Conserve School Blog

This year students and staff members were invited to a lovely holiday dinner at the Lowenstine Estate. To accommodate everyone, dinners were held for three days in a row. Here are two students’ descriptions of the experience:

Hae Min shows off her holiday cookie creation.

I was pleasantly surprised to learn that the whole idea for the “Home for the Holidays” dinners spawned from a conversation I’d had with Cathy Palmer earlier this year. I told her that I’d never been over to the estate. She was surprised and started wondering, “Who else hasn’t been over there?” The next thing I knew, Cathy was sending out an email telling everyone that there were still spots left at the dinners and still some students who didn’t sign up. I replied to her email and signed up for a good experience. I loved having the opportunity to go to the estate. Being the first time I’ve ever been there, the experience was thrilling. I loved walking through the north woods home of the man who founded Conserve School. The first thing I did after arriving was go down to the basement where Felix was already showing students around. He showed us a diary on a shelf, a fishing diary I believe, that is easily more than 50 years old. After visiting the basement, it was dinner time. After dinner, we were invited to explore the house a little more or to go for cookie frosting behind the room where we had dinner. Overall, it was a great experience and I’d love to do it again!

Contributed by Matt

The Garden Gnome greets students at the entrance to the Estate House.

The last couple of nights the staff of Conserve School hosted a Home for the Holidays dinner on the Lowenwood Estate.  I had the great opportunity of going last night – and it was fantastic!  After being shuttled over to the Estate we had time to wander around Jim’s home for a while.  This was a great treat as we got to see all the bedrooms, quirky things in the basement, and his desk, just as he left it.  After taking time to check things out around the house we had a great meal with the fantastic company of fellow students and staff as we wound down a busy week into Winter Vacation.  After a filling dinner and cake for dessert, we had more time to wander around the house, make bird feeders (with bagels, peanut butter, and seeds), and decorate cookies.  The atmosphere was fantastic, and a priceless experience of being over at the estate in the main house.  Thanks to Jenny and her crew for a great dinner, and everyone that helped decorate and make the evening possible.  What a perfect way to finish finals week!

 Contributed by Kath

In the photo gallery below, you can see the Lowenstine garden gnome at the entrance to the Big House (the main estate house), ice luminaries along the path leading up to the house, beautiful holiday decorations and table settings, and the special holiday meal. You can also see students enjoying after-dinner activities: decorating cookies and making seed-and-peanut butter ornaments and popcorn-and-cranberry garlands for the birds.

Photos contributed by Jeff Rennicke, Conserve School English Teacher