Where the River Flows North
YES Plan 2000
May 17 - June 9

Since 1994 Rutland High School has run an enrichment term as part of its academic year based on programs found in such colleges as Middlebury and Dartmouth. Originally it ran during the month of January and was known as Jan Plan. To address concerns over curriculum continuity it was moved to the last weeks of the school year in 1998. Known as YES Plan (an acronym for Year End Studies) the program enables students and teachers to develop creative courses that do not fit into traditional programming.

Science teacher George Hooker and history teacher John Peterson wanted to team teach a class that would involve taking students off campus for their learning experience. Originally they conceived a hiking trip along the Long Trail from Rutland to Canada in 1999 but the Green Mountain Club discouraged groups from using the trail so early in the season. Almost simultaneously they each came up with the idea of making a canoe trip from Rutland to Canada studying science and history along the way. This is the second time we have done this trip now. (Click here for a map of the trip.)


l-r front row: John Peterson, Corey Kennedy, Susan Hall, Aaron Rissler, George Hooker
l-r back row: Rob Garofono, Jesse Labow, Allen Dowling, Jenn McLemore, Rebecca "Binky" Crittenden, Kurt Anderson, Toban Crosby, Chad Andrews