Creative Problem Solving, June 2, 2025 [2nd period]

[sith_happened]

Anakin and Ahsoka were standing in front of a roofless L-shaped building made of concrete. It had two low doorways on either end of the structure.

"Before we explain what we're standing in front of," Anakin began, "we want to see the art you obviously spent all week creating for us."

"I'm sure you've all done your best." For someone who looked serene, Ahsoka had a definite vibe of glee about her today.

"Even if your best is very bad," Anakin said, nodding. "Let's see what you've brought."

Once Anakin had very judgily judged everyone's art, Ahsoka extended her hand towards the nearest entrance to the, let's be real, it was a bunker. "If you would be so kind as to enter this structure here to receive your task."

Anakin read aloud: "Avoid getting wet by Ahsoka. You must remain inside the bunker. Ahsoka is outside the bunker and can't step inside. Longest to avoid getting wet wins. You have twenty minutes. Your time starts after Ahsoka gives an example of what she is capable of."

Ahsoka sent a water balloon arcing gracefully through the air and over the wall. Directly towards Cal. Sorry, Cal.

"Sorry, Cal," Anakin said with nothing like sincerity. "The rest of you should probably move."

More water balloons started to come over the wall as Ahsoka started jogging around the outside of the bunker.

National Park Adventure Team! [Monday, Period 4]

[atreideslioness]

"I hope you're all ready for a game of 'I Spy,'" Ghanima laughed, handing out binnoculars as the students arrived. "Today we are heading to Hemis National Park, before the unofficial tourist-season opening, to look for their famed snow leopards!"

"Hemis is a high-elevation national park in Hemis in Leh district of Ladakh, India. The park has the highest density of snow leopards in any protected area in the world. However, Hemis functions very differently from other national parks and reserves in the country. You won’t find different wildlife zones or lodges here. And while the snow leopards are the park's main focus, with 200 breeding pairs, 16 mammal species and 73 bird species have been recorded in the park so far. You may see Argali, Bharal, Shapu, the Asiatic ibex, the Tibetan wolf, the Eurasian brown bear -- endangered in India -- Himalayan marmot, mountain weasel and the Himalayan mouse hare."

"Unlike many national parks, over 1,600 people live inside the park boundaries, mostly pastoralists raising poultry, goats, and sheep. This results in considerable animal-human conflict within the region. Snow leopards prey on livestock." Ghanima shrugged. "Often because the families are overgrazing their livestock outside the permitted bounds. It is a delicate balance between supporting the habitation of families that have been there for generations, and not overly interfearing with the snow leopards."

"The park also houses numerous Tibetan gompas and holy chortens within its boundaries. These include the famous 400-year-old Hemis Monastery. Hemis was a destination and via point on the silk routes of Tibet, and has long been a place of pilgrimage for Tibetan Buddhists. However, in the late 19th and early 20th century, the monastery attracted some attention due to the writings of Nicolas Notovitch, a Russian aristocrat and journalist, who claimed that Jesus had spent the missing years of his life in Tibet and Ladakh, specifically in Hemis."

The portal opened right as Ghanima finished speaking. "Right on time!" she laughed, taking Trebor's hand as he played with the binoculars hanging around his neck. "Let's go find some big cats!"

The Art of Conversation, 3rd period

[intheeyeofthebeholding]

Jon was smiling. He was doing his best. It looked a bit pained.

"Today's tip for conversation is to be enthusiastic. You want to show enthusiasm for what people are discussing. So that's what we're going to practice. Each of you is going to choose a topic to discuss, and the others of us will be enthusiastic about it. Whether we are or not."

He waved note cards. "I have suggestions again if you can't think of something to talk about."

Teamwork- Monday 1st period

[solo_sword]

It was just Jaina today, which was probably why you were getting the class that you were. She'd also told everyone to come to the park, since it was nice enough and grass was softer.

Today you're going to do trust falls," she said. "You stand with your back to another person and fall back, trusting that they're going to catch you. Which sort of takes the actual trust out of it. That's why today, you're going to do trust falls, but the catcher can decide whether or not they're actually going to catch the faller. Do you trust the person to save you? Can you be trusted to do the saving? And we're going to do a few rounds, so don't think you're safe if you get through it once."

Yep, this was definitely a Jaina-not-Jag class.