Part I
First, please reflect on the "helium stick" activity that we conducted in class last week. What was the purpose of this activity, and what specifically did you learn from it? What was the purpose of the second activity, and what specifically did you learn from it?
Part II
Complete all journal activity assignments you have been assigned throughout the semester so far.
Part III
Think back on all of the experiences you have had this semester (in this course and others). Compose a blog/journal entry that expresses how you feel those experiences have affected you. Address five of the personal growth issues listed below. This should be of significant length (3-5 pages in a word processor) and should show evidence of “deep” reflection, introspection, and transfer of experiences to your everyday life.
Select Five (5) of the Following:
- Doing something I didn’t think I could
- Feeling proud
- Challenging myself
- Asking for help
- Sharing information
- Talking to each other
- Choosing not to participate
- Dealing with frustration
- Putting each other down
- The same people always leading
- Relating to the natural world
- Having a vision
- Looking at a problem in a new way
- Not completing a task
- Complacent about safety
- Not following the rules
- Making a unique contribution
- Trusting
- Working as a team
This final blog is due by the beginning of class on Friday, December 14.
5 comments:
Part one: Wile I missed the class for the helium stick I have done this activity before so will comment on my past experience. The whole point behind the helium stick is to 1. Find who will stand up as a leader in the group of people that this activity is given to. (There is always somebody that will step up). Also this activity helps build a trust among the group and builds team skills. Reason for this is because everyone has to be in sync and on the same page in order to get the stick down to the ground without removing a finger from the stick. I personally learned from this exercise that through rational thinking and teamwork a seemingly impossible task can be accomplished with great ease. Since I was not at the class I do not know what the second activity was. Due to this I will not be responding to the question about the second activity.
Part three: The whole year so far has been a unique experience. Things I never foresaw myself doing or being proficient at I ended up doing on a weekly basis. This gives me a strong feeling of accomplishment when I look back on this semester as it comes to a close. In a period of four months I have done more than most college students have in the same amount of time. This gives me a great feeling of fulfillment. My experiences at the rock wall have been one of the most influential. I have learned that the object is not just to get to the top. The object of climbing can consist of a certain route, a certain rule (ex: no foot holds just wall est.), or traversing a distance (bouldering). So much has been learned as a result of going to this college that I don’t even realize. I see changes in myself that I personally don’t see others have too tell me. It is odd how many new experiences can change and shape you from what you once where to what you are without you even realizing it. The first time I was challenged to do something I was worried I might not be able to do was on the sea kayak trip. It was out second to last day. We started by Matt and I navigating to our next campsite. This was an endeavor in itself because of the chop in the crossing to the new site. But the task I questioned myself on, the one I worried about the most was going into reversing falls. The water was ripping and I didn’t know if I could make it if I went into the center. My whitewater experience is almost null. I skirted the outside of the current for awhile and then I finally realized I can do it. It wasn’t as hard as I was making it. So I plunged in and it was great, one of the best feelings I have ever had. To overcome the fear I initially had was incredible; I cannot explain the feeling in words. Then there is my relaying to the natural world. During the AT trip we all had our doubts. From the beginning the plane was canceled and we had to drive in. Zack’s truck got stuck and we had to push it out. The trip seemed omanis of a bad one. The first two days for me were tests of physical endurance and pushing yourself. I felt the compelling need to be up front, I didn’t look around much I went through the trail like a horse with blinders on not able to see the beauty around me. On day three when we hiked to the summit of the mountain (can’t spell its name) the snowfall was more evident. The most beautiful mountainscapes came into view. Trees, streams, and cliffs were abundant. All were singing their own tune to make the forest a place of peacefulness and serenity. Hiking through this terrain was one of the most enriching experiences of my life. I felt complete and utter peace and balance in my life and all life around me. I have never before or since experienced nature in this way. Working as a team has been a key component in everything we have done so far. Yet, on the sailing trip I think I was put to the test. To raise the sails, derigg them, and navigate we had to work as a well oiled machine. No one person could hoist the sails to power up the boat. All hands had to work together and get the job done. This was and I still consider this the best display of the teamwork our group is capable of. Challenging myself takes place in every aspect of my life. Whether it be skiing a tight glade, or climbing a route at the rock wall. My life consists of a series of events that challenge me. School in general is a series of classes that are made to challenge you while teaching you various new skills to make you a well rounded person. On our trips we have had challenges brought our way. In each instance I think we have persevered and learned greatly from them. The most memorable challenge I have faced since going into this program was on the AT trip. On the second morning I woke to frozen solid boots and this made my morning a living hell. But I just pushed through and made it to the point where the heat of hiking thawed my boots. Yet this challenge taught me a lesson. It taught me that in the wilderness you can’t slack off because you are tired you must make sure all your gear is ready to go, That nothing will freeze, be eaten, or chewed on by rodents. Each challenge has a lesson hidden in it. Finding the lesson is the job of the person confronted with the challenge. During the expeditions and all the experiences I noticed the leaders usually stay the same within our group. Whenever we are on trip or doing an activity in class it turns out Zack, Taylor, and myself take the role of leading the group. Now I have no problem with leading or following Zack or Taylor. I completely trust in there abilities and judgment for most any situation we are to get into. I also trust myself to do the right thing when put into a leader role or when an important decision is needed to be made. Not to make it sound like nobody else in the group can’t lead or that I wouldn’t follow them, because they can and I would! It’s just I noticed a repetition in leaders and people that fade into the group. I think next semester we should do leader for a day to make sure everyone is put into that leader role. This way everyone gets the group to believe in them. If you know everyone can lead then I believe it would make a tighter bond within the group. I don’t think that we have an issue with put-downs in our group. We all come up with some pretty good ones. But all joking aside I don’t think we have a problem in our group. Most of us get along and are friends outside of class. I consider this a very great accomplishment because without the friendship all expeditions would be hard and many people wouldn’t learn the interpersonal skills needed to be in this business.
