Q: How was your trip?A: Good. Really, what am I supposed to say to that? :-) Overall, it was a very positive experience. I would definitely do it again! (Maybe not in February. See third question.)
The whole group about to begin the Art Loeb section
Q: Where were you?
A: In the mountains of western North Carolina. Pisgah National Forest, partially on the Art Loeb Trail and in the Shining Rock Wilderness Area.
Pisgah National Forest
Q: It was warm, wasn't it?
A: Mmmm...think again. Because elevation ranged from 3,000-6,000 ft., it was cold. Sunny many days (50's some days), and occasionally I hiked in a t-shirt, but most evenings I wore every piece of clothing I took (8 layers on top, 5 on the bottom)! My water bottle in my tent was frozen many mornings.
I couldn't afford to let any skin exposed this day.
Q: What were you teaching and doing?
A: I was teaching the WEA (Wilderness Education Association) curriculum to Montreat College Outdoor Education majors. The foundation of this curriculum is developing well-rounded leaders with solid judgment and decision-making skills. Because Montreat is a Christian school, I had the privilege to openly connect outdoor leadership with Scripture and talk about the connection between faith, vocation, and the rest of life. Our method of travel was backpacking with one day of multi-pitch rock climbing. We traveled little, and spent a lot of time teaching lessons.
Hiking, rappelling with Julie, Aaryn journaling (there was lots of that).
Q: How were the students?
A: Great and crazy. They are a truly fun group that I will miss. Read below for more details.
The students ready at the end for their final expedition
A: Ditto above answer. Here are a few roles we often assumed in the instructor team. Andrew: course director, always the encourager, quiet & steady presence, willing participant in our goofy schemes (e.g. the black knight); Woody: life of the party, great relational connector with students, sidetrack provider, technical skill coach; Katie: idea generator, learner and sponge, insightful commenter, my tent mate and confidant :-); and me: outside perspective voice, supporter for course director, instructor team task master, female instructor role model, and co-instigator of crazy activity designs.
Andrew, Woody, Emily, Katie
Q: How does teaching college courses fit into your work with CCO?
A: My work is to "transform college students to transform the world." Obviously, it is Christ who does the transformation, but I see my job as creating space where transformation can occur, whether extracurricularly or as an official college course. I saw these students developing leadership and interpersonal skills that will serve them wherever they end up. I think seeds planted in North Carolina will end up all over the world, since many in this group are talking about international mission work.
Q: Do you have any stories of transformation?
A: Absolutely! The biggest theme I saw throughout the trip was transformation. As a group, the students totally changed from beginning to end. When I arrived the group did not have ownership of their learning. They seemed to have forgotten why they applied for this outdoor leadership semester program. Many were pulling all-nighters, showing up to class totally exhausted and falling asleep. They thought too much was being asked of them. But throughout the course I watched them start to
take initiative in completing the necessary lessons. Steve (who can easily be class clown) stepped up to
facilitate group discussions that weren't officially his responsibility. Wayne came in very confident in his skills and became
very teachable. Brady was very soft-spoken, but increasingly raised his voice, demonstrated playfulness in his leadership, and
offered valuable insights to the group. These are just a few, and I could talk a while about each one!
Steve, Wayne, Brady
Q: What was the best part?
A: I think it was getting to work with a great program, students, and instructor team. It was a positive growth experience for me professionally to work outside my norm. I was so encouraged and excited to see a program doing excellent work to train well-rounded, competent, and spiritually deep outdoor leaders. The transformation I saw in just three weeks was incredible, and I know that it will continue. I feel privileged to have been a part of that for a short time; it was sad to have to leave!
Andrew introduces a route decision the group must make.
Q: What was the scariest part?
A: One cold, dark, windy night... four scouts went out to look for a campsite. They were supposed to return in 10 minutes. Time ticked by: 20 minutes-
they're just getting caught up in the search; 30 minutes -
they found something and needed more time to look; 40 minutes:
we can't send more people off into the night to look for them; 45 minutes -
God bring them all back safely; 50 minutes -
that's a whistle blast!!! We responded with one of our whistles, and soon the group was reunited with hugs and many sighs of relief. They had simply gotten turned around in the dark in the middle of a nondescript landscape. It could have been bad. We were thankful it wasn't.
The night of the scouting group near mishap
Q: What was a significant moment?
A: One of the most significant moments was talking with a student who didn't get certified during final evaluations. She demonstrated many strengths, but needed to work more on relational leadership and communication. While she listened and then talked through tears, I heard her saying that she knows it's an area that's needed work for a long time, but just didn't know how to fix it. During that conversation we were able to assure her that we too have those rough areas, remind her that her value is not found in a certification, and extend an opportunity to work toward certification through the rest of the semester. She accepted the offer, and since that evening she told the rest of the group that she needs help, has begun taking practical small steps to change, and has asked for suggestions from the instructors on how to improve. I was struck with how her story confirms that our "failures" are often the impetus for opening our eyes and producing valuable changes in our lives. I believe that this student will learn far more this semester than many we certified.
Cloud lesson taught from the peak of Pilot Mt.
Q: Any favorite moments?
A: I have many of those. Hiking above the Blue Ridge Parkway in the dark and seeing lights from South Carolina, the sunrise at the same location and feeling so alive, real conversations with Katie about instructorship before bed or while cooking, the loopiness and playfuness of the instructors during long days of assessment and paperwork, spending a day high on Cedar Rock facilitating the climbing experience, a Valentines Day note that all of the male participants had written for each woman on the trip, being perfectly warm and cocooned in my sleeping bag, the strange robot voice and Canadian accent that emerged frequently throughout the trip, singing with the group under a clear night sky, that first meal out of the field with fresh veggies and fruit!
Sunrise at Silvermine Knob; on Cedar Rock with Looking Glass Rock in the background
If you are still reading, thanks!!! I hope you enjoyed it. Feel free to view the slideshow below or click on it to get a quick overview of all the photos.
Outdoor Leadership Team staff at our "Area Lunch". R to L: Emily, Joy, Francois, Jamie, and Paul (the Paul mentioned below).
Staff conversations at a Spring Institute breakfast
