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Taking a Hike

Mack Bucki | December 2, 2022

One of my favorite things to do on the weekends here is explore the great outdoors. It is tough being cooped up to a few acres during the workweek. Sometimes, I feel like 80% of my time is spent in my room studying in a half-broken desk chair. So, the weekend is my opportunity to explore and try to make the most of it! Last year, I made a list of my favorite places to bike in the area, so I thought that it would be fitting to write about more of this region’s natural wonders.

#1 – Sheep Ranch

There are no sheep at Sheep’s Ranch; in fact, the woodsy area wedged in the middle of Groton isn’t a ranch at all. It is a historical hiking trail with remnants of stone walls that used to line the farms of Connecticut’s earliest settlers. The best place at Sheep’s Farm is its waterfall which is only a short walk from the parking lot. My sponsor brother got his senior pictures taken there- it is some of the best natural scenery southeastern CT has to offer!

#2 – Jerimoth Hill

The tallest point in Rhode Island is a stone’s throw away from the academy. It used to only be open to the public five days of the year but is now accommodating to any interested travelers. The smallest state’s tallest landmark is far from mountainous. In fact, it is only 812 feet high! Jerimoth Hill is a 45-min-drive away from USCGA and only takes twenty minutes to complete, making it a perfect option for a day trip.

#3 – Devil’s Hopyard

Devil’s Hopyard is a state park located in East Haddam, CT. The 1,000-acre park has a campsite as well as plenty of hiking and biking routes. The location’s main feature is Chapman Falls- a large waterfall located at its center. It is the perfect centerpiece for a weekend getaway or outdoor study site! The obscure name of the park is unknown, but it is thought to originate from the “supernatural” potholes created by Chapman Falls.

Thank you for tuning in to this month’s post!

I’ll catch you next edition for a recap of USCGA’s triathlon season.

Take care and Go Bears!

About Mack

Hometown: South Rockwood, MI
Major: Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering
Email: MacKenzie.M.Bucki@uscga.edu

Sponsor Family Application

Thank you for submitting your application to be part of the Sponsor Family Program. Your application will be processed in the upcoming week. Coast Guard Academy’s policy on background screening now requires all adults (everyone 18 and older living in the home) who volunteer to mentor, teach, coach or sponsor cadets, whether on or off Coast Guard Academy grounds, to be screened every 5 years. They are required to provide personal information (name, birth date and social security number) for the purpose of conducting a criminal background check.

The Security Officer at the Coast Guard Academy, CWO2 Gina Polkowski, is overseeing this process. Her email is: Gina.M.Polkowski@uscg.mil.

Sponsor Family designations fall into several different categories. Below are the guidelines to help you determine how best to meet the background screening requirement:

If you are Coast Guard active duty you do not need to apply for an additional Background Check. You will be vetted through the Coast Guard system by CWO2 Polkowski.
If you are a Civilian working for the Coast Guard you do not need to apply for an additional Background Check. You will be vetted through the Coast Guard system by CWO2 Polkowski.
If you are non-Coast Guard Active Duty, you are required to provide proof of your current security clearance or National Agency Check that is to be emailed by your Command Security Officer (CSO)/ Security Office to CWO2 Polkowski at Gina.M.Polkowski@uscg.mil.
If you are non-Coast Guard civilian who has a current security clearance or National Agency check, you are required to provide proof of your current security clearance or National Agency Check that is to be emailed by your Command Security Officer (CSO)/ Security Office to CWO2 Polkowski at Gina.M.Polkowski@uscg.mil.
All civilians in the families who are 18 years or older and do not have a security clearance or a National Agency Check are required to be vetted through Mind Your Business, the third party vendor hired by the Coast Guard Academy for the vetting process.

After you complete your application, please e-mail the Sponsor Family Program Coordinator at CadetFamilySponsorProgram@uscga.edu. In your e-mail, you must include the e-mail address and phone number of every adult living in the home. The Sponsor Family Coordinator will then initiate the background check process and you will receive an email with further instructions.

Important things to note:

There is a Sponsor Family Training that is a one-hour training which we ask sponsors to attend once every four years. This training is designed to give you an overview of the program, what is expected of you as a sponsor, and what you can expect from your cadets. This training will also help familiarize you with the cadet regulations onboard CGA. You will be notified via e-mail once the training is scheduled.

The matching process of swabs to families will occur during July and August. Please bear with us and remain flexible through this process. There will be a meet and greet scheduled on Campus, typically in late August. This will give families an opportunity to formally meet their cadet if they have not already done so. Details on this will also be via email.