"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!

---

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)."

---

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.

FINAL: Brad - The Antithesis of Senioritis

Leading up to graduation, many members of the Class of 2015 complained of senioritis.  Not Brad.  After rebounding from a period of procrastination in the late winter, he developed an inspiring work ethic.  He pushed towards year's end at full throttle, and at graduation he showed no sign of letting up.

Just what was Brad up to? On one hand, he continued the intensive process of crafting his fishing lures.  As his Edge and art teacher Sandy Charlap writes:

He researched the techniques and materials needed for making bucktail jigs for striper casting. He procured Heat and Drip Powder Paint and was pleased with the high gloss, one coat finish he was able to achieve on his jig heads. He was also working to perfect his technique for adding bucktail flairs to his jigs.

He used his hands and smaller tools in order to craft these pieces, but he also began to dramatically alter his process once he purchased a lathe.  He did not at first know how to use the machine, but he demonstrated initiative by setting up the device and teaching himself how to handle it.  He grew increasingly proficient on the machine, so much so that he began to drill longer vertical holes in order to craft larger lures.  Finally, he learned various techniques of lure construction from a specialist.  Every Friday for the last few weeks of the academic year, he left school early and traveled to a tackleshop on Long Island to apprentice with its owner.  By seeking out various working conditions, technologies, and mentors, Brad constructed an independent experience for himself that has allowed him to become a formidable specialist on the subject of lures.

On the other hand, Brad also fulfilled his vision for the end of the year by planning and executing a five-day fishing trip with a friend.  For more information on this subject, we refer you to Brad himself:

---

"A few weekends ago I went fishing with my friend August as part of my IP project. We went fishing based on the moon and tide. Because I wrote a research paper on it, I used my paper as a guide on what days and times to fish.

"The only thing that I had to find out when I got home was where the fish were. One stop at the Rocky Point Fishing Stop put me on the right track. I went in with August and talked to Stan. He told me that there were monster blues at Smith’s Point under the Birge on the bay side. Later that night we geared up and headed out. We got to the beach at dark, and I felt ready to fish right away. I got one on the beach, but I lost 8 others by getting tangled up.

"The next day we went on a party boat out of Port Jeff for the opening day of the fluke season. It was terrible, plain and simple. I caught two small fish and one sea robin. In my opinion, it’s not looking good for the fluke season on the north shore for this year. Later that night we went to the beach and tried throwing plugs for a little while on the incoming tide. I was dead, though, so we gave it up after about an hour or two (the bugs were getting pretty bad, anyway).

"The next day we went back to Smith’s Point. I got there at about 11 or 12, and I fished until 5:30. The weather could not have been better, for there was not too much wind and a lot of cloud coverage. The only bad thing is that we missed the bite. For the rest of the day, it was pretty dead. I caught two other fish, but that was it.

"On Wednesday morning we got out at 5 and were out of the house by 6:15 in order to try and get in on the morning bite. We fished for an hour and a half. It was dead. There was nothing. That is when we saw people move to the other end of the beach. We went to check it out, and the fish were everywhere. On my first cast into the school, I caught a 12-pound blue fish. Shortly after I got him, August hooked his first blue fish from the surf.

"It was one of the best days of fishing I have ever had. I caught about 10 or 15 fish from 5 to 12 pounds. August had about 7 fish from 3 to 12 pounds each. In the end, we had to leave early because I had to catch a train back to school. Otherwise, we would have caught more fish. We left them biting."

---

We are proud of Brad's progress and maturation this year! If you have thoughts to share on his work and/​or his description of the trip, please post in the comments section below.

Descriptions of images:  Brad holding his catch, top right.  Brad instructing his peers on how to fashion lures, middle left.  A view from the Great South Bay, bottom right.  Middle photo taken by the Edge /​ IP faculty.  Top and bottom photos taken by Brad during his fishing trip.

Brad: Business Update &​ Lure Construction

Brad was suffering a bit of a slump when the IP team met with him in mid-February.  He had already been accepted to several colleges, so he felt eager to leave Kildonan and embark upon the next stage of his educational career.  But he was - and is - not yet done.  The IP team and his tutor joined forces to ask, "What do you feel like you still need to accomplish while here? How do you want to leave?"

Since this conversation, Brad has refined his plan and his business proposal.  He desires to improve his academic research skills as he writes a book review on bass fishing and a paper examining the history of charter fishing.  Using the ecological and economic factors affecting the fishing industry, he also hopes to plan a three-day fishing trip during which he studies the striped bass more closely.  Finally, he wishes to learn more about surfcasting, and he hopes to solidify a T-shirt design as well as a logo for his company.

