Updates #1-3

Our community of experiential, adventure, and outdoor educators represents a long history and robust braintrust who have helped pioneer a multitude of programs getting students learning and leading outside.  Many of you are familiar with some of these :: STREAM — Missouri Botanical Garden-ECO-ACT — MSLP — County Youth Programs — Forsyth School — SL/EAP — Camp Wyman — Camp 40 Legends — The College School — SLEEC — and others!  Though many of these programs have waned, there remains tremendous skills, wisdom, and energy among all of you.  So what’s next?  I hope that we can begin a conversation about a future for experiential education in STL.  So let’s meet! What might we discuss?  I’ve jotted down some ideas (below) that have come to mind, though I throw these out only as a springboard.  Certainly you have ideas also, and I’d love to hear them.  By the way, feel free to forward and share this email to anyone you wish.  

1. STREAM – A Summer School Program (…make it alive, again)
– Reinvigorate the name, mission, and legacy of the St. Louis Regional – – Experiential Adventure Movement
– Get the community of outdoor and experiential educators together and “have wonderful ideas…” as Kurt Hahn liked to say
– Look to summer programming as an achievable mission toward broader goals  

2. 501c3 Incorporation (…make it official)
– Allows for charitable giving and tax deductible donations
– Allows for corporate giving 
– Tax – Exempt EIN and Letter 
– Get help incorporating through the Wash U legal council (free)

3. Establish a Working Leadership Team (…make it happen)
– Establish organizational structure and leadership team 
– Begin delegating the responsibilities 
– Meet on a regular basis to discuss mission and goals. 

4. Website and Social Media (…make it exciting and relatable) 
– Website :: www.streamschool.org
– Instagram ::  @streamschoolstl

5. Expedition for Experiential Educators (…make it real) 
A short, fun trip down the river with one day or overnight options
– Reconnect with old colleagues and maybe meet some new ones 
– Engage with the broader community of Experiential / Adventure / Outdoor Educators 
– Reengage the passion and the collective wisdom and skills of our community 

6. A 2025 Summer Student Expedition (…make it a grand mission)
Ignite the passion and energy of the greater teaching community with a grand mission 
– A goal toward which we can work and to which supporters can fund
– Pilot project to practice programming and curricula 
– Establish a record of success and action
– Create a social media presence 

7. Add your ideas (…make it yours)

We are, of course, building on the honored name of the St. Louis Regional Experiential Adventure Movement, or STREAM.  What might be built is up to us.  Let’s meet and talk about it!  Our first meeting is set for March 11 at 6pm, Llywelyn’s Pub in Webster Groves.  This meeting will be very short on official communication.  If nothing else, it will be an opportunity to have a drink and conversation with some fascinating educators and outdoor leaders!   Think you can make it?  Call, text, or email me 314.719.7025, kmparentin@gmail.com.  Or just show up!  
In the meantime, you can continue to support the idea by ::

1. Following STREAM School on Instagram @STREAMSchoolSTL.  This can be a place to share the story of STREAM’s resurgence.
Check out the website here.  It’s a modest start which will grow over time.  

2. Plan on attending the Expedition for Experiential Educators.  A fun adventure on familiar waters.

3. Review and critique the proposed organizational structure and bylaws.  The password for this portion of the website is Huzzah!  Share the password with anyone you like.  
Consider a proposed purpose here.

4. Email me your critiques, criticisms, ideas, thoughts, musings, rebuttals, rebuffs, recipes, and jokes.

5. Share this email with whomever you think might be interested.  If this email was shared with you, send me — Kevin (KP) Parentin an email at :: kmparentin@gmail.com