NYC Outward Bound Crew Orientation Blog

Kay from Stephanie’s crew was very self reflective on her solo yesterday.  She told me that the challenges she faced will help her to believe in herself when she is faced with challenges in the future.  She said that she didn’t think she would like this course and that the backpacking portion was so hard that she wanted to give up.  BUT she didn’t and that has had a huge impact on her outlook on life.  She also said that she has made some really meaningful relationships that she will carry with her back to school.

There were so many incredible things that happened yesterday!  Geraldo and Juan Carlos started out on the Giants Ladder together.  Geraldo had a really  hard time and was not able to climb past the first level, but he supported Juan Carlos in his solo feat all the way to the top.  His smile was priceless!

Last night, Aaron’s crew went out to the field with their sleeping bags to look at the stars after their pin ceremony.  Mwenye Seville, the school contact for Outward Bound has an astronomy grade laser pointer and has been leading star gazing lessons on clear nights.  The most amazing sight students beheld last night were 4 shooting stars, which is an excellent metaphor for all the students this week.  Each student is a shooting star.

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The morning was another in the line of gloriously warm days we have been having for the past two weeks.  Aaron’s crew started their morning by packing their bags and then getting ready for an oatmeal breakfast.  While waiting for the cooks to get breakfast underway, everyone else played a game called Ninja.  Now, this is a way to have fun in the morning for otherwise groggy teenagers.

Katie and Linnea’s crew learned how to pack their backpacks, adjust them to fit perfectly and finally how to read a topographical map.  Instructors Kevin Shon and Micah Strauss presented students with a 3 dimensional topography replica on rocks and then correlated this with the topo map of Sharpe Reservation. The next step was to look at the trail and measure the distance crews would be hiking today.

Kevin in Katie’s crew has worn a smile since he stepped off the bus.  When asked if he is always so positive, he said, “Positivity gets it done with a smile.”  If we could all adopt this attitude, we would have a happier planet, don’t you think?

And this our life exempt from public haunt, finds tongues in trees,  books in running brooks, sermons in stones and good in everything.  William Shakespeare

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This is our final week here at Crew Orientation and we are going out in style.  James Baldwin High School students representing all grades are with us at Sharpe Reservation.   We started our day with a large circle and broke into 4 crews.  Not all of the students knew each other; not even each others’ name.  I can guarantee you that by dinnertime, students were having conversations with one another.  Kyo in Katie’s crew told me that she is building new friendships and is looking forward to long lasting relationships.

Linnea and Katie’s crews both went to the low challenge course this afternoon after lunch.  In interviewing both crews, students commented on how they were surprised at how well they worked together.  The biggest take away was the trust they felt with one another being strengthened, where before it was almost non-existent.  The second biggest take away was that students felt they worked together as a team for the first time.  Barbara from Linnea’s crew stated that she really valued the teamwork as a foundation for this course that will be taken back to school.

Aaron and Stephanie’s crews packed their backpacks after lunch and hit the trails to their back country campsites.  We shall be hearing from them on Wednesday at the high ropes course, or before if I am able to visit them.  Students already learned the basics of navigation, as they had a lesson before they left base camp.  It is a calm, warm evening and we are thankful for this day.

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There aren’t many days on this planet of which one could honestly say, “that was a perfect day”, but this was it.  It’s hard to imagine how effortlessly and gracefully the past 3 days have been with 7 crews of ninth graders.  The weather is also perfect, though it had little to do with the great spirits of Channelview students.

When interviewing Mr. Grover’s crew at the zip line, students responded that their crew has become much closer than before; that they trust each other and they encourage each other to do their best.  It is a rare occurrence when students feel so safe that they aren’t afraid on the zip platform.  Myra from Mr. Grover’s crew climbed up the tree in a matter of seconds and just a couple of minutes later, she was gliding into the forest laughing and making siren noises.  Her crew members quickly moved the ladder out to fetch her off the zip.

Some crews did their solo either this morning or this afternoon.  With the sun warming them and a magnificent view to behold, they were inspired to write and to keep writing in their journals; more than what they were assigned to write by their instructors.

This is just the start of 4 year relationship for Channelview students and their amazing Crew Advisors.  The relationships that have grown this week will only be nutured more back at school.

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For those of you who aren’t in the know,  HOWLs are Habits of Work and Learning.  Although we aren’t in “school proper” this week, students are indeed developing HOWLS with themselves and with their crew.  Some of the habits may include, cooking, cleaning, communication, reflective writing, and much much more.  The only custodians and stewards of camp this week are the students and they are amazing.

It was an exceptionally warm and gorgeous day;  one that was used to it’s fullest.  Even now, after climbing on the ropes or hauling a backpack students are working on communication lessons within their crews.  Three crews plan on meeting together in the field for star gazing and flashlight tag.  Camp is certainly not quiet at this moment. The moon is bright in the sky and crews have been having howling contests.

