Article by Phoenix writer Brooke Oldenborg ’26:
Our planet is one big, complex, and interconnected system made up of myriad elements and environments. However, it seems that the most fundamental wonders and beauties of Earth can be placed into three iconic categories: land, air, and sea.
Kellenberg provides its students with opportunities to be in harmony with all three elements of our biosphere.
Land is the most basic aspect of life for us all. Most of us spend all twenty four hours of our day on land. But how many of us take the time to appreciate the creatures that accompany us? The Kellenberg Equestrian Club however, focuses on doing just that every week.
This club is separated into two riding seasons in fall and spring. Each week of the season, the club meets at Bethpage Equestrian Center to work with the horses, and many other animals. Their meetings are broken into two sections. The first portion is dedicated to riding the horses, experiencing the nature around them, and further developing their riding skills. The second part is devoted to grooming the horses, appreciating their beauty, and properly taking care of the animals. The members of the club do a great job at respecting the life that surrounds them while taking care of the many horses, Daisy the donkey, and MooMoo the miniature cow.
Equestrian Club has allowed many to become aware of the beauties of our land and its many creatures. Club moderator, Mrs. Neeson stated “I love being with the animals, being outside, and witnessing nature. I’ve always thought that animals have a natural ability to help humans feel better. They provide us with a sort of healing therapy which is a skill unique to only them.”
Not long after the domestication of the wild horse long ago in human history, we looked to the firmament and envied the birds in flights. From Davinci’s models to Kitty Hawk, humans resolved to fly. We Firebirds follow in that tradition once a week, when members of Aviation Club meet in the Kellenberg labs to discuss the wonders of the air. However, these meetings are not always stationary. The club will also meet with Dr. Renz at Republic Airport where the members get to work hands-on with a flight simulator.
In addition, former Kellenberg graduate Paige Rieger often meets with the club to assist in its coordination. She discusses what it is like to further study aviation in college and what the day-to-day life of a pilot entails. As we all know, the sky is not always sunny. The club has also learned techniques to navigate planes through the complications of rough storms and bad weather.
Mrs. Frem mentioned, “This club has given me a new respect for pilots and everything they do. Between the complexities of science, nature, weather, and the changes in air pressure, there is a huge amount of skill and problem solving required for a human to fly a plane.”
The Aviation Club is never dull as its members consistently take on the new challenges of the sky and observe the intricacies of the earth around them.
At seventy percent of the Earth’s surface, the sea is the largest and most mysterious of our global elements. In her efforts to bring these mysteries to the Kellenberg student body, sophomore Mary O’Brien founded the Sailing Club.
The club meets and practices at Oyster Bay’s Waterfront Center.
Mary declared, “Sometimes if I’m on the water and it’s a pretty day, or if I’m performing particularly well, I stop and thank God for giving me the opportunity to enjoy this sport. Nature is incredible when we are practicing and the sky begins to change while being out on the water, it’s truly beautiful.”
A typical practice starts with a “chalk talk” when the club members discuss their goals for the day and what they need to work on. They then launch the boats and go through a series of drills based on the water conditions that day. Practice concludes with another talk to review the day’s events.
Sailing Club is a great way for members to improve their competitive attitude, leadership skills, and communication skills, all while working as a team to succeed. The club is a truly rewarding experience that results in an abundance of critical water skills.
There are more extracurricular clubs than we have space for in this article, many of which find their home in these same three elements. Whether it is the Crew team, the Hiking Club, the Surfing Club, or Fishing Club, Kellenberg extracurriculars celebrate what the world has to offer by the land, sea, and air. Each pays tribute to nature and creation in its own unique way. While each club is separate, they share the unifying aspect of appreciating Earth – something everyone should do more often.