All of these topics I have discussed can be applied to a “real life” setting and don’t have to be looked at in a school or ADV. Tourism way. You can challenge yourself daily. And just make goals for each week. Experience nature and enjoy it. Enjoy the peace and serenity that will greatly benefit you. Not one person should always lead. The leadership load should be shared so everyone gets experience as a customer and a guide so they know where to make improvements.
Final Blog
Part 1:
The purpose of the helium stick exercises was to demonstrate that doing certain activities as a group is sometimes harder than just doing it by yourself. And I learned that the group that we have left of the first years works together pretty well at this point. As far as the other activity goes I have no idea what the purpose of it could be. I’m definitely in the 20% that doesn’t understand the point of these sort of activities without being told and even then it still doesn’t click most of the time.
Part 2:
I think I’ve done that. I’ve only specifically been told to write in my journal twice. Once during the kayak trip and once on the sailing trip.
Part 3:
(Choosing Not to Participate) This is something that some might feel that I have done quite a bit this semester. On the kayaking trip I didn’t participate in the activities that were challenge by choice nor did I play in the reversing falls. On the ropes course I didn’t even try the high elements. And I’ve stopped going to the rock wall. For me personally this is no issue. I'm old enough with plenty of experiences before coming here that I feel no need to blindly be part of the group. I do not like doing "group building" activities. I really do not understand them and feel they are generally a waste of my time. Also I'm here for different reasons and with different interests then the others. I'm not in it for the action much less the adrenalin. So playing in reversing falls or climbing the vertical obstical course have no appeal for me. As far as the rock wall goes. Sure it was fun to practice traversing the bouldering section, but the novelty wore off and there were no routes set up for my skill level (the general lack of skill to be specific) to keep the experience fresh. So there you go while not entirely out of the group I don't consider myself entirely within the group either, my standard M.O.
(Not Completing a Task & Dealing With Fustration) I'll treat these as one. When I was younger I had serious issues with frustation and the associated anger. My parents and teachers had higher expectations for me than I was always able to achieve. Over the years I have brought both the fustration and anger greatly under control. This was done by saying %*#@$ all I and I alone set my goals and the reasonable quiting point. Knowing when to walk away and accept the concequences is a big part of it, as was evident at the pyro fest. Now when I'm part of a group that cannot effectively do its job it is much harder to impossible to simply leave, because when it is your job you have to pick up the slack and do what it takes, even pushing others out of the way, to get the job done. Here I don't have to worry about this. We're just at school here and I don't have to worry about the failures of others so much.
(Complacent About Safety) I cannot think of any specific instances right now, but I know we have all been guilty of this. We've all become used to doing certain things in a certain manner. Sometimes it is quicker easier or just more fun to accomplish a desired effect in one manner, but not the safest way to go about it. This is because previously we've been doing this by ouselves or with friends and were personally o.k. with the risks. That said, if any of us want to become a guide or leader of some fashion then we need to change our habits. Not only is following safety guidelines professional, but you will be responsible and liable for the safety of others.