Ms. Seraphin, Mr. Kennedy & Ms. Melella and Mr. Dorsi’s crew spent part of their day on the high ropes course and the other half on a reflective period, called solo.

Mr. Groff, Mr. Englebert and Mr. Grover’s crews hiked into the low ropes course later on this morning to work on their fine crew skills.

And finally, Mr. Mohammed’s crew departed on their backpack.

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Mr. Dorsi’s crew spent their afternoon at the low challenge course.  Their first event at the course is called the nitro crossing.  The crew must use a rope swing to get from one raised platform to another platform.  But wait; everyone must be able to stand on a platform that is 2.5 feet by 2.5 feet.  The folks on the platform must catch the person swinging.  If someone falters and touches the ground while swinging, or loses their balance off the platform, then the whole crew must start over.

While the crew was not successful on the first try, they were able to figure it out together through sharing and listening to each others’ ideas until they got it right.  The same story played out for Mrs. Seraphin, Mr. Kennedy & Ms. Melella and Mr. Mohammed’s crews.  We could hear the cheering of other crews when they had succeeded at their elements, the spiders’ web, the Mohawk Walk and the Giant’s Finger.

Mr. Dorsi brought Henry David Thoreau’s On Walden Pond so that his crew could read passages in honor of our taking retreat from regular school and spending our time in the forest.

I went into the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front the essentials of life and see if I could not learn what it had to teach…Henry David Thoreau

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Channelview ninth grade has arrived at  Sharpe Reservation and are off on their way.  It is an extremely warm and delicious late fall day and we are thankful for the sun.

Once off the bus, we gather in a large circle to start together.  Each week, we have been playing a getting to know you game called All my Neighbors, aptly named because many students are actually neighbors.  My partner Ricardo, the school’s Outward Bound point person and myself call out things, like, “All my neighbors who are excited to be on this trip.”  If the answer is YES, students come to the center and give their neighbors a high five.  The response to this question was unanimous.  Every student showed genuine enthusiasm to challenge themselves for the next 4 days.

You can read a group from the first steps off the bus and I can tell that this week is going to be amazing.  We are looking forward, but also enjoying the present and living in each moment.

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The schedule for today is as follows:

Backpacking:  Mr. Grover, Mr. Groff, Mr. Englebert

Low Ropes: Mr. Dorsi, Mr. Mohammed, Mr. Kennedy, Ms. Mellela and Mrs. Seraphin

Transformation:  this is what has happened this week.  Our world was wintry on Monday and now we have returned to splendid fall weather.  Along with our positive trend in weather, we have seen a positive growth trend in all crews.  Each crew has shared a transformative experience and we can honestly say that this has been the very best Kurt Hahn ELS Adventure/Crew week ever.

Ms. Hilliard, Ms. Blain, Mr. Van Dyke and Ms. Fishstrom’s crew had an incredible day at the high ropes course.  The most entertaining was Ms. Fishstrom’s crew at the Giant’s Ladder.  Watching students work together and to conquer the ladder was better than television.  One student said aloud, “You can’t duplicate this.” They can explain when they return home.

Later on this evening, after a dinner of chicken and rice, Ms. Fishstrom’s crew was settling down to their nightly fire.  Davrin Faison Jr. built a fire with the guidance of instructor Marko, who allowed him to light the fire with a flint stone and cotton balls.  The boys were telling me about how they weren’t sure about this trip at all and they wanted to go home on Monday night.  BUT, they had a fire on that first night and that was it.  They were bought in.  This crew has made leaps and bounds since they got off the bus on Monday and will only get better with age.   They have 3.5 years more together and have all agreed that they love their crew.

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Today was really special!  First and foremost, the sun was high, warm and the sky the bluest of blue and the kids were AMAZING!!  Mr. Van Dyke, Ms. Fishstrom and Ms. Heymont’s crew all went out on their overnight backpack.  They are likely all snug in their sleeping bags telling stories and looking at our brilliant sky tonight.

Ms. Blain and Ms. Hilliards crews both hiked in from their backpack this morning to the low challenge course.  In the afternoon, students were able to reflect upon their adventure thus far, while soaking up the sun’s rays for their solo experience.

While on solo, students are given a journal prompt to write about  and then they usually have some time just to observe, rest; to take some private time.  For some students, this is a rare and welcomed opportunity.  Can you think of the last time when you were able to spend some quality time with yourself without any distractions?

Here is a poem that Eduardo M. Regis in Ms. Hilliard’s crew wrote while on his solo.  He also drew a lovely rendering of his solo site by the lake.

Sunset fills the day with fun/joy

Moon fills the night with gathers without toys

The lake quiet has leaves around it, but shines bright with the sun without no one.

Glad that I came to see this beauty up close

We wouldn’t see it without natures’ folks

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