intermediate program summer site : conversations : first session



	david from connecticut (6/30) David is entering eigth grade and it's his third year at Explo, but his first at the Intermediate Program. We were drawn to his enthusiastic conversation with a staff member about an upcoming course. David loves Explo and eventually would like to be an Explo faculty member. So you said this is your third year at Explo? Yes, my third year...third crazy year. What has been your favorite thing about Explo in past years? My petition. Your petition? My first year [at the Junior Program] the song "Numa Numa" was a huge hit, so we developed something called "Numa-Fever" -- basically when someone couldn’t stop singing it or dancing to it -- so my friend and I became "Doctors of Num-ology." We created a petition to try and make it the official song of the Junior Program and ran it by David Torcaletti, [the Head of the Junior Program]. We got 120-something signatures, so hopefully he still has the petition. And, of course, the next year I did more things; I made a suggestion box, which was really cool...having kids be able to put in any suggestion and have our suggestions actually taken into consideration. We actually had a couple changes because of the suggestion box, which I'd love to have here. What were some of the suggestions and changes that came out of the box? We just suggested some ideas for trips and main events or even ways to give kids more freedom, but still have some control -- just to make things even more fun and even happier than it is now. Well, maybe you’ll see some of those new activities and events this year. What are some courses, trips, and activities that you're looking forward to this year? I’m really pumped for "MythBusters." It's like the best show ever and I bet one of the most fun courses. I'm also taking "Explo Unexplained" because I love mysteries. And then I’m doing something with engineering for a mini-course. And then projectiles, which I was just talking about with Nick, the staff member teaching that. Are those all things you’ve tried before or are any of those new to you? Uh, yeah, they are kind of new...I can't tell you much -- I've already told you my two things from before -- but I always try and do something big at Explo. I’ve already created an idea for my next top-secret scheme. And that’s just during the summer. I do stuff during the school year, too. I’ve written letters to Al Gore. He wrote back, so that was pretty cool. I've called my state representative. Right now I'm big into the environment. I used to be big into getting kids into government. I’ll be on campus all summer yelling at friends telling them to recycle and to get recycling bins all over. I’m assuming that has to be off the record? No, you can publish it. I just can’t tell you what it is. If we get permission for it, you'll know...its complicatedly awesome... Do you think Explo is preparing you for high school and college? I think its more preparing you for the real world. I mean, its fun...so that pretty much rules out high school. You’re learning without actually feeling like you’re learning. You're having so much fun and then you realize "I learned something?! Wow." I took a code breaking class last year, which was pretty fun. Explo is a place you can learn without actually having to feel like you’re learning. And you have so much fun doing so. That’s great to hear. You’re making me even more excited to be here! Yeah, it’s pretty much the best Program ever. I actually did an entire project on it. My school began with a project called “My Favorite Place” and I chose Explo. My catch phrase for that was “the home away from home, where you can really be yourself.” Wow! So what was your favorite thing about Explo in past years? Probably just getting together with your living group or your hall and hanging out and having fun. I remember how close my floor got last year. We actually had two parties during the last week where we just got together and then on the last day we all went into the smallest room and started crying together. Right after that went into the big room and started laughing and telling jokes. I'm not sure how you go from crying to laughing. It doesn’t even make sense in my logic...and that’s a really loose logic (laughs). When you’re not at Explo and at school instead, what do you miss the most? Being me and doing whatever I like, pretty much. I mean, I had a reputation at school that I've recently torn down and begun to create a new, crazier one. I’m now "DJ Dave" because I make crazy recycling announcements. “Hey, hey, hey, DJ Dave here from the recycling club. . .” Kids either think its awesome and laugh or they think its completely lame. If Explo were an object, something small, even a mascot-like object or anything really, what would it be? Something that you say “This represents Explo for me.” Hmm...this is tough! Okay this is going to sound really corny, but I’d take it to be a family, because Explo is just one giant group of things that together like to have fun...and family is the closest thing I can think to describe it. What is the strangest thing you packed, or something you forgot last year but were sure to bring with you this summer? I don’t know...I pack a lot of strange things. The fans have come in handy. I brought my iPod, too, but that’s just because we're allowed to have them at the Intermediate Program...well in our rooms, anyways. Any trips you’re really looking forward to? Blue Man Group. I went last year and one of the staff members switched seats with me from row D to row A. That was awesome until the end, when the toilet paper was used in the show. Apparently [the toilet paper] was indestructible. We had a fight with the toilet paper! I tried to move my arm, and we couldn’t tear through, so we kept going at it and it was SO much fun! What does Explo mean to you? It means doing what you want do and trying new fun things -- exploring new possibilities! Have you met any new people yet? Just my roommate, but meeting people seems easy when you do things like work on a petition! more conversations > first session \| second session