What Happens To You At Gould

When was the last time you experienced something truly new? Before Gould I’d never:

• driven a horse-drawn sleigh. Dinah the horse was patient and my wife Kathy anxious, but we made it thanks to Tracey Wilkerson, our Farm and Forest program director.
• forged a fire iron in a blacksmith’s shop.  My arm was sore and the product poor in one hour of working with Lauren Head and her three students, but I went from zero to ‘this is amazing’.
• taken a 3D scanner for a spin.
• chased escaped pigs. Marianne, Spotty Pants, and Oreo were out and had to be gotten back. My highlight: 400 lb Marianne running between my legs.
• climbed a mountain with over 200 people. Mountain Day! A highlight of the Gould year.
• cared for 10 sheep, 20 chickens, 3 pigs, 2 horses, 3 rabbits and 2 ducks for a few days. Pigs make the best sounds of appreciation.
• downhill skied. I’m pretty good on the green trails.
• walked on a slackline…well, for a few seconds.

This is what happens to you at Gould.

Matt Ruby