tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68180298157276633542024-02-19T18:51:01.843-08:00Honoring Life TransitionsAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08582370389726026291noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818029815727663354.post-18449280355844126782015-08-13T13:21:00.000-07:002015-08-13T13:21:23.057-07:00"Let It Go" as rewritten by Samantha, The Journey Continues 2015<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1439228198525_17614" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: center;">
"The branches sway on the mountains today</div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1439228198525_17632" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: center;">
Not a human to be found</div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1439228198525_17634" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: center;">
Two hours into my solo</div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1439228198525_17636" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: center;">
And I'm starting to find me.</div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1439228198525_17638" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: center;">
The river flowing like the blood that's in my veins</div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1439228198525_17640" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: center;">
I don't know how to feel</div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1439228198525_17642" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: center;">
Will I be the same?</div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1439228198525_17644" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: center;">
Just keep it in</div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1439228198525_17646" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: center;">
Don't let them see</div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1439228198525_17648" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: center;">
Be the person I think I'm s'posed to be.</div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1439228198525_17650" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: center;">
Conceal, don't feel</div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1439228198525_17652" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: center;">
Don't let it show</div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1439228198525_17654" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: center;">
But why not grow?</div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1439228198525_17656" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: center;">
Let it go, let it go</div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1439228198525_17658" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: center;">
Learn the power that I wield</div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1439228198525_17660" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: center;">
Let it go, let it go</div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1439228198525_17662" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: center;">
What's the point of a useless shield?</div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1439228198525_17664" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: center;">
I don't care what the world might want</div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1439228198525_17666" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: center;">
Let the river flow</div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1439228198525_17668" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: center;">
The silence echos through the trees into the ground</div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1439228198525_17670" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: center;">
My soul is spiraling in trees and bushes all around</div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1439228198525_17672" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: center;">
And now I'm seeing that whole world from where I stand</div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1439228198525_17674" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: center;">
I'm never going back</div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1439228198525_17676" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: center;">
This is who I am</div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1439228198525_17678" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: center;">
Let it go, let it go</div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1439228198525_17680" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: center;">
And I'll rise like the break of dawn</div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1439228198525_17682" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: center;">
Let it go, let it go</div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1439228198525_17684" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: center;">
My fear is finally gone</div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1439228198525_17686" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: center;">
I don't care what the world might want</div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1439228198525_17688" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: center;">
Let the river flow</div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1439228198525_17690" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: center;">
This solo ain't too bad after all."</div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1439228198525_17690" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgcr2EnO0q9KgazJzW_zsjzUKPNNzVOzDnoF7RPnlJO3QQGHE4JHBO6ayk4LoKcaolFEv24d_5nBJgWBkUHeCHEArPsN6jehqn2CAU8YyBs3e4NItRyKaM7QMueuqRMQOUrBzf_nv6Pqo/s1600/IMG_2963_zpsjx1rmlal.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgcr2EnO0q9KgazJzW_zsjzUKPNNzVOzDnoF7RPnlJO3QQGHE4JHBO6ayk4LoKcaolFEv24d_5nBJgWBkUHeCHEArPsN6jehqn2CAU8YyBs3e4NItRyKaM7QMueuqRMQOUrBzf_nv6Pqo/s320/IMG_2963_zpsjx1rmlal.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1439228198525_17690" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
ropjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10333680601800708885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818029815727663354.post-41812323087315564552015-08-04T17:03:00.000-07:002015-08-04T17:07:38.450-07:00Thank-you Letter to Donors, Coming of Age for Boys "Isaac"<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Thank you for not putting your money in stocks or bonds or gold but in the next generation of American youths. Your donation towards this life-changing trip has made me go from a needy boy into a motivated young man ready to embrace the responsibilities left for me by past generations. Global warming, economic collapse, water shortage, and energy c</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">risis are the problems that lie looming in our world's future. It is only because of programs like these that young people are given the tools to combat and eradicate these problems. By donating to Journeys, you are shaping young men who will in turn shape the world.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNPceXT7NfrOdaXSiLuKdkrdJraOPMHErqAivztzt8t-Yl3fgKhGW7gFXCfPJk-oiO6o4k9AkbpSGZsqYgj86neoGQogjy4qmifqi1iVRzuyWgNS9NyhHf8GvyJTWx-ZmGEioWpjxKJsU/s1600/IMG_0038_zps63fdd7eb.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNPceXT7NfrOdaXSiLuKdkrdJraOPMHErqAivztzt8t-Yl3fgKhGW7gFXCfPJk-oiO6o4k9AkbpSGZsqYgj86neoGQogjy4qmifqi1iVRzuyWgNS9NyhHf8GvyJTWx-ZmGEioWpjxKJsU/s320/IMG_0038_zps63fdd7eb.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><br /></span></span>ropjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10333680601800708885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818029815727663354.post-48137559559607428362015-08-04T10:53:00.001-07:002015-08-04T10:56:56.956-07:00 Isabel Yueh, Call to Adventure 2015<div class="MsoPlainText">
This camp is one of the camps where you instantly make
friends in the car ride over, and your friendships strengthen over all the
hardships and troubles and experiences that every person in the group
experience. One of my favorite moments was when we found a dead crow and
decided to bury it in the sand. We all worked together and made an amazing
grave. We didn't even know this crow or how it died, but we felt like it was
the right thing to do. At the same time we said good bye to the beach and all
the animals on the beach.<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
This camp experience has changed my future, and I am
definitely going back next year. I will never forget my friends that I made on
this trip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieHqcNhB7Y4khSx7ipNlxX0P3f3igAtlf7rnFJq5MxZouJ6yEQ0OYPjCDcVo0oJZG1TcA8Swvn92BmuQd8THM05CdKURqgwWkqiA9QN0L_kxueOt-XQJVxQPRbztzvXF1fIDn2c1qGeuY/s1600/IMG_3449_zps7g9ahepx.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieHqcNhB7Y4khSx7ipNlxX0P3f3igAtlf7rnFJq5MxZouJ6yEQ0OYPjCDcVo0oJZG1TcA8Swvn92BmuQd8THM05CdKURqgwWkqiA9QN0L_kxueOt-XQJVxQPRbztzvXF1fIDn2c1qGeuY/s320/IMG_3449_zps7g9ahepx.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
ropjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10333680601800708885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818029815727663354.post-9784334517562240522015-08-01T15:17:00.002-07:002015-08-01T15:17:29.642-07:00Sit Spot Poem, Becoming a Young Woman 2015 "Delaney"<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Listen closely and you will feel,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
no longer hearing through your ears, but by your heart.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
