or clothing with them to a short workshop on making their own reusable grocery bag with the material that they brought. Not only would they not have to spend the money for the bags, but it also teaches them how to sew.
I had thought about including a simple sewing lessons for everyone involved…this sounds like a great way to start! and a fun project everyone could do together. a college-wide craft project to start things off sounds like a lot of fun…
could be a good place to discuss some philosophy of re-use, simplicity, self-sufficiency, etc., perhaps some Thoreau:
“When the soldier is hit by a cannon-ball, rags are as becoming as purple.”
Nice touch. I totally dig it. Maybe you could have a hobo clown recite the quote for fun
$250 lazy penalty? that’s pretty steep!
do you expect everyone in your school to bike?
Well, they need to be ‘encouraged’ to come prepared… with at least a basic knowledge of a few verbs, articles, and simple vocabulary.
I don’t expect everyone to bike all the time, but will definitely encourage it…especially for going between classes around the campus-neighborhood.
Cool idea — all of these things are more practical than the things I got from my college
Suggestions:
Laminated City Map: I suggest using Bike Pittsburgh!’s Pittsburgh Bike Map (free)
Bicycle/Bike maintenance/Bike tools: Freeride is a great resource for this.
Cookbook: Big fan of the More-with-Less Cookbook — it’s recipes are tasty (well, mostly), healthier, and cheap!
Thanks for the suggestions… hadn’t thought about specifics, but those are wisely chosen.