Chapter 24
ties; however, many will involve extensive walking, exercise, and hiking. The greatest facilities are our cities themselves, particularly for walkers, run- ners, and bikers. In advance, we research and recommend safe running, walking and biking routes, tracks, parks, available cam- puses, and nearby hikes. What better way to get to know a city than by walking it? And, yes, there are teams. The Baret traveling community is sufficiently large (this year over 120 people) to have enough individuals interested in particular sports to form teams. Public fields and courts can cater to sports like soccer and basketball. Running and walking groups are being encouraged and formed. As mentioned above, some of our Fellows have athletic and coaching experience and do pitch in— but students can form their own groups as well. From time to time, we are organiz- ing matches with local teams, another way to get to know the country. In the Morning Programs, we are invit- ing national athletes and coaches to pro- vide insight into the sports and fitness of their country—and inviting students on- stage to have a go with a world class Yogi or Yogini. In New York, we have sched- uled students to attend a rehearsal of the country’s oldest dance company. One’s understanding of a nation is nev- er quite complete without experiencing a major sporting event. Through optional and advance block bookings, we’ll expe- rience the likes of baseball at New York’s Yankee Stadium, basketball at Madison Square Garden, cricket at Delhi’s Firoz Shah Kotla Stadium, and football at Parc des Princes in Paris and Estadio do Mo- rumbi Stadium in São Paulo. The Baret Scholars App will be pivot- al in our fitness journey. In order to share cohort-wide progress, we’ll incorporate one of the best and most widely used fitness apps. Students can track their progress day to day, month to month, and we’ll have some fun by displaying (with no individuals named) our aggre- gate fitness from total workouts to total miles to total cohort weight! Finally, a little competition for those that want to join in is being provided. We have been inspired by The Island School, a semes- ter-long program in the Bahamas (where one of our Fellows taught), where the students, together with the program’s Navy Seal founder, end the semester with a half marathon. At our graduation ceremonies in May of 2025, Baret will field a variety of year-end competitions, all optional of course!
Fitness & Sports Program
“He who has health has hope, and he who has hope has everything.” ARABIAN PROVERB
“WE SHOULD make it possible for students to return from this year in the best shape of their lives,” said one key consultant to Bar- et Scholars early in our planning process. We’re committed to making this aspira- tion a reality. However, we recognize that every student has their own perspective on fitness. We are neither messianic nor neglectful: at Baret we provide support for our students to create or build upon their own fitness and sports regimens. Just as crucial is nutrition—at Baret, we want to respect each student’s dietary preferences and needs. We also know that we would be remiss if we did not impart a healthy respect and attention to the im- portance of a balanced diet, especially as we travel through a world that brims with such a diversity of cuisines. Crucially, fitness and sports provide a prism into the diverse cultures we will encounter. Every region has its own ap- proach to personal health, and its own sport passions. The understanding of a country through its sports is woven into our program. Several Baret’s team members are world class athletes, including a captain of the Princeton University Tennis Team, a member of Lebanon’s National Rugby team, and a US National Level Swimmer. While it was not mandatory, one influ- ential criterion for selecting our Deans and Fellows for this year’s inaugural co- hort was their athletic participation and
coaching experience, ensuring a diverse range of athletic expertise. For example, this year’s Dean is an avid ultra-mara- thoner who has completed 100 mile rac- es. One Baret Fellow routinely hikes the rugged trails of the Rockies, and another has taught classes while on a kayak in the Caribbean Sea. Central to our fitness program is sup- port. In addition to helping students con- tinue and develop their fitness habits, we create “good starts” for those who want to begin such a journey. This requires a certain freedom of schedule and facili- ties. The Baret year provides such flexi- bility. Other than the Morning Programs that are held Monday through Thursday, students are free to schedule their after- noons, evenings, and weekends in a man- ner that includes fitness routines. As for facilities, Baret ensures that the hotels and serviced apartments in our Home Base cities have (or are quite near) well-equipped gyms with aerobic and weight machines. For example, in Brooklyn, there is a large Planet Fitness immediately across the street from our Sheraton Hotel and excellent, along-the- East River running and bike paths nearby. In São Paulo, our Pullman Hotel includes a spacious gym and is an easy walk from the city’s largest park, Ibirapuera, for walking and running. Baret’s Fellowships, generally in smaller city or rural settings, might not have direct access to such facili-
132 BARET SCHOLARS
133 LOGISTICS, LOGISTICS, LOGISTICS
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