You must understand their circumstances</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
before understanding their story.</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Listen closely and you will feel them inside of you.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8rm2BHYAz4wZgUAWPCNV1E2dkDbs-8VsHnJdWFLkLmIlM_wc0R04aJvSLWqU009Ruuq_M8Xw8DLvxZTwKIIK6m4LATSSruGhjvxC9ZjPEiLvRhxFYWbvsQ-i6ZoQUyk0n4H2xFZtMVVs/s1600/June+2015+Journey+Into+Womanhood+59+Copy_zps0hnqsfdu.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8rm2BHYAz4wZgUAWPCNV1E2dkDbs-8VsHnJdWFLkLmIlM_wc0R04aJvSLWqU009Ruuq_M8Xw8DLvxZTwKIIK6m4LATSSruGhjvxC9ZjPEiLvRhxFYWbvsQ-i6ZoQUyk0n4H2xFZtMVVs/s320/June+2015+Journey+Into+Womanhood+59+Copy_zps0hnqsfdu.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
ropjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10333680601800708885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818029815727663354.post-25540965750154718672015-07-27T19:03:00.001-07:002015-07-27T19:03:06.442-07:00Adventuring into Middle Childhood by Rachel Rothman, Apprentice Journey<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">“The heart of childhood, from seven to eleven, is the critical period for bonding with the earth.” – David Sobel</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 15px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
<b>The southeast corner of the Olympic National Park is an amazing and sacred place.</b> It is full of majesty and wonder. Captured best by the statement of a wise camper as we gazed up at the mountains: “This is the purple that I see from home,” referring to the Olympic Mountain Range when we looked to the west.</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 15px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
The Apprentice Journey began here. Leaving base camp, seven kids ages 8-10, two other grateful guides and I, shouldered our backpacks and set off on our mile and a half hike to what would be our home for the next two days. As with any Rite of Passage journey, the trials and tests we encountered and surmounted were abundant. </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 15px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
Less than 100 yards from our base camp, we had to shift backpacks and redistribute gear, and then watch as a water bottle took a lonely leap over the bridge. After rescuing the busted bottle, we continued on our way. Our trials continued too. The next half-mile met with weariness from carrying backpacks (to be expected!), a few wasp stings (ow! quickly remedied), and a stumble, resulted in a stunning, but luckily not wounding, experience. We reached our destination three hours later tired, uncomfortable and hungry. </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 15px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
However, we had made it to camp! <b>As we dropped our packs and began to explore our new environment, something amazing happened.</b> A shift took place from the feeling of the “grind” of hiking to the absolute wonderment of our surroundings. Once again I marveled in the present-ness of childhood — it took no time to immerse in the wonders surrounding us. </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 15px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
Over the next two days, we saw all kinds of wildlife, played in the water, and connected with each other and the earth. We supported each other when the distance of family or the “attack of mosquitos” proved to be too much.</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 15px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
<b>The rite of passage into middle childhood is grounded in the world of wonder, nature and family.</b> What a gift it was to watch these beautiful 8, 9 and 10 year olds adventure into middle childhood with strength and grace — a blessing I’m glad I was able to witness and share. Hope fills me as I venture into the future with these souls, our next generation of leaders.</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 15px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(64, 45, 34); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #402d22; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
“If we want children to flourish, to become truly empowered, let us allow them to love the earth before we ask them to save it.” - David Sobel</div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(64, 45, 34); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #402d22; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12px; min-height: 15px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyphenhyphensx38Hyf3SXCe91eXuOrcz367coajAOfKPbA4G_JRBFlzYdbBOOSJZ_EuKDgcNXkgA73SsDwJViJBtBZrmKIalfm7aR_1OF0tAnChqilZkO9tLMXiVgSyk5hKrt9rQg5Byd3MDwcPxE/s1600/IMG_4527_zps8llsinlz.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyphenhyphensx38Hyf3SXCe91eXuOrcz367coajAOfKPbA4G_JRBFlzYdbBOOSJZ_EuKDgcNXkgA73SsDwJViJBtBZrmKIalfm7aR_1OF0tAnChqilZkO9tLMXiVgSyk5hKrt9rQg5Byd3MDwcPxE/s320/IMG_4527_zps8llsinlz.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(64, 45, 34); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #402d22; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12px; min-height: 15px;">
<br /></div>
ropjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10333680601800708885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818029815727663354.post-17166216889512528722014-10-06T12:21:00.000-07:002015-03-26T09:04:51.060-07:00Becoming a Young Woman 2014 "Thalia"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Becoming a Young Woman is our 1-week, retreat-based coming-of-age experience for girls</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D_WQ6oGSXiY/VQCUip4plUI/AAAAAAAAADs/m5hS8St80ws/s1600/IMG_6746_zpsa903cecf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D_WQ6oGSXiY/VQCUip4plUI/AAAAAAAAADs/m5hS8St80ws/s1600/IMG_6746_zpsa903cecf.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Here is what Thalia (13) had to say about Becoming a Young Woman 2014:</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
At Journeys I met amazing people.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
People I never would have met otherwise.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My group leaders were amazing.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
They told us stories and taught us songs.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
On my solo I got to do a lot of writing.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And I got to just think about who I was after my week at Journeys.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I loved every moment of it.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I hope that if you're about to embark on your own Journeys quest, you will too.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f8NCSA1eszQ/VQCUjaPL83I/AAAAAAAAAD4/AQx9Tfpzfo4/s1600/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f8NCSA1eszQ/VQCUjaPL83I/AAAAAAAAAD4/AQx9Tfpzfo4/s1600/unnamed.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lcMUrwhpfLk/VQCUgTK25BI/AAAAAAAAADM/KHnnYmgm4l0/s1600/DSCF5625_zpse73c1ffe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lcMUrwhpfLk/VQCUgTK25BI/AAAAAAAAADM/KHnnYmgm4l0/s1600/DSCF5625_zpse73c1ffe.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UYRgHcrJUg8/VQCUgE8NIGI/AAAAAAAAADA/ykscX8sX1Q4/s1600/DSCF5657_zps23e5dd9d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UYRgHcrJUg8/VQCUgE8NIGI/AAAAAAAAADA/ykscX8sX1Q4/s1600/DSCF5657_zps23e5dd9d.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HkPkp8TXq0Y/VQCUgLGp0WI/AAAAAAAAADE/GRjHFHIXeZI/s1600/DSCF5690_zps5a208e88.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HkPkp8TXq0Y/VQCUgLGp0WI/AAAAAAAAADE/GRjHFHIXeZI/s1600/DSCF5690_zps5a208e88.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PsaCIq5o2Ao/VQCUhUKrYII/AAAAAAAAADQ/GlZ6L-dz7mg/s1600/IMG_6547_zps0575e344.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PsaCIq5o2Ao/VQCUhUKrYII/AAAAAAAAADQ/GlZ6L-dz7mg/s1600/IMG_6547_zps0575e344.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TsDczN76Cx4/VQCUh3S2yeI/AAAAAAAAADY/IiK7BTeMRik/s1600/IMG_6594_zpsc786b261.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TsDczN76Cx4/VQCUh3S2yeI/AAAAAAAAADY/IiK7BTeMRik/s1600/IMG_6594_zpsc786b261.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6OaSXkqe308/VQCUiQ3L11I/AAAAAAAAADo/UN6zUHkJeQk/s1600/IMG_6715_zpsf5b4d65d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6OaSXkqe308/VQCUiQ3L11I/AAAAAAAAADo/UN6zUHkJeQk/s1600/IMG_6715_zpsf5b4d65d.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Acg_QOq1s28/VQCUi9LeILI/AAAAAAAAAD0/juXdjJ7j0mA/s1600/IMG_6785_zps0b1c9d4e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Acg_QOq1s28/VQCUi9LeILI/AAAAAAAAAD0/juXdjJ7j0mA/s1600/IMG_6785_zps0b1c9d4e.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818029815727663354.post-78525910196964243902014-09-22T17:23:00.000-07:002015-03-26T09:07:22.312-07:00Up for the Sunrise: The Journey Continues 2014<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">(The Journey Continues is our
1-week high school aged trip)</span></i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">After some days in the
wilderness, priorities and pleasures will have shifted from normal day-to-day
life. That must be part of the explanation for why a group of teenagers and
their two leaders would agree to get up at five in the morning and hike through
the chill to watch the sunrise from a mountaintop.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HJ7P4o24qGI/VOaLeXXZjfI/AAAAAAAAABw/XCv8_kTXu8s/s1600/jc2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HJ7P4o24qGI/VOaLeXXZjfI/AAAAAAAAABw/XCv8_kTXu8s/s1600/jc2.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="separator" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">It was our last morning together.
