Yesterday afternoon the temperature was near 60 degrees (F), a big change from a week ago. Each morning I hear more birds singing, and the trees are getting ready to bud. Spring is almost here. One aspect of our programs that we don’t talk much about is the fact that students live outdoors in shelters they build themselves. With such an experience comes a knowledge and understanding of how changes in the weather affect us on a day to day basis, which is a reality that’s no longer part of modern life. Because most people live, work, and travel in climate-controlled buildings and vehicles, the whims of the weather no longer impact their daily lives except for storms that make driving difficult or knock out the electricity. Even though this aspect of our program is often overlooked by people focusing on the skills we teach, it results in a visceral learning experience for those who come here. It strips away another layer of artificiality of our modern world and gets people back to reality.