(Working As a Team, The Same People Alway Leading, & Putting Each Other Down) These three issues have been inextricably links this semester, and in my experience almost always are in group dynamics. It is easy to say that at the end of the semester the group that we have works pretty well together, that while some personalities are more forward than others no one is overwhelmed, and that we can all take the freindly joking and put downs with each other. But this was certaily not always the case. We have lost or after this semester have lost one third of the class we started with. And in one sense this was inevitable. Some weren't here for the right reasons, some had acedemic dificulty, others had more difficult reasons. On the other hand the remaing core didn't exaclty help the situation. I believe that in the beginning efforts were made to include all and even to ecourage some to keep up with the course work. However as time went on and personality conflicts gelled these efforts were given up on and there was some active exclusion. While none of us are guilt free, I have a hard time believing that it really could have turned out otherwise.
I don't have anything else significant to say so I'm just going to give a quick rundown of the remaing topics.
1) Doing something I didn’t think I could: Hasn't happened, I believe I can do anything until I can't.
2) Feeling proud: I don't, huberis can be fatal according to the ancient Greeks.
3) Challenging myself: I'm not sure that I have, see #1
4) Asking for help: I haven't been above asking for help when needed.
5) Sharing information: I have tried to share knowledge and experience gained before comming here to varying degrees of sucess.
6) Talking to each other: To the extent needed, I guess, not really sure what this one means.
11) Relating to the natural world: Don't get me wrong I truely enjoy being out and about, but I don't go for any of those new age psudo mystic warm and gushy feelings.
12) Having a vision: Nope.
13) Looking at a problem in a new way: I haven't had to yet.
16) Not following the rules: All I can say is that you reap what you sow.
17) Making a unique contribution: Not that I'm aware of, but then again I've never been able to self critique.
18) Trusting: To a certain extent. I only trust a couple of people in the world fully.
Alright, I know that is is not entirely what was expected of me. However it is the best I can do, and I'm o.k. with it.
Pt.1
I was happy to finally be able to play this game for the first time. From all the hype it was getting, I was only hoping the most from this game. For the function that we had used the game, the purpose was to work as a group to achieve the goal of lowering the stick to the ground, then try to beat that time and even beat it again after that. After each round doing a recap and seeing what went well and what didn’t. I learned from this activity, one; was the activity itself. And two; moving people around in this activity will not change the end result the way you want it. When we first started the second activity, I was excited to see how the game would turn out, but I was sadly disappointed. The purpose of the second activity was more or less to prove something then to teach us a new game, in which I would like to learn sometime. I think what I learned from the second activity will probably help me for years to come. A team building activity or any activity should always finish with a breakdown and discussion.
Pt. 3
When thinking back on the memories of the first semester, the word that comes to mind when thinking of not completing a task; Pyrofest. For many, Pyrofest is just another word used for a bon fire with excessive gasoline use. But no, not for me, nor the rest of the adventure recreation and tourism class. There is a much deeper understanding to this word.
When we first heard of this “Pyrofest” we were all excited that we got to go and burn something, like a walk in the park. After receiving the guide lines and limitations that we had, we all went to work on finding ways to go about this new challenge we had received. Once I had started thinking of how I wanted to go about doing this, I decided that I wanted to get straight to the information. I first found different ways to make my fire. Whether I wanted to make a teepee style or a log cabin. If I wanted to use more of a natural approach and use a bow or if I wanted to use magnesium stick or even matches. These were all decisions I had to make before I even started to look for any of my wood that I had to gather. When it all came down to it, I was going to use a magnesium stick and a lot of birch bark within a log cabin.
With that set into motion, I had to gather materials. So on my way back to the college, I made an executive decision and stop on route 9 at the rest stop. From there I equipped myself with all the materials I would need to complete the mission of collecting birch bark, knife, back pack, trash bags, food, water, headlamp and survival kit. Feeling over prepared, I entered the tall pine woods. I only walked about 15 feet when I came upon a fallen white pine. So I stripped the great stump of its paper gold and off I went on with route 9.
Class had been changed that week because other arrangements had been made. So on this Tuesday afternoon, we set off to complete the task handed to us. But you see, this day wasn’t like most days. It had to be the day that the tropical storm came through town. So there we were, the Adventure Recreation class out in the middle of a road with a tropical storm blowing down on us trying to make our fires without matches.
At first when I started making my fire, I dug a hole in the road to try get my tinder and birch bark off the wet ground. At first, it was a good idea, but when water started to puddle in my hole, I had to drain it out by making an outlet. So I bundled all birch bark together and stuck it in my pocket to try and dry it off. Then I sat there trying now to scrape a magnesium stick onto another piece of birch bark. With the winds and the rain coming down, all my magnesium washed away. By the way, Zach already had his ramen cooking by this point. So I then covered my fire pit with my body and coat to stop the wind from blowing out my sparks. Nothing was working for any of us at this point and most had given up. And that was that. We had spent an hour trying to just get the smallest spark, but our efforts were futile.