I was pleasantly surprised that everyone was up for such an adventure after all
the uphill hiking we’d just done. But off we went through the slowly
brightening dawn up to the summit of Blue Mountain, in the NE Olympics, and
found an eastward-looking viewpoint that was sheltered from the bitterly cold
wind. It was a clear morning but for some haze hanging in the Puget Basin in
front of us. Our timing was perfect. After sitting quietly together for about
ten minutes, all of a sudden a brightness emerged through the haze, a startling
pink. As it rose and grew, it outlined the ridgeline of the Cascades,
previously invisible in the hazy sky. It was one of the most interesting
sunrises I’ve seen, and we all sat ooh-ing and ahh-ing for a while before
getting up to take some pictures.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-40kfPUtaIDQ/VOaLeaIRp_I/AAAAAAAAABs/jN7uiY8E9-4/s1600/jc3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-40kfPUtaIDQ/VOaLeaIRp_I/AAAAAAAAABs/jN7uiY8E9-4/s1600/jc3.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="separator" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">As I reflect on this experience,
I wonder: what were we saying, with our bodies and souls, when we chose to hike
up there to watch the sunrise? The sunrise is yet another thing usually taken
for granted, rarely given much consideration. But to all of us it seemed the
fitting thing to do. Watching the sunrise gives me a sense of looking into the
future, into possibilities. I often have an instinct to see it when some
transition or transformation has been afoot, when things feel new and fresh.
And even moreso, to see it from the peak of a mountain gives a sense of
incredible expansiveness. On our last day together, as we looked ahead to life
back home, the sunrise lent us a sense of fullness, completion, and a window
into what was coming next.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">In a way,
it’s reassuring to know that there’s such a rich experience to be had in simply
taking in this basic (though from another perspective, miraculous) everyday
occurrence. So I suppose that one thing we were saying was that we wanted to
show up for the simple but dramatic events woven into our days and really take
them in. That we wanted to seize the moment and come away with a unique memory
and story to tell. What else is there? </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IfgdykUQE1g/VOaLeUOjElI/AAAAAAAAAB0/LqjnVKCkXdk/s1600/jc1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IfgdykUQE1g/VOaLeUOjElI/AAAAAAAAAB0/LqjnVKCkXdk/s1600/jc1.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Submitted by Cameron Withey, guide, The Journey Continues 2014</span></i></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818029815727663354.post-87319444158996974192014-09-15T17:09:00.000-07:002015-03-11T11:55:23.859-07:00Call to Adventure: The Journey Begins!<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2gKY6HzIDo8/VOaEZevaoFI/AAAAAAAAABM/nQyj1bGHk_w/s1600/IMG_0448_zps1b3765a1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2gKY6HzIDo8/VOaEZevaoFI/AAAAAAAAABM/nQyj1bGHk_w/s1600/IMG_0448_zps1b3765a1.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15.6pt;">We
had a great adventure walking along the coast. Originally a co-ed trip, we had
a roster with 7 boys and no girls. Tara and Matt helped these big kids learn to
pack their bags, tie their knots, and push through the pain of adapting to new
circumstances with humor and beauty along the way.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qie8MA1Lq3Y/VOaEaFwQIbI/AAAAAAAAABc/httWBJFmRKM/s1600/IMG_0483_zps90d05bfe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qie8MA1Lq3Y/VOaEaFwQIbI/AAAAAAAAABc/httWBJFmRKM/s1600/IMG_0483_zps90d05bfe.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcynzFUikJ8k67zgg3Tt2R8WFCJB024BrWeHRmk58HiCdGHVwhjv6Uf3K0ttTcVaw9PmpglMpEoOGz6mBnKyFihAzYsfZUm1P970_gc1y18dmUiT0Nzl11zMUCsmavmV6WEyzN0FZLc8Re/s1600/IMG_0448.jpg"><span style="color: #6699cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: yes; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
id="Picture_x0020_2" o:spid="_x0000_i1026" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcynzFUikJ8k67zgg3Tt2R8WFCJB024BrWeHRmk58HiCdGHVwhjv6Uf3K0ttTcVaw9PmpglMpEoOGz6mBnKyFihAzYsfZUm1P970_gc1y18dmUiT0Nzl11zMUCsmavmV6WEyzN0FZLc8Re/s1600/IMG_0448.jpg"
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcynzFUikJ8k67zgg3Tt2R8WFCJB024BrWeHRmk58HiCdGHVwhjv6Uf3K0ttTcVaw9PmpglMpEoOGz6mBnKyFihAzYsfZUm1P970_gc1y18dmUiT0Nzl11zMUCsmavmV6WEyzN0FZLc8Re/s1600/IMG_0448.jpg"
style='width:180pt;height:240pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'
o:button="t">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\Alison\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image003.jpg"
o:title="IMG_0448"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--></span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Of our many nature
encounters, a notable one is a river otter that loped out of the forest and
into the ocean right beside us as we arrived on the beach for the first time.
We cooked many of our meals over wood fire,
which gave the participants plenty experience gathering wood and tending fire. The
days were spent hiking and exploring, and gathering and processing the
materials from the land we needed to survive. The evenings were spent in
telling stories of our experience and hearing some stories of long ago as well.
