For probably the second time since 2017 I have accidentally missed a month in my blogging! The reason is simple, I was very busy playing outside, and I hardly ever open my computer. Good reasons. But it's time for an update as I've had a very full and busy April and early May. This spring season I've been wearing 3 (three) different hats at the North Carolina Outward Bound School. I'll talk about each of those, along with some personal recreation updates. work:Instructor A classic! Back at it again, doing what (I think!) I know how to do. I instructed one course this spring, it was a 4 day course for an all girls group of high school freshmen. Weather was great, my co-instructors were great, and it went about as smooth as an Outward Bound course could go. It was nice to knock some rust off, and feel that I can still sling it in the field. While I have passion for field instructing, this course also made me thankful that I won't be spending the entire season living in the field. resident climbing specialist My new position this year! I am mostly living at Table Rock base camp and working as climbing staff. This means that largely, I sleep on base, and hike out on workdays to meet up with crews during their course. I set up climbs and facilitate the climbing day for these crews. I am loving this role for a number of reasons. First, I feel as though it is an actualization of my passions; my experience with climbing has impacted me so deeply, it's experiential education combined with a radical bad ass sport, it is a fulfilling pursuit to introduce others to this personal journey. Second, I am seeing myself in a leadership role on base and at the program because of this job. All of my years as a sports team captain in high school and college have prepared me for this. Additionally, I think it is super powerful for all of these students and staff to see a strong female in this technical, typically male dominated, role. Third, I love this role because I am no longer living in the field full time!! I get to shower every day, and eat a big dinner with all my friends, and most importantly watch lots of TV at night! Stability! Anyway, here's a few pics! Casual cragging during a staff professional development workshop at the east face of Table Rock. Home sweet home! I've been loving the pro-devs this year because it always just ends up being me and 3-5 of my friends going climbing. All staff have reported them being productive and fun. My cup is especially filled by training other staff, as I believe this has a trickle down effect to our students. Additionally, with strong technical backgrounds and an eye for the experiential process, staff are in a great position to reap the benefits from the climbing personal journey. course Director A new role for me this year! Big movement up in the program world. I worked a 5 day school group course as a course director, with my good friend and mentor, Stiles. I really appreciated doing this for my first time with someone who has done it a ton and provides super high quality training. The course director is someone who wears a lot of hats. They are an administrator- organizing the pre course and all paperwork, they are an educator- providing a pro-dev workshop and over the phone coaching, they are a risk manager- responding to physical and emotional emergencies in the field. But all that's to say, they also sleep on base!! Once again, I am ascending!! When reflecting on the experience, I recalled that I had late nights, I witnessed miracles, I had hard conversations, and I was a part of the magic. It was a full on classic Outward Bound experience, I just wasn't with a crew the whole time. The instructors were my crew, and it was inspiring to see all of my friends doing their thing! Overall very positive experience, I feel that I have something to offer in that role, and I would definitely do it again. Yeah thats ME in the center of the circle addressing 70 8th graders to start their Outward Bound course. "Here are the things that will get you kicked off! Here are the things you should do to thrive! Here's an inspirational quote!" I think they liked it because I got a nice applause after giving my first ever course start speech. playcolorado tripDaniel is pictured here rigging a rappel in Eldorado Canyon, Boulder. We went to Leadville for a work trip, to be a part of the Outward Bound USA National Trainer's Conference. The conference was awesome and inspiring, but more exciting to report is that we got to climb in Boulder for 3 days after the conference. Daniel is doing a Rock Guide course here in June, so it was a good experience for him to get the lay of the land. climbing (naturally)Paddling (bravely)My OG squad of OB besties!! Left to right is Daniel, Max, Julia, me. These 3 have been my absolute best friends since I met them all in spring 2021. It's really special to be working, playing, and growing up alongside them. In this photo, we were paddling the Chattooga River in SC/GA. We stopped at this more challenging rapid, Dick's Creek to scout and run some laps. This photo makes my heart so full. Me, just moments after running Dick's Creek! Boy I was SO SCARED I really can't emphasize that enough. I know it may seem that I'm fearless because I'm comfortable hanging off the side of a cliff, but water as a medium REALLY freaks me out. It's dynamic and there is more that is out of my control than with rock. For me, paddling is a powerful confrontation with fear and I was extremely proud of myself for running this class 3+ rapid. It wasnt the most beautiful line, but it went safe, and I learned that I can feel fear and keep moving anyways. In summary, what a season!! I'm truly loving it. Loving my friends, my play, my work. So thankful to be healthy and strong right now. So thankful to be actualizing as a 26 year old. Life is great, and now it's documented in the blog. Coming up in the month of May: more climbing work, a trip to NYC, and a trip to visit my sister at her new house (!!) in DC. Fearlessly onward!!
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