Brad is impressing the IP team with his initiative and multi-tasking.  He has ordered and already completed half of Striper Pursuit:  Surf Fishing Beyond the Basics, by John Skinner, a work that he will examine for his book review.  He has also approached academic writing with gusto, for he is steadily examining citations and footnoting with his tutor.  He will soon be subscribing to Surfcaster's Journal (@SurfcastersJRNL) in order to learn about the process from a distance.  In addition to drafting more logo and design possibilities, Brad has also decided that he would like to explore lure construction.  He would like to create his own plugs and sell them at local tackleshops.  He has begun this work by forming collaborative relationships with his peers and inquiring after Maintenance's lathe, but he has also been experimenting with colors and otherwise designing the plugs throughout spring break.

Moving forward, Brad has many promising projects to follow.  His challenge will be not so much finding something that inspires him but sticking to his resolve.  Indeed, he will need to sort through his exciting prospects and choose those he would like to achieve in the two months remaining this year.

What do you think of Brad's work? Do you have a question or recommendation? Please post in the comments section below.

Description of 1st image:  A smorgasbord of fishing lures.  Picture located at www.mikejacksonoutdoors.net.  Kildonan and its IP program claim no ownership over the photo above.

Piterson: Aquarium Management &​ "The Sunny"

Piterson has been developing lines of inquiry that allow him to explore two separate interests.  On one hand, he continues to research personal training.  He has completed work on a wooden representation of the human leg, and now he is beginning to craft the ankle and the foot.

On the other hand, Piterson is researching aquarium management and freshwater fish.  Earlier this year, he proposed that the IP community take advantage of an abandoned tank located on-campus and bring some fish to the building.  The IP team consented, and not long afterward, Piterson transported various aquarium equipment to his corner niche:  a tank, a filter, an oxygenator/​air pump, etc.  He then returned from an hour of fishing with several freshwater sunfish.  Most of these proved too big for the tank, but one found it a perfect fit:  "The Sunny."

The IP community has lovingly adopted "The Sunny" as a kind of mascot for the program (which begs the question:  between our Blogtopuses and "The Sunny," might the IP community be fascinated or even obsessed with marine life?).  And yet, though several iPeople and IP advisers assist in caring for the fish, no one has taken greater care of "The Sunny" than Piterson.  He has performed a staggering number of tasks to ensure a quality life for the animal.  He is regularly replacing the water and applying algicide so as to ensure that the living environment is clean.  He feeds "The Sunny" multiple times a day using earthworms, meal worms, and minnows, and he directs a close eye toward the quality of the filter, on the biological aesthetic of the tank, and on the oxygenation and temperature of the water.  With the assistance of other iPeople, he even nurtured "The Sunny" back to health after a misfeeding AND rescued three other fish:  two goldfish and an Oscar.

And how has he done this? He has researched the biological facts of the sunfish:  its lifespan, its diet, the ideal temperature of the water that it inhabits, the flora typically found in its natural habitat, aquarium management, proper filter and air pump maintenance, and bait companies.  No less importantly, he approaches "The Sunny" not only with an intellectual eye but with a refined compassion and humanitarian concern.

What do you think of Piterson's second branch in IP? Do you have any advice for him? Please post in the comments section below.

Description of 1st image:  "The Sunny," as photographed on January 28, 2015.  Photo taken by Mr. Jonathan Bisson.

Description of 2nd image:  A freshwater sunfish.  Photo located at www.freshwater-fishing-news.com.  Kildonan and its IP program claim no ownership over this picture.

Brad: Environmental Advocacy Business

Brad: Beginning a Business

A passionate fisherman with an interest in the Montauk area, Brad is not unaware of the startling decline in the striped bass population.  After much research into the history of the charter fishing industry, he has determined that overfishing and various illegal fishing procedures have contributed to this trend.  He believes that the public needs to awake to the danger posed to this fish.  He sees himself as a future charter fisherman, as a guide who can startle the layperson into demanding reform.

But such a vision, Brad wisely reasons, is bound to the future and, perhaps, does not utilize all of his talents.  To this end, he has decided to combine his interests in economics and art to begin an advocacy business for the striped bass.  His plan is represented by the graphic above.  Currently, he is producing paintings and drawings of the fish in the hopes of selling these and using the money both as donations and in order to finance his burgeoning ventures.  He is also constructing a public awareness flyer that he will send to tackle shops and conservation agencies.  From there, he will begin to prototype logos for various merchandise (e.g., stickers, T-shirts) and promote his work through a website and Kickstarter profile.

Any advice for - or resources to share with - Brad? Please post in the comments section below.

Descriptions of images:  Brad's business plan, top middle.  A striped bass, pictured middle right.  Second photo found on commons.wikimedia.org.  Kildonan and its IP program claim no ownership over this image.)