On the way to the boys' three-hour silent vigil in solitude, as we drew a threshold line in the sand, a juvenile bald eagle landed above us on a leaning fir tree, and soon
after we saw the circling of the two parent eagles. We walked past the eagle guardians
to the our brave explorers' sit sites, where they spent time in
ritual reflection on their journeys. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8dNBclZJ8jE/VOaEZHoF90I/AAAAAAAAABI/bHWEMZhfGOE/s1600/IMG_0464_zps0cbd23ee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8dNBclZJ8jE/VOaEZHoF90I/AAAAAAAAABI/bHWEMZhfGOE/s1600/IMG_0464_zps0cbd23ee.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After the kids were
welcomed back, we gathered as much firewood as we could carry and hoofed the
miles back to camp with the precious fuel from the trees we relied on, enough
for dinner, and even some hot chocolate before bed to celebrate all we'd
accomplished this week.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y-yXy1ShO8w/VOaEY9FHHMI/AAAAAAAAABE/C6HNVwKznps/s1600/DSCN0048_zps4e80743a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y-yXy1ShO8w/VOaEY9FHHMI/AAAAAAAAABE/C6HNVwKznps/s1600/DSCN0048_zps4e80743a.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i style="line-height: 15.6pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Submitted by Matt
McKinney, Guide for Call to Adventure 2014</span></i></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818029815727663354.post-18533318964189715382013-10-03T18:05:00.000-07:002015-03-26T09:21:56.446-07:00Coming of Age for Girls: Setting Sun, Rising Moon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Coming of Age for Girls trip started off with a tearful
song (They are going, they are going, they are going away…) as each girl said
goodbye to her family and took her first courageous step into the unknown. With
three women as their mentors, the girls loaded into the van, and we were off to
<a href="http://www.sacredgroves.com/" target="_blank">Sacred Groves</a> for two days to prepare our hearts and minds for the journey
ahead. The girls threaded bead necklaces, reflecting on who they are and who
they want to be as young women as they worked. Our first night was marked by
each girl saying YES to the journey, and receiving the gift of an animal ally
to support her goals for her trip. Some of the allies with us on our trip were Dragonfly, Frog, and Hummingbird. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwoPyhPaT6khm6az5XWBGNjAjan9iHmfIAGWDwxbe0sxVOSdaTFOhPflWYinBcWapTQuplb56P-QsP6XLEtNRRvqemoW8fMgWDecig6-LGRWCPiJDKbu16PXfjkDNQsFijBJwWDZdzBrIf/s1600/sweatlodge_fire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwoPyhPaT6khm6az5XWBGNjAjan9iHmfIAGWDwxbe0sxVOSdaTFOhPflWYinBcWapTQuplb56P-QsP6XLEtNRRvqemoW8fMgWDecig6-LGRWCPiJDKbu16PXfjkDNQsFijBJwWDZdzBrIf/s320/sweatlodge_fire.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Lighting the sweatlodge fire.</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our second day the elders of Sacred Groves, Tere and
Therese, held a sweatlodge for us—in the lodge we swam our way through the
sweat, steam, and darkness to dig deep for what it was each girl really wanted
out of the trip. At night we practiced fox-walking—walking quietly on the
earth—and heightening our senses. Each night as the girls scrunched down into
their sleeping bags, stories and jokes and excitement filled the
Moonlodge.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6O6gPARS0ex5MvvLrCNQucCTm0pZoz8V-tFnQA4_VcMsG8Sx8hjNtRUJgeQQzA6eEXLw_4STI4Yw_EBEdwKPFu_8CwCtMnL0oxm1Kfxv5Csaye0u4TdvzhufGQwYx3oMNzymu89MHlKJc/s1600/moonlodge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6O6gPARS0ex5MvvLrCNQucCTm0pZoz8V-tFnQA4_VcMsG8Sx8hjNtRUJgeQQzA6eEXLw_4STI4Yw_EBEdwKPFu_8CwCtMnL0oxm1Kfxv5Csaye0u4TdvzhufGQwYx3oMNzymu89MHlKJc/s320/moonlodge.jpg" height="240" width="320" /><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></i></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Hanging out at the Moonlodge</span></i></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Day 3 we headed out to Dungeness Forks Campground where we
were finally camping in the forest! The girls learned and practiced some of the
essential skills of camp craft and backcountry survival and performed skits to
teach each other Leave No Trace principles. The next day we packed our packs,
and headed out onto the trail under a light drizzle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even in rain, the trail up to Royal Basin
is beautiful.
Gratitude abounded on our trip for simple things—warm tea,
cover from the rain, a warm and dry sleeping bag.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD4sdvUPsHHhgoeot8CH2STHEf7ozQW-d_EFc3gQIo_F2wC14Oneti6vN8YzhecmQaEVadzRB28hflJ1UjxnTyWTMiFaOZmKq7MfgaNCIjM2QqIFIRIhq5r-FvC5vrPVqKJ021hgwEeQCB/s1600/royal_laketrail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD4sdvUPsHHhgoeot8CH2STHEf7ozQW-d_EFc3gQIo_F2wC14Oneti6vN8YzhecmQaEVadzRB28hflJ1UjxnTyWTMiFaOZmKq7MfgaNCIjM2QqIFIRIhq5r-FvC5vrPVqKJ021hgwEeQCB/s320/royal_laketrail.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Day hiking to Royal Lake</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
On our day hike to Royal
Lake, we sat down for
lunch and heard rustling in the brush nearby. We froze, looking for what was
scurrying about –and who should pop out of the brush, but a juvenile long-tailed
weasel! Here is a picture of one, although not the one we saw:<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjUovrKgQxqFFyd9ZOtlWM7bp68U-ixp-qTg6cMRtxsyWab2XIYKzkflKtKFR50Yu6gkEFN-3FRIBkSbycfAwk_-dHWpTHcNd_V4TOQyQXoY5OwMZ5peVp1KJQADm-rbp1poJsdZFroq01/s1600/Weasel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjUovrKgQxqFFyd9ZOtlWM7bp68U-ixp-qTg6cMRtxsyWab2XIYKzkflKtKFR50Yu6gkEFN-3FRIBkSbycfAwk_-dHWpTHcNd_V4TOQyQXoY5OwMZ5peVp1KJQADm-rbp1poJsdZFroq01/s320/Weasel.jpg" height="149" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
The moon welcomed us to 3<sup>rd</sup> Beach on our eighth
day together, and continued to glow bright even in the afternoons along the
beach. We hiked along the beach and up and down rope ladders to avoid high tide
zones. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmelJLnW2hP1hljjTFsHHU4ACwNS73aFeMZ6PlD1s03uiWMKENveQFtOOWHR-x5lfSjEXMJ9Qa4y2xL_aTxJQC2Pz10twVKEGWDOvwg1jcThXqiztLsnvKs0jzDpmjg0EsmiLFEAWz1NMh/s1600/ropeladders.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmelJLnW2hP1hljjTFsHHU4ACwNS73aFeMZ6PlD1s03uiWMKENveQFtOOWHR-x5lfSjEXMJ9Qa4y2xL_aTxJQC2Pz10twVKEGWDOvwg1jcThXqiztLsnvKs0jzDpmjg0EsmiLFEAWz1NMh/s320/ropeladders.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Working it out on a more gentle rope ladder</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We saw a family of otters, 3 little ones and one big one