I look back to this experience, and yes, it was an uncompleted task, but that’s not how I view it. I see it as another learning experience. Something that I can look back on and think about how I could gone about it another way, or how I should have done this differently. For next time, I will be ready for whatever comes at me.
At some points during this semester, I have encountered situations that I had to just sit back and say “well how the hell am I suppose to do that?” One of the more riveting experiences was on the AT.
Zach and I were at the front of the group on day 2 of trip. We were trucking on until we ran into this large stream. At first we didn’t think that we would have to cross this stream, but surely enough, that’s what had to happen. We stood there for moment thinking, and decided if we can find a way across now, once the group gets here we can move on faster. Standing at the stream side was a bit intimidating because of the watershed had increased the steams girth.
The AT trail goes right through the middle of this stream with little to work with. We found a couple of spots where we could cross. One was farther upstream and would have to involve getting a lot more wet then necessary. One was down stream where there were some trees that had fallen, but the tree still had most of its branches and would be a difficult passage with packs on. The spot we had chosen though was a little rough. It was a single log that had been pinned to a tree by the current. We decided just to go for it. We made it across with ease. From this point, it brought us onto a larger rock with a fallen tree that had to be used to cross the stream. The cold had frozen the logs that we were using to cross so it made everything a bit trickier. Zach went first across the quickly made bridge and followed. Again we headed across now the large trunk that had fallen some time ago. Zach again going first, I followed across. We then set down our packs as Andrew showed up, and we quickly went to go help him out. We crossed back to the other side and quickly started getting logs to make the first bit of this challenge more manageable.
I guess I could use this experience as a metaphor. Such as “building bridges opens new possibilities”. Because if we hadn’t taken the time to think about what we wanted to do, we could of all died on that stream crossing. It’s now given me the mindset of that if I have a problem, just step back, and look at the big picture.
My relationship with nature has been a deep relationship. Whether it be walking through the woods, learning global issues, and trying to help the environment. But I received a slap in the face by nature this past semester while on a day hike.
In all reality, I should have seen this coming, but I excused it as not an issue. You see, Mark, Andrew and I were hiking on the bull coast trail in Cutler. While moving along, Andrew and I had thought that the trail would be a lot more fun if we stayed on the coast and bolder our way along the coast. We innocently thought it would bring us back to the trail. So we split with Mark at some point, and just keep on the coast until we ran into a dead end. And when I say dead end, I’m talking about 50 food drop dead end. We had realized at that point that we had been going for a while on the coast, and to back track would make use loose half an hour going back plus finding the trail again and the sun was already getting low in the sky. But it’s something we had to deal with, so we did. We safely managed out way back to the trail and gunned it out of there.
It’s something that I hadn’t foreseen that could have been a problem. But you shouldn’t take nature for granted, because it could come back and bite you in the butt. We had assumed too much to be taking unmarked trails and we could have suffered a lot more than we did. I know next time I’ll still will go for the harder route, but maybe with some more conscious decisions.
In the past few weeks at the climbing wall, I have done things that have helped me the most out of everything I have done at this college. I have achieved things that I didn’t think I could do.
Every Monday and Wednesday I walk down the climbing wall thinking of what new challenges await me; new color routes, corner routes, overhangs, inclines. You see, I have been climbing most of my life, and I can’t get enough of it. The first time I set foot on wall I was 7 years old. And ever since, it’s been a hobby of mine. But recently, I have expanded my abilities a climber. Go for the impossible, otherwise you’re not working hard enough. If my mind is not set on getting to the top, then I’m not going anywhere. I have noticed myself being more confident with my decisions. Whether it’s on the wall, looking for the next hold or doing homework, finding answers to my questions.
To say this will help me in the years to come, I hope so. If I never set a limit, than what’s to stop me. I hope to use this skill a lot more on the wall to do things that I never thought possible to do. But I guess I’ll have to find that one out on my own.
For most of my life, I have been an individual. Because relying on a person sometimes wasn’t good enough for me. Taking things into my own hands most of the time seems like a better idea. While I have been here, I’ve noticed that we do not do things as individuals as much as in high school. In high school you would have group projects, but all in all, it comes down to being an individual in that. Here, it’s completely different. We learn as a team and learn to work off each other.
From when we first started out with 9 students in this class, we started working as a team. The first class we had together was our sea kayaking class out on the lake. We helped each other out, from helping each others in the boats, or just helpful tips. Even when we got into the accident right after class, we all stuck together even though we had all just met each other. It could well be that we all just well working individuals. But I think it’s more. I think we are all here because of a common interest, the outdoors. And each of us bring along different styles of learning and leadership. And from that first day, we learned to work as a team and worked off each other. Every challenge that has been thrown at us so far as a group we have achieved for the most part.
