Creepy Kickball
We all know that Halloween is day for embracing our imaginations and letting them run wild. Whether a bit of playful spookiness or a turn to the whimsical and silly, the creative event combined the thrill of Halloween, a supportive and safe environment, and some old-fashioned fun!
Mount Prospect Academy students and faculty who participated in this event were excited for a break from the usual routines of life to share a few hours of food, outdoor casual physical competition, and/or to simply be a spectator at the event.
No one would doubt there is something truly enjoyably odd about watching a dinosaur, or ghoul, or a downhill skier play kickball!
At Mount Prospect Academy events such as this create an authenticate sense of belonging by participating in something larger than oneself, or even the MPA family.
Joining in the worldwide celebration of Halloween is as “normal” (sort of) as it gets!
With Mount Prospect Academy Faculty eagerly joining in dressing-up, students are reminded that we are all beings who seek connection and togetherness – sometimes a temporary but deeply satisfying escape from our everyday life is fully acceptable.
Shredding Up The Track
On Saturday October 5th, the Annual 603TrailRiders Rodeo took place at the specially groomed track in Rumney, N.H. under spectacular sunny skies. Raffles, food, swag, a variety of motorcycles and professional dirt bikes, and up-close track-side seating greeted the participants, MPA Faculty, volunteers, community members, and families for the day’s activities.
MPA Faculty Volunteers
The event celebrates the skills of all the participating students who, for the past semester and riding season, have shown an undeniable commitment to the program and to themselves.
Mount Prospect Academy students in conjunction with the non-profit 603TrailRiders Inc. (NHYPM) took to the track for more than 4 hours in a display of dirt bike riding skills that involved a Slow Race, a Barrel Race, a Box Drill, and the thrilling Trials Course Race, followed by an awards ceremony recognizing the riders’ skills.
The event brought to fruition the 603TrailRiders mission to instill personal, social, and environmental responsibility through safe and exhilarating dirt bike adventures. At heart the Annual Rodeo itself is a riding event- it is also the culmination of many months of hard work and determination in the classroom by Mount Prospect Academy students in the dirt bike program.
For MPA students the event enables a tangible continuity and a direct connection to the experiential curriculum’s hands-on approach to riding. Most critically, it demonstrates in “real-time” the student’s personal psychological growth and learned knowledge gained by their active physical interaction with the equipment, their fellow students/riders, and their instructors.
Beyond the academic and behavioral growth, students bond with their MPA instructors and each other throughout the educational process while riding, repairing the bikes, and learning about the sport together.
Instructors Gearing Up the Riders
It is a team effort all around!
That sense of camaraderie was evident throughout the day as the riders encouraged, guided, advised, and helped each other to adjust to the changing track conditions. Positioned throughout the track, all students assisted each other in the approaches to the berms, rollers, and the hill climb. The excited and vocal chatter about gear ratios, ‘short shifting’, and ‘counterbalancing’ mixed with bit of rider bravado as to which rider ‘got air’ reflected the unmistakable level of positive energy and enthusiasm that made this event a resounding success for all!
Believe… in the Team!
Mount Prospect Academy Students and Faculty put their best foot forward in last week’s community football game. The mixed teams of students and faculty held their Fall Flag Football Tournament in classic New Hampshire style on semi-wet but cool autumn day to the cheers of onlookers. Four teams competed for more than 3 hours for the coveted right to be called “Champions” of the gridiron.
The day began with- what else!- a Cookout! 
MPA Faculty prepared and served food to the competitors in anticipation of the games beginning.
Teams organized their game-plans and students were briefed on the behavioral expectations for the day.
Before the matches started, special emphasis was placed on ensuring and reinforcing the need for maintaining proper sportsmanship, respectful inclusiveness, and the importance of teamwork.
The MPA Flag Football Tournament was designed to be an exercise in healthy competition and teamwork.
MPA faculty and students huddled up before each play, students and faculty subbed in-and-out providing stability and balanced playtime for all the participants.
Intentionally sharing and rotating positions, designing plays, ‘coaching’ each other as to fellow players strengths, and working together to talk through best team defensive and offensive strategies meant the day was therapeutic, educational, and enjoyable.
MPA programs continue to encourage outdoor activities that build on the knowledge that exercise can help reduce stress and anxiety, improve mood, boost self-esteem, enhance cognitive function, and reduce symptoms of depression.
By the end of the tournament the outward displays of comradery and cooperation made the event a W-I-N for all.
A ‘Sweet’ Ending to the day at the Ice Cream Bar!