make a sprint for the ocean, leaving behind perfect tracks to examine. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTl7KncecqT9XnH5Utsfuz0HD2jbSW5EhD3ijrzBr2dmVelIwk3wyYbpyriaZp6lnuSdxqBGgVHYpBbxTTIgFphZd5kXbAM9TCviaa_5GA5Xm5Hvt2qrLCOtMfi1dou8Ir9k07eQm6XjdC/s1600/ottertracks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTl7KncecqT9XnH5Utsfuz0HD2jbSW5EhD3ijrzBr2dmVelIwk3wyYbpyriaZp6lnuSdxqBGgVHYpBbxTTIgFphZd5kXbAM9TCviaa_5GA5Xm5Hvt2qrLCOtMfi1dou8Ir9k07eQm6XjdC/s320/ottertracks.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
The sun was setting at our backs and the moon rising ahead of
us on the afternoon that we arrived at Toleak Point to setup for the girls
24-hour solos—what poetry the cosmos loaned us at the moment that childhood was
setting for each girl, and their adolescence was rising!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikLfAe_SnqlEzRwKXuzDh13FSOLMa7NZ5wLKPg5Fh2VFuk9Eiu6sJJ3IhklgeCmMuzix1ujTZWM7Pa8hRIiMRLK8C0N_iP_esXwidECyQy37wOQ0N_KDqBZw5PilsGYYtRcr1s-KuGlvwg/s1600/moonlight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikLfAe_SnqlEzRwKXuzDh13FSOLMa7NZ5wLKPg5Fh2VFuk9Eiu6sJJ3IhklgeCmMuzix1ujTZWM7Pa8hRIiMRLK8C0N_iP_esXwidECyQy37wOQ0N_KDqBZw5PilsGYYtRcr1s-KuGlvwg/s320/moonlight.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We had a full day to prepare for the girls’ solos, and
plenty of time to play in the waves and check out the tidepools. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTmOeOqbYSi56vb13VAprNguFAHvxoMU86ggCbtJKbw-g24GIv3885hUHkmZI0jHy38agIIf1V1bZaT5ZMQybYDK8heKlvN71jtgZZZ_7GXFTo340QKILCpi8_p3yacCMF3wfwyiiR7mt2/s1600/tidepool_exploring.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTmOeOqbYSi56vb13VAprNguFAHvxoMU86ggCbtJKbw-g24GIv3885hUHkmZI0jHy38agIIf1V1bZaT5ZMQybYDK8heKlvN71jtgZZZ_7GXFTo340QKILCpi8_p3yacCMF3wfwyiiR7mt2/s320/tidepool_exploring.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The evening before solos was marked with a ceremony marking
the end of childhood, and early the next morning the girls were off to their
solo sites, to sink into the heart of the inner journey of the trip. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The next day each girl was welcomed back to the central camp
as a new person – as a youth. We sat in circle and each young woman shared her
story of reflection, dealing with the logistics of maintaining a camp all on
her own, what it was like to be alone at night, mustering up the courage and
determination to continue the solo despite hunger pangs and physical
discomfort. We celebrated their return with food, jewelry making, decorating
each other with henna, and hours of relaxation on a perfectly sunny day. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On our last full day on the beach, the group took on more leadership
and organized their pack out of camp, meals, and camp setup back at Third Beach.
We returned to Journeys basecamp to finish up our trip with an Elders Council
where elders in the Journeys community heard the young womens’ story of their
trip, a big feast, and a last campfire filled with love and appreciation for
each youth. Finally, our trip ended with an excited reincorporation of these
new youths back into the folds of their families. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sunshine may be mostly gone for the next six months, but the
stories that were shared in the August sun at Toleak Point—and the jokes told
around the fire, the songs sung, the intentions and dreams for ourselves that
we spoke aloud—are still glowing like hot coals in my memory, and will continue
to kindle us and whisper reminders of who we are, and who we hope to grow into, long past the
winter. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjAUC9uTh9wPo7c-376DVfG4k-27n_nQ390XYnOThGc6k2BsyCJLNkVrzyt672Ko8Ux6dlw2oCKo6y2Y4GzP06iNkY2GSCu05PcqeaByJIfqgAn46EEpsioIcwJaUwgXwIGZPkJKHHRlGu/s1600/wholegroup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjAUC9uTh9wPo7c-376DVfG4k-27n_nQ390XYnOThGc6k2BsyCJLNkVrzyt672Ko8Ux6dlw2oCKo6y2Y4GzP06iNkY2GSCu05PcqeaByJIfqgAn46EEpsioIcwJaUwgXwIGZPkJKHHRlGu/s320/wholegroup.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818029815727663354.post-66713509815349691132013-09-26T10:33:00.000-07:002015-03-26T09:15:21.063-07:00Wild Days - Coming of Age for Boys II<span style="font-size: x-small;">[written by Cameron Withey, mentor on Coming of Age for Boys, August 11-24, 2013]</span><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>It was the height of summer, 2013, and nine boys showed up to the yurt at Songaia to answer the call of the spirit of the wilderness: a call to testing and challenge, a call to listen more deeply to nature within and without, a call to live a greater and wider life. They were met by three men to guide them through this process, and off to the woods they went.</i><br />
<br />
Our first two days were spent learning basic skills of wilderness awareness and survival: how to step lightly and not be heard, how to listen and really <i>hear</i>, how to make simple shelter and pack a backpack, and how to stay safe amid backcountry dangers. We played games and all performed skits to much laughter and applause. We even were able to stop, as we journeyed towards our trail on the Sol Duc River of the Olympic Peninsula, to take a swim in the cool clear waters of Lake Crescent.<br />
<br />
Starting up the trail, it didn't take long for the group to encounter many of the challenges and joys of wilderness travel. We had heavy packs and sore legs, but also encountered amazing waterfalls and uncountable blueberries and huckleberries. There were bee stings and exhaustion, but also trailside frogs, salamanders, deer, and wild peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7UmhnZD93fZp8x-nk-FlEKawgFafgIduDzBN6dnLRzvDW6_jK05qbGozaZNBu0-GuMTdlYnVd_ycRX6vtnNAvSyfmdKKxjliawlyaCKt6_-iGeHgSw7NeaTYrVHX6UGZVE1HiY-6jrfM/s1600/IMG_0762_zpsa03e5d97.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7UmhnZD93fZp8x-nk-FlEKawgFafgIduDzBN6dnLRzvDW6_jK05qbGozaZNBu0-GuMTdlYnVd_ycRX6vtnNAvSyfmdKKxjliawlyaCKt6_-iGeHgSw7NeaTYrVHX6UGZVE1HiY-6jrfM/s1600/IMG_0762_zpsa03e5d97.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Looking at Sol Duc Falls</div>
<br />