Some issues have arisen in our team. Some couldn’t keep up with the flow of things, and then because of that were left behind. And that’s what hurt our team the most. We lose sight of others and others needs and carry on without them. In some cases, things don’t match up right, but that’s only natural that it happens (can’t win every battle).
Even with these loses; we have carried on as a team by supporting each other in and outside of the classroom. I’m happy with the team that we have and I think that we can accomplish anything if we set our minds to it.
The Helium stick was not my favorite activity, but we cant always do stuff that fun for us. As a group we did an excellent job at completing our goal which was to get the helium stick to the ground, after we completed that we decided to challenge ourselves a little more and see if we could do it quicker, we did but you can only lower it so fast when working in a group compared to doing it as an individual. This was proven when zack was asked if he thought he could lower it in one second, he proved that he could and that sometimes things go faster as an individual, but that is not the purpose of the exercise it was to it was to come together and complete a common goal. As for the other activity that we did, I didn’t quit understand what the point of it was, we had to choose someone in the circle and walk around with out changing the distance between us. To me this exercise was pointless besides it being another team building activity in some way.
One of the most fun experiences I had this year was getting kicked out for a weak, living life as a bum for an entire weak was pretty exciting. We had no place to stay no were to go but in the woods were we belong. We decided the best thing to do was park the cars so that we had a little enclosed area, this was used for out dining area. All the cooking and socializing was done in this area. As for the sleeping situation matt and I camped in the van and Taylor and Andrew slept in a tent in a location that shall not be known. Even though the only reason we got kicked out was because we didn’t follow the rules and beer was found on campus it was still a unique experience, filled with adventure and warm meals on a cool autumn night. It came as quit the surprise when we woke up the first night, and found that it had snowed the night before. This was just a form of preparing for the katahdin trip in February. In that weak we spent a lot of time talking to each other about random stuff that made no sense.
The Appalachian Trail was also a very enjoyable trip, it could have gone to be a little colder, but at least I got to wear shorts. During this trip I chose not to challenge myself like I probably should have, I took it easy and stayed in the back with Matt and it made for a more enjoyable trip. Since I’ve done sections of the Appalachian Trail before, I knew that you might get to your destination sooner the quicker you hike, but you don’t get to enjoy the scenery that way. Yah you might get to rest and enjoy the campsite but you miss a lot of things along the trail like the ice sickles hanging above the little brooks that come out of the mountain or the view that you get in some of the clearing that look out over the lakes and valleys. It also made for a more enjoyable when with every stream crossing we came to everyone worked together as a group to help get everyone across, it also took a lot of trust from everyone in the group.
I never used to be that interested in rock walls, but that’s probably because I had never really tried it before. But I realized that its not as bad as I thought, I’ve been trying to hang around the rock wall as much as I can cause you always learn more things there. that’s probably cause the second year students are more than happy to share any knowledge that they have acquired over the past year. Every time I go down Sean is putting up a new route and every time he urges me to put one up, or asks for my opinion.
Every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday Scott stands up in the front of the class, cracks open a pomegranate seltzer drink and commences to share information about classes we are taking that are there to provide use with the necessary knowledge to excel in that specific field of study. Sometimes the information we take in is just a review from what we have learnt in previous years, and other times it is so knew that it takes a couple times for my brain to soak it all in.
Being in Stephanie’s class helps me relate to the natural world, due to all the learning that takes place in the classroom it is absorbed one way or another. Weather its hands on feeling skulls or going to the inertidal zones to collect all the seaweed you can get your hands on. Its always a new and exciting adventure. Compared to other teachers here teaching styles are so smooth, probably because she knows what she is teaching in great detail, Even the kids are super geniuses.
Now that I have all this knowledge that has been collected over the course of the semester its almost time to put it to work and see were it takes me. By the end of next semester I should be able to go out and get a descent job to work at over the summer to fulfill my practicum requirement, which is needed to get my full credit hours.
All in all this semester has been filled with lots of good memories, from getting kicked out of the dorms to hiking the Appalachian Trail. This whole first semester has given me a good vision of the future, and where I semi see myself in it. That place is somewhere between LNT Nazi who would never break a LNT rule, and not giving a crap about LNT, yup I’m somewhere in the middle of it.
Hi guys,
I enjoyed reading your reflections about your semester. They endeared you to me even more. I love your spirit, your natural curiosity, your frankness, your prankishness (is that a word?)and your individuality.
I look forward to future "encounters" with you!
Tess
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