Carcross Community

Reunion revisited

It has been a month and a bit since the reunion of the Carcross Community Education Centre that took place in Carcross, YT.
For those who don't know….Carcross was an community alternative high school. It was full of people from all across this land (and few Yanks too) all who shared a wish to do something out of the ordinary, had difficulty in there current school or work life or wished to explore Community living.

The Carcross area is one of those stunning and beautiful places. Four valleys meet bringing together rivers, lakes, mountains and even the worlds smallest desert.
I had forgotten how stunning it is…I won’t wait another ten years to return.

Emerald Lake

The Reunion sure was a buzz…and while I am fully lodged in the day to day of work life, I am bound and determine not to let that joyous occasion be moved to the back of my mind.
Being a student/worker at the "Hippy School" had a big impact in my life.

Year '77-'78

All I needed to learn to get through life, I learned at Carcross. I do find it hard to explain to non-Hippy school folks. While trying to describe the impact, the joy and all around experience, I usually get a nodding of heads and a dazed look in the eye….so either I am not being successful in my deliver or the reality is just too big to grasp. I think it is a bit of both as I am often lost for words trying to explain the impact.

Consequently, I decided not to try to explain it anymore.
There were a hundred odd souls who made the trip. We hiked, visited the old site, there were painting classes and even skeet shooting…(every hippy should know how to skeet shoot)….we had a wine tasting, slide shows and did a whole lot of laughing. And then we danced….nothing beats a good old Carcross dance.

The reunion was a wonderful experience. It was so great to re-connect with folks I haven't seen for a while, connect with students from different year and meet their kids too. Even though we all were there at different times, the experiences were similar so there is a connection within various years.
I spent the week leading up to the Reunion with Mike and Donna at the Carcross Cut-off. It was just like going home. It was great to hang out with Trudel, the Carol and Bob and Stan…the Rushants and Godson Geoff. Made new friends with the Rushant and MacMillian kids, Darcy and the Growlers.

After the Dempster, I had further opportunity to visit with Hunter in Dawson, Cath and Libby at Fox lake and had a great trip to Skayway with Mike and Donna followed by a 100 mile meal at the Rushants in Carcross.

Fox Lake Sunset

The three and a half weeks passed so fast. I am still smiling when I think of it and am hoping we can all get together again before too long. Ten years is too long between reunions. The Chilkoot is calling so I am thinking in the summer of 2011 to return for a hiking trip.