On our second day on the trail we met a fierce rainstorm just as we were ascending a high pass near Bogachiel Peak. The wind blew rain on our faces and plastic-covered bodies, and fog rolled in, flowing over ridges and down into the valleys below. In the midst of this, we spotted a black bear, standing in a meadow not far below us, eating berries. We stood watching for ten minutes, hushed but for the dripping of the rain.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk4kAUL-2dsrNEW65MzfCgWE8TSga9DED3HYPLieBPMDDSCgovLU92-uOY4hN8v0fbdXZSfC12SMHSR0MYRJfCOqT_rnFOPBa2l_BCe0eWz_XFu26SBjgC7_8lHar26ghzuF-GaMd7byQ/s1600/IMG_0826_zps499675d8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk4kAUL-2dsrNEW65MzfCgWE8TSga9DED3HYPLieBPMDDSCgovLU92-uOY4hN8v0fbdXZSfC12SMHSR0MYRJfCOqT_rnFOPBa2l_BCe0eWz_XFu26SBjgC7_8lHar26ghzuF-GaMd7byQ/s1600/IMG_0826_zps499675d8.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Turned ankles, wet gear, steep hills, long hikes, homesickness, yes- but ahh: hot soup, fresh cat tracks in the mud, mind-boggling views of misty Mt. Olympus, the foggy Hoh River valley, and the deep clear lakes strewn across the rocky, flowery, sub-alpine land.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQxCfbN8MIGcc1w1cOmCwqwIZZInBuZR0mCeydY-OlT7W8E8fQ5ynrMo3w8buThwPonkRljvBjdzr4cddPHUS0V4HogTg5WyLkE4zEgwSspVQrYJnDDbs5g1PkeMLoaVKivsWRHYBIvig/s1600/IMG_0956_zps4a024a96.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQxCfbN8MIGcc1w1cOmCwqwIZZInBuZR0mCeydY-OlT7W8E8fQ5ynrMo3w8buThwPonkRljvBjdzr4cddPHUS0V4HogTg5WyLkE4zEgwSspVQrYJnDDbs5g1PkeMLoaVKivsWRHYBIvig/s1600/IMG_0956_zps4a024a96.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Blue Glacier at Mt. Olympus</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3N42P8lpEE3LQjGooCo95wbnNKSvqadn8JME7UGln96B_RpOCzeKVA5l5A2yqMC79sTZe7-8u3ggGQQOIneSHBETGG-ZOz_i5rErRLJ_H3sZBjSpUbgKyryIPqHE75Iy1qyGoQzIniJQ/s1600/IMG_0830_zps5cb2d529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3N42P8lpEE3LQjGooCo95wbnNKSvqadn8JME7UGln96B_RpOCzeKVA5l5A2yqMC79sTZe7-8u3ggGQQOIneSHBETGG-ZOz_i5rErRLJ_H3sZBjSpUbgKyryIPqHE75Iy1qyGoQzIniJQ/s1600/IMG_0830_zps5cb2d529.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Checking out a viewpoint into Seven Lakes Basin</div>
<br />
And then, after over 24 hours of near-steady rain, the sun broke free as we walked through a wildflower meadow along High Divide, and we basked in warmth, drying ourselves, awed by the mountains surrounding us. Conversation bubbled as we hiked down to our camp at Sol Duc Park for a merry evening, hot food, and deep sleep.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpuofRuBO7PXICoaLpDsJ1PD3urgYEhsQEvSr1gpDGlaXDYEHn3K9L8KWjqQ8B72Y8VjlmRdtXJgY6anZ6RmKXw0SNFBqDsIujCjkyBK1ibA7AEutIqWssGkS6PHPpv9oV6XaZQc1wcEY/s1600/IMG_0812_zps60f76929.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpuofRuBO7PXICoaLpDsJ1PD3urgYEhsQEvSr1gpDGlaXDYEHn3K9L8KWjqQ8B72Y8VjlmRdtXJgY6anZ6RmKXw0SNFBqDsIujCjkyBK1ibA7AEutIqWssGkS6PHPpv9oV6XaZQc1wcEY/s1600/IMG_0812_zps60f76929.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Lupines and Indian Paintbrush on High Divide</div>
<br />
As our short but intense trip through the mountains wound down, back along the Sol Duc River to our trailhead, we transitioned into our coastal leg. It began with a short hike through the woods on a damp, foggy morning, but it wasn't long once we arrived to the beach before the fog cleared and the sun came out. Everyone enjoyed some well-deserved beach play, involving frisbees and a major, whole-group engineering project on a tiny stream flowing down the sand from the hill above.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUYKwoermAbGMDPMqRurxcuzgZw6DxuYsc1x73JI30pS7yi3wPWdgvJDfP_Sn4AtiCaq3tTnYMWw_oSkNGpBFeA3OBwyMOVtj0MtgaTSL-M4DYM-ALltHdRhFRQhfAfriBnEPJJB-X5q4/s1600/IMG_0980_zps01c094b9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUYKwoermAbGMDPMqRurxcuzgZw6DxuYsc1x73JI30pS7yi3wPWdgvJDfP_Sn4AtiCaq3tTnYMWw_oSkNGpBFeA3OBwyMOVtj0MtgaTSL-M4DYM-ALltHdRhFRQhfAfriBnEPJJB-X5q4/s1600/IMG_0980_zps01c094b9.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The industrious young men</div>
<br />
It was a relief and a pleasure to be on the sand in the sun, and in the presence of the steady, re-assuring sound of the ocean, but like in the mountains our days were full of activity. The boys took on more and more responsibility for cooking, setting up and taking down camp, navigating, and generally directing themselves. They were challenged by their mentors to take responsibility for their choices and how they affected others. They spent solo time on the land and practiced making fires and shelter to prepare for their 24 hour solo fasts.<br />
<br />
The solo is the culminating event of the journey; the boys let go of their childhood and step into the unknown. On the night before they went out alone, we had a ceremony marking this brave step in which they each shared the masks they'd made and painted and what they represented about what they were letting go of. They each impressed us with their depth of self-reflection, and we witnessed them putting their masks into the fire. The next morning, at dawn, they walked out to their solo sites along the beach, to fast and sit with themselves and the wild world.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhie45x4sJNvjMYs6QoilrIB0i1OrFNpIkDm05y1AC3oRtHJtFn0NlsaQ6r0exYB9BLMj0yavdZvJLCIC7opdSNAqrRktt5s0TBCPtnx86MKpAB-BNJXCM_Sw-8uXxHMWm-rma0fnbT-C4/s1600/IMG_1018_zps3131888c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhie45x4sJNvjMYs6QoilrIB0i1OrFNpIkDm05y1AC3oRtHJtFn0NlsaQ6r0exYB9BLMj0yavdZvJLCIC7opdSNAqrRktt5s0TBCPtnx86MKpAB-BNJXCM_Sw-8uXxHMWm-rma0fnbT-C4/s1600/IMG_1018_zps3131888c.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
View from camp at Strawberry Point</div>
<br />
Rain and sun, eagle and otter, ocean and sky, fire and boredom, grief and insight. These were some of those present on solo day. We kept the fire burning, and the next morning welcomed them back with song, an orange wedge that tasted like "a slice of heaven," and miso soup. They each shared the story of their experience, each unique, each meaningful both in its simple reality and in ways we aren't yet aware of.<br />
<br />
Then: a day of relaxation: of games, naps, coal-burned utensil-making and carving, pizza, singing, and theatrics around the fire. What a day, what a life.<br />
<br />
The next morning we packed up and began our journey home, a journey that took us back along the beach with its rocky headlands and starfish, through a day of independence and self-determination for the young men, into the old humbling place of the sweat lodge, to a meeting with the elders, to stand before a gathering back home to share stories and be greeted as a new person, as a youth...<br />
<br />
<i>It's a journey that in many ways still continues...</i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSCoTUOGDGOlK-Kyf-6a5Xq1k2bTwuSNvMTqpxt5KWxUNm4eCnqGu2D5tKUZ_OfFnPFPJe2YOxzjzxn_fyCFox2gYertQ8p39G8UUHrh6XMBAKUK-qQT5qWZS7Uo4gVVzdCrw3e3ORmHg/s1600/IMG_1094_zps9163376e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSCoTUOGDGOlK-Kyf-6a5Xq1k2bTwuSNvMTqpxt5KWxUNm4eCnqGu2D5tKUZ_OfFnPFPJe2YOxzjzxn_fyCFox2gYertQ8p39G8UUHrh6XMBAKUK-qQT5qWZS7Uo4gVVzdCrw3e3ORmHg/s1600/IMG_1094_zps9163376e.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818029815727663354.post-80382555508584213472013-08-06T11:39:00.003-07:002015-03-26T09:33:55.030-07:00Personal Reflections from Solo Crossing<div style="text-align: right;">
08/02/13</div>
Hello, my name is Elena. I am 15 years old and from Colorado. I came to Journeys with my sister Emma, who also joined me on this trip. We have been away for 5 weeks now and are missing home so much. This was also my first time in Washington and backpacking the Olympic National Park. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. The best part of the whole trip for me was when we were in our sixth or seventh day into the trip and we just hiked six or seven miles that day to Anderson Pass. We were all exhausted and irritable when we finally reached the top. We got to the top and to our camp site and to our surprise there was a shelter there! All the kids were so ecstatic because it was like staying in a five star hotel for us. The most challenging part for me and the whole trip was the fact of how long the whole trip was. It wasn't really that long but, we were already gone for two weeks staying in Oregon and drove up from there. It's really hard to stay away from home that long. Overall, the trip was a life changing experience for me. The backpacking was awesome, the views were just breathtaking and the people were extraordinary. It helped me open my eyes to the person and the strengths I can do for this world. Thank you Journeys.<br />
<br />
<i> Hey, my name is Jaiden. I'm from Renton, and I'm fifteen years old. I heard about Journeys from one of my mom's friends, who thought it would be perfect for me. I did some research, raised some money, and bam. I was a-journeying. What can I say? Solo Crossing was amazing. Not quite what I expected, but hella fun. I think my favorite part might have been sliding down Anderson Glacier on my butt. They have a fancy word for that, glissading. Did you know that? Sliding down snow on your butt is called glissading. Anyhow, it was freaking awesome. Another amazing thing was my Solo. Forty-eight hours fasting? Psh, no problem. Solo Crossing was challenging for me too, though. I'm really not all that athletic, see, so all those steep climbs and switchbacks were not so fun. Taught me to be stubborn though. Well, more stubborn. Heh. But yeah. Overall, Solo Crossing was the best thing I ever could have done with my summer. I met amazing people, got to see postcard-esque views firsthand, and climbed a mountain. I really hope I can do this again next year. Thank you, Journeys!</i><br />
<br />
Hello, my name is Kathryn. Before this Journeys trip I felt like just an ordinary seventeen year old from the city of Chicago. Now, I feel fresh and ready to take on any challenge put in my path. I learned about this organization through my father who knew Steve James, the director of <i>Hoop Dreams, </i>a man who had documented trips such as these, following the adventures and difficulties of us young adults. I had a lot of time to think about my life, my family, my friends on this journey, and the decisions I will be making in the near future as an adult. It was a life changing period of time that I learned many strengths on, and shared much compassion with the other teenagers. I will never forget the first few days of hiking up the Olympic Mountains, which included sore muscles but beautiful views of a world which I had not known. Seeing the black bear with his brown tipped nose, the doe-eyed dear, the glistening glaciers, and much more had warmed my soul instantly. We also came to the coast of the Pacific Ocean, which I will say, was one of my favorite parts of the trip (although I had many others). The fact that we were able to fall asleep to the aching moans of the ocean and the eagles calling in the trees was astonishing. Before I even knew it hiking with a backpack for miles felt like nothing! I could almost picture myself as if I was the wind blowing through the trees and watching over all things living. I now have a spiritual connection with myself, with others, and with the outside. I look forward to the near future where I will continue journeys that call to the soul.<br />
<br />
<i>My name is Emma Baffin Donharl, and this trip has helped bring clarity on my transition from my childhood into this next year when I will be starting my life as an "adult". There were, and still are, many different pieces of me that have struggled throughout my life and are really painful. The ability to work on these hurt little pieces of Emma and realizing that I have to accept and love every part of me has been a very large and fulfilling part of this trip. My little sister and I were able to mend a failing relationship and start a healthy one to work on this huge transition and separation we are about to go through. The hike was beautiful, and having the ability to really immerse myself and find connection in a place other than my Rocky Mountains was invigorating. This trip really is a monument to my stepping into a new life, and I am thankful to Journeys to be able to make that happen.</i><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I am called Yestra Barnes Myint or Ye. I am from Edmonds, Washington. I was born in Burma, and I moved here about four years ago. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">On this three week long program, I had the most interesting </span>experience<span style="font-family: inherit;"> that I have ever had in my life. The program changed me into a completely different person in a positive way. It gave me time to think of who I am, and why I do what I do. Also, the guides that were there on the trip were amazingly helpful when the participant needed help, but they gave me a chance to learn how to handle </span>responsibility<span style="font-family: inherit;"> without too much </span>interference (which was really nice). I also was able to figure out how to function as a group efficiently and all of the people there were able to become good friends nicely well. The most touching highlight of this camp was when we did our solo, for it gave me a chance to be able to go deep within myself to search for answers. Overall, I believe that this was a totally amazing camp and I hope that it continues itself for future generations that are in search of something meaningful in their journey to becoming an adult! Thank you to all the guides and my mentor!<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818029815727663354.post-61313443516333258382013-07-30T12:10:00.000-07:002015-03-26T09:01:50.273-07:00Weaving Women -- Becoming a Young Woman<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span id="yiv6309414430yui_3_7_2_42_1374882902206_55"></span><br />
</span><br />
<div id="yui_3_7_2_38_1374883799093_126">
<span id="yiv6309414430yui_3_7_2_42_1374882902206_55" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><em>By Alex Eisenberg, Apprentice for Becoming A Young Woman, July 7-13, 2013</em></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span id="yiv6309414430yui_3_7_2_42_1374882902206_55">
</span>
</span><br />
<div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span id="yiv6309414430yui_3_7_2_42_1374882902206_55">
</span>
</span><br />
<div id="yui_3_7_2_38_1374883799093_56">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
<span id="yiv6309414430yui_3_7_2_42_1374882902206_55">Becoming a Young Woman is a unique trip for Journeys because it is not a backpacking trip. The seven girls who came on this trip did not struggle over miles of a trail. They did not experience the world from the top of a mountain. They did not get to enjoy the challenge of carrying all their own food and gear into the wilderness. Instead, they spent a week at Sacred Groves, a powerful and nourishing retreat center in the woods and meadows of Bainbridge Island. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span id="yiv6309414430yui_3_7_2_42_1374882902206_55">
</span>
</span><br />
<div>
</div>
<span id="yiv6309414430yui_3_7_2_42_1374882902206_55" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div id="yui_3_7_2_38_1374883799093_54">
<span id="yiv6309414430yui_3_7_2_42_1374882902206_55" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
And even though the girls of Becoming a Young Woman were not backpacking they were still on a journey--they still struggled, they still experienced "mountain-top" moments, and they certainly still had plenty to enjoy and plenty to carry. </span><br />
<span id="yiv6309414430yui_3_7_2_42_1374882902206_55" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span id="yiv6309414430yui_3_7_2_42_1374882902206_55"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">
</span></span>
<br />
<div>
</div>
<span id="yiv6309414430yui_3_7_2_42_1374882902206_55">
</span>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span id="yiv6309414430yui_3_7_2_42_1374882902206_55"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY-i38akXa2WggQosE2Ml0tfCndE3gr0C4_fc5H0nRU6qAQMe6oLuG6OMOK0_b3tlYLkezgChSqTYdGwM0XOiK4HTJKyWty1ouPgz9pB2A-o5aiUK8q9iyhG-r0IEc-For2ZXLb9mctRCX/s1600/DSC00137_zpsee992aac.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY-i38akXa2WggQosE2Ml0tfCndE3gr0C4_fc5H0nRU6qAQMe6oLuG6OMOK0_b3tlYLkezgChSqTYdGwM0XOiK4HTJKyWty1ouPgz9pB2A-o5aiUK8q9iyhG-r0IEc-For2ZXLb9mctRCX/s200/DSC00137_zpsee992aac.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></span></a></span></div>
<span id="yiv6309414430yui_3_7_2_42_1374882902206_55"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
The girls enjoyed trust-building games and wilderness-awareness activities. They enjoyed sunny afternoons and dance parties in the Moonlodge ("In the Moonlodge! We're all dancin' in the Moonlodge!"). They enjoyed fires, story-telling, yummy food, and new friendships. </span></span></div>
<span id="yiv6309414430yui_3_7_2_42_1374882902206_55">
<div>
</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_38_1374883799093_61">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What they carried were stories--good and bad, funny and scary, sad and uplifting. They carried stories about themselves and stories about each other. They carried stories about their childhood and stories about their future. They carried stories of their own lives and stories of people in distant and mysterious lands. They carried all of these stories, and each of them was different.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_38_1374883799093_55">
</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_38_1374883799093_93">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The girls also carried masks--masks that had been shaped by childhood and parents, by shelter and by storm; masks that were hiding some things that wanted to be seen. By the time we arrived at Sacred Groves those masks were feeling cramped and uncomfortable, and weren't fitting so well anymore. And those old stories seemed strange in this new wild place, with these new wild people, who actually weren't like the stories had said they would be. </span></div>
<div id="yiv6309414430yui_3_7_2_42_1374882902206_73">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
On Monday, the first full day at Sacred Groves, the girls were joined by an elder--a basket-weaver and a story-weaver. Kayla shared her weaving wisdom with the group, and then helped as each of the girls carefully crafted her own unique reed basket. Each basket emerged differently--all different shapes, sizes, styles, and combinations of colors. Through their artistry, each basket honored the important stories woven into them. And it was clear too that each basket was made to carry something different. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div id="yiv6309414430yui_3_7_2_42_1374882902206_77">
</div>
<div id="yiv6309414430yui_3_7_2_42_1374882902206_78" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As we wove, we sang:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_38_1374883799093_95" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Weave and spin,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Weave and spin,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is how our work begins.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Mend and heal,</span></div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_38_1374883799093_98" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Mend and heal</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Take this dream and make it real!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj__eYQXadKDk7f6SjNJzb5fM-xWsKV36KJccht7uPIeQ-q6JXAszYR1Q4bh2zjZb5nDONdcJCuHTNfrXYXFBQzDynAD83qauRyDC14qVNzU0lz712EbQrSz2dIw3oS0gp0A7au8nlIxaxc/s1600/IMG_3165_zpsf798fc7a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj__eYQXadKDk7f6SjNJzb5fM-xWsKV36KJccht7uPIeQ-q6JXAszYR1Q4bh2zjZb5nDONdcJCuHTNfrXYXFBQzDynAD83qauRyDC14qVNzU0lz712EbQrSz2dIw3oS0gp0A7au8nlIxaxc/s200/IMG_3165_zpsf798fc7a.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div id="yiv6309414430yui_3_7_2_42_1374882902206_80">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The next day, during the sweat lodge, the sharing deepened. The stories came out, the masks came off, and the intentions of each person began to weave into reality. Which stories would they carry into adolescence, and which would they leave behind?</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And we sang:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div id="yiv6309414430yui_3_7_2_42_1374882902206_86">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Spiraling into the center, the center of the wheel.</span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Spiraling into the center, the