Phew! Time for a big update! I skipped a month of the blog due to the fact that I was instructing a 42 day course at Outward Bound. The day it ended I began a series of cross country trips that would eventually land me in Las Vegas. It's been a wild and exciting ride for me recently... here's a rundown of the past two months. NCOBS Domestic semester phase 1: nc mountains From September 26 - November 11 I was working on the semester course, a "phased" long course for adults. With covid, this was a domestic semester rather than an international one. It had (has... it's still going on out there!) two phases, the first in the NC mountains and the second in the Everglades of Florida. I worked the mountains phase, it was 42 days in the field. We did backpacking, whitewater canoeing, rock climbing, the students did a WFA course, we did service, 68 hour solo, and the students even earned the privilege to do an "unaccompanied final expedition"... backpacking for a few days without instructors! It was a packed course! 11 students. Most 18-19, one 22 year old, one 30 year old. Amazing group, I did have tons of fun. I also learned that it's pretty draining to work a shift that long. This was my first opportunity to instruct a course of a magnitude similar to (but greater than!) the experiential ed travel program I did in Thailand with Pacific Discovery that changed my life and sent me down this path. On the hardest days of working this course, I just tried to remember that this experience is transformational for everyone involved, and it's worth the struggle. I learned a ton... about how to be a better instructor and about myself. Here are my biggest takeaways. 1. Improved course design- specifically long course planning vision, logistics, and execution 2. Deeper understanding of how to conduct a quality 1 on 1 check-in with students 3. Increased willingness to give hard feedback, to both students and co workers There's a lot more reflection and processing in the wake of this course that I'm not interested to put into the blog. For those close to me that actually read this... feel free to ask for more info the next time you see me if you want to know more. Anyway, here's some photos! Imposter syndrome is still real... can't believe that I've arrived here in life. To those that knew me growing up... this is quite the character development. Ya girl could have used an OB course in a big way back in the day. But the universe did it's thing and I wound up at this program anyway doing work that fills my soul. What a beautiful thing. Transition... a moment in florida At the end of the mountains phase of the semester, I was tasked with driving the students down to our basecamp in Everglades City, Florida. I took the opportunity to visit with my sister for a day and a half, as she was only 1.5 hours away in Miami. She picked me up as I dropped them off, and we drove away like bandits. Freedom! We spent our one full day together visiting UMiami's campus then Key Biscayne for some sight seeing and chill vibes. What a treat! I flew back to NC the next day. Vegas, baby! The day that I flew into Asheville NC from Miami I began driving with my friend Anna out to Las Vegas for a NCOBS funded climbing trip. We applied for professional development funding and got it... making the start to my dirtbag season ultra lux and fun! We drove 31 hours straight through it was so fun, best drive across the country I've ever had. In Vegas, we had an airbnb with 2-4 others (people came and went), and pretty much every day we'd just head over to Red Rock and go climbing. This trip has been THE highlight of my year thusfar, potentially my decade. For real, I'll remember this fondly forever. Me and Spencer! He's been a great mentor and friend to me at NCOBS and in my climbing progression. This was taken on Purblind Pillar, a 6 pitch climb, I led the first 3 he led the second 3. We were in a party of 3, so I got some great guiding practice as well as tips and feedback from Spencer. Anna took the pic. Quick intermission: SPI course at table rock The weekend of November 20 I flew back to NC for a Single Pitch Instructor course through the American Mountain Guide Association. I took the course because I need to take the exam soon for a certification that will allow me to progress to specialist work at NCOBS. I took this course specifically even though it was a logistical challenge because it was offered at an unbelievably great price, and lots of friends were in the course. I learned a ton, and now feel very prepared for my assessment coming up. While I didn't totally want to leave the sunny desert for cold NC, I was really glad that I did it. Again, pictures: big plans... I flew back into Vegas two days ago, and have been climbing since (obviously!). I LOVE desert season! This is just the beginning of my desert season. I will be spending all month here in Red Rocks, with lots of friends lined up to climb with, as well as my SPI assessment somewhere in there. After Christmas, my friend Julia will join me out west and we will road trip for a month. I am planning to land in Bozeman, Montana for February and March to ski at Bridger Bowl and NOT work. What a life!
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