The Dance of Opposition

By Kenny Pannell / November 3, 2015 / Comments Off on The Dance of Opposition

Garden variety opposition in adolescence is quite common, of course. Any kid who’s worth her weight in salt will push back at some point in her teen years, and it can become a bit of a dance after she’s rehearsed it for a few months, improving her technique. Parents often become unwitting partners in the…

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The Best Gift Ever

By Kenny Pannell / October 6, 2015 / Comments Off on The Best Gift Ever

Gifts come in all shapes and sizes, and accompany a variety of different occasions in our unfolding lives. They often come wrapped in brightly colored paper to add cheer, and have a ribbon tied around them. Sometimes a card is attached to add personal sentiment. Gifts warm us, make us feel loved and appreciated, and…

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Beyond our Borders (part 3)

By Kenny Pannell / September 23, 2015 / Comments Off on Beyond our Borders (part 3)

There are some things in life one has to see to believe. Pictures and video recordings can both be altered, oral tradition stories can be exaggerated or twisted beyond belief, and the visual memories of our elders begin to fade as time goes by, rendering some of them not much more than rich fantasies. This…

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Annual Father-Daughter Canoe Trip: 2015

By Kenny Pannell / July 20, 2015 / Comments Off on Annual Father-Daughter Canoe Trip: 2015

Sometimes headlines are quite obvious, and other times they’re a bit tricky. One wants to pinpoint the essence of the story, represented in a few key words, that delivers the best interpretation of the overall experience. The headline for the 2015 Chrysalis Father/Daughter Upper Missouri canoe trip fits into the tricky category. Why? I’ll try…

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Beyond our Borders: Part One

By Kenny Pannell / June 16, 2015 / Comments Off on Beyond our Borders: Part One

As many of you know, Chrysalis has invested heavily in international travel with our students since our inception, and by this point, we’ve traveled all over the planet. It’s felt very important to get our kids beyond our borders in a regular way to allow them to discover that other cultures are quite different, rich,…

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End of the School Year Advice from our Founder

By Kenny Pannell / May 14, 2015 / Comments Off on End of the School Year Advice from our Founder

Life is a mystery in all kinds of ways. It’s almost impossible to imagine, in advance, where we’ll land, to whom we’ll connect, to what we’ll be drawn, what we’ll accomplish, or who we’ll ultimately become along the way. There are surely hints and clues about these mysteries, many of which I suspect we often…

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Chrysalis Explores Costa Rica!

By Kenny Pannell / April 21, 2015 / Comments Off on Chrysalis Explores Costa Rica!

Dear Friends, Seven students, six parents, and a handful of Chrysalis staff met in San Jose, Costa Rica, in early April with great expectations about the adventures at hand. The whitewater sections of the Pacuare River provided class 3 and 4 rapids through beautiful rain forest on day one of the trip. Further north, the…

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Student Gratitude

By Kenny Pannell / November 26, 2014 / Comments Off on Student Gratitude

Student Responses to the Question: What are you grateful for? I’m grateful for my dad who has been there for me when times get tough. When he plays around with me and we go out to get ice cream shell and laugh about silly jokes. I’m grateful for my mom because she has not given…

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Chrysalis Staff Gratitude

By Kenny Pannell / November 24, 2014 / Comments Off on Chrysalis Staff Gratitude

Some thoughts of gratitude from our wonderful staff: I’m grateful to have the privilege and opportunity to work with amazing girls and their families in reconnecting. It is truly an honor to be part of each girl’s journey. I also feel incredibly blessed to work with such dedicated, kind, and caring people. ~Natasha, Therapist First…

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2014 Mother-Daughter Retreat

By Kenny Pannell / August 26, 2014 / Comments Off on 2014 Mother-Daughter Retreat

This year’s mother-daughter retreat recently concluded its 2014 stint under the high beams of the Cockerall Center at Flathead Camp. Unseasonable temperatures, dramatic clouds and rain provided a unique experience this year as we anxiously awaited for the skies to part and the sun to appear so that we could be pulled around on the…

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