Nick Lee 

Summary

Over the past six months, I was able to use my fellowship award to further explore my passion in rock climbing and share this passion with students through a rock climbing enrichment.

 

Last spring, I used my Cooke Fellowship to fund a membership at Rock Spot South Boston, a local indoor climbing gym. I aimed to climb at least 1-2 times per week, I took a belay class, and I passed the test to belay at all Rock Spot locations. In my personal life, I was able to share my interest in rock climbing with family and friends, making use of Rock Spot’s discounted guest passes to bring new climbers to the gym. I also used Cooke funds to explore outdoor climbing, a discipline of climbing I had never experienced. Over the summer, I attended three outdoor climbing sessions sponsored by Rock Spot in the greater-Boston area (Hammond Pond, College Rock, Waitt’s Mountain). I also attended an anchor-building course, where I learned some of the fundamentals of setting up ropes for outdoor top-rope climbing.

 

I have used the bulk of my fellowship award to start a rock climbing enrichment program at Codman Academy. This program will meet biweekly this fall and allow eight students to participate in a multi-week adventure course at Rock Spot South Boston. Altogether, we will have nine climbing sessions at Rock Spot, and I plan to host a movie night following our last session where we will watch a documentary about climbing and climate change (likely National Geographic’s Arctic Ascent featuring Alex Honnold). If students attend all sessions, they will be able to earn half an enrichment credit which counts toward their graduation requirements.

 

So far we have had four sessions, where students have been able to experience top-roping (using an auto-belay and being belayed by a Rock Spot staff member), and bouldering. I have had the opportunity to work with these students–most of whom I teach directly–in a context outside of school, which has allowed me to build better relationships that have translated into the classroom. I have also observed students supporting each other and challenging one another, engaging in friendly competition while cheering each other on and encouraging each other to try harder routes.

 

Questions 

As a result, in what ways will your instructional (or other) practice change?

Through the rock climbing enrichment, I have been able to interact with students in a less formal environment, where I am more of a co-participant than an authority figure. This has allowed me to build deeper relationships with students, including some students who I have struggled to get to know in the classroom. These relationships have then translated into the classroom, allowing me to be a better teacher for those students.

What is the greatest personal accomplishment of your fellowship?

My greatest personal accomplishment has been creating an enrichment course that is both looked forward to by students and recognized by the school. Some students in our climbing enrichment have attended sessions even after coming back from a full-day outdoor field trip or being dismissed early following the SAT. They truly enjoy the time together, yet they are also earning school enrichment credit.

 

How will your experience positively impact student learning in new ways?

In our climbing enrichment, students practice both challenging themselves and collaborating with one another. Students regularly push each other to try harder climbs, even ones that they don’t think they’ll be able to finish. Students with a fear of heights have been pushed outside of their comfort zone and students who are more confident practiced being compassionate supporters of their peers. While outdoor climbing has proven too logistically challenging for students at this time, I hope to at least discuss it with them and encourage them to experience it on their own in thre future.

 

What are your plans to work collaboratively with colleagues?

Already, I have worked with colleagues to develop an enrichment program that would be recognized and credentialed by the school. I have also been able to take fellow Cooke recipient Ed Yoo climbing using the Rock Spot’s discounted member guest passes. After the conclusion of the climbing enrichment, I hope to use any remaining funds to share guest passes with students and colleagues, hopefully allowing others to experience the sport.

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Are there issues or challenges in your school, community or the world that you feel better prepared to address with your students?

I believe my students are better prepared to collaborate with others and to challenge themselves as they begin to impact our world. Climbing is unique in its different styles: a person who excels in slab climbing may really struggle with overhangs; my hope is that students internalize this lesson and learn to recognize that they (and all people) bring different strengths and challenges to the table.

 

How would you describe to a friend the most fundamental ways in which your fellowship has changed your personal and/or professional perspective?

Personally, the fellowship has exposed me to outdoor climbing, a discipline which I hope to pursue further over the next few years. Professionally, my experience has reminded me of the value of relationship-building as people and co-participants in addition to as teachers and students.