"Update on Koi Pond: Onward!," Reflections from Edge Students

It's spring, and the Edge community is gearing up to continue our koi pond project. (If you are only joining us now, click here to get up to speed.)  Interested to hear our plan? Read on for the voices of all ten of our Edge students!

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Ben:  
"Hello everyone! While Ian and James were in Florida, they made a partnership with Blackwater Creek Koi Farms, Inc. and managed to get many fish donated.  Not only that:  the staff gave us great advice on raising the fish from young to old and creating an environment to breed them.   

"My project is terrain park and mountain bike trail building/designing.  I'm in charge of shaping out the pond and making sure it's deep enough. We plan on breaking ground soon!"

James and Ian:  
"While we were at the Blackwater Creek Koi Farms, the owner showed us the different types of filtration systems he had made.  He went into detail about how all of these systems work and how the fish can stay healthy.  He also showed us his koi farming facilities where they took the koi and sorted them by size, shape, breed, and color.

"As of right now, it's warm enough to do the digging.  We plan on doing that in the next two weeks using Kildonan's maintenance crew. (There is one last conflict, and that is the fact that there is a pre-existing drain pipe that will need to be moved over. We need to coordinate with the maintenance workers on that.)  Finally, we will be creating a parts list of everything we need AND we will install the pump when it's ready."

Ambrose:  
"My project is comics and graphic art.  I will be part of any of the art that might be incorporated into the Koi Pond.  The Edge group will try to find a bench for me to paint so we can add a bit more color to the project."

Farrell:  
"My contribution to the project is an animated short in the style of the opening to the TV show, 'King Of The Hill.'" 
 
Maddie:  
"My project is animal control and veterinary science.  I will be contributing to the koi pond project by doing labor work.  I have also done a lot of research into maintaining and caring for fish, so I will help lead the group to make sure we keep the fish healthy."
 
Annabel:  
"I contributed to the Koi pond project by creating the poster for the project at the Fall Ball.  I will also make an end of year presentation or maybe a magazine on this with pictures and some blurbs.  I also plan to make another poster/scrapbook."
 
Nelson:  
"I will help by removing the stumps and roots around the pond site.  Give me a shovel, a weekend, and maybe an axe.  I am also building a submersible drone that will help me film/record the pond and fish.  Finally, I will find stones and use a book on flora to select plants for the pond."

Chris:  
"We are going to dedicate a bench near the pond to a veteran of Vietnam (since the Vietnam War is my project).  I need to find a Kildonan vet OR dedicate the bench to all of those who served."

Santiago:  "This is Santiago.  Since I am studying business, James and I will ask about taking money from the amount we raised at the Fall Ball.  I will also help by ordering the parts (and figuring out the best way to do that)."

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Stay tuned for updates as we continue the work! As always, thank you for the support.  Feel free to leave a question! We will respond.

Chris Prepares to Interview Vietnam Veteran

American soldiers stationed in Vietnam. 
Image source:  faculty.polytechnic.org.
(public domain)

A stolid, poised young man, Chris arrived to Edge at the beginning of the year with a clear path:  to study the Vietnam War.  Per his characteristic determination, he has largely stuck to that plan.  He has analyzed the technologies employed by the Vietcong in defending North Vietnam, and he has read through accounts that critique Jane Fonda for her sympathies with the North Vietnamese (earning her the derisive name of "Hanoi Jane").  Chris also explored key terms/ideas such as "the Tet Offensive," "the Kent State Incident," and "the Fall of Saigon.

Early on, something cemented for Chris.  After expressing interest in joining the Marines on numerous occasions, he began to focus his studies towards understanding the experiences of the American soldiers themselves.  He examined countless soldier accounts (e.g., Ron Kovic's Born on the Fourth of July and Tim O'Brian's The Things They Carry), and he analyzed their feelings towards the draft while in college, their experiences clearing tunnels of rats while in Vietnam, and their traumatic experiences as P.O.W.s under the Vietcong.  He researched Agent Orange not only for an interest in the chemical make-up of the weapon but also for his earnest concern in how it altered the physiology of a soldier.  He also looked up Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, spoke with Tess and Luca, and analyzed the effectiveness of the VA Center in assisting struggling veterans.

U.S. soldiers taking a break while on patrol. 
Image source:  pinterest.com. 
(public domain)

Across those foci, two points remain consistent for Chris:  (1) his unwavering compassion and empathy for American veterans, and (2) his concern that contemporary American conflicts mimic the Vietnam War in its consequences for American soldiers.

So, how is Chris applying that compassion?

He has elected to devote his second semester in Edge to connect with American veterans so that he might learn their stories first-hand.  He has teamed up with the Edge Team to explore the Veteran's History Project, a volunteer-based program that connects individuals (even students) with veterans.  Recently, however, he has found an alternative via one of Kildonan's trustees.  Inspired by a conversation with Chris, a board member has reached out to a childhood friend who happened to serve in Vietnam.  That individual has agreed to speak with Chris, so the latter has been hard at work preparing a variety of interview questions.

Chris reflects on his learning experiences in Edge as follows:  

"I learn by starting at the big picture, then focusing on a few things, then going back out again, and focusing another time.  It's like a big accordion.  In ordinary classes, teachers are the spoiler alert.  They ruin the movie for you.  But in Edge, you don't have spoilers.  You get to experience the movie yourself."   

We at Edge are grateful to have you as an Edge Maker, Chris! (If you have a thought on Chris's journey or a resource for him, please post in the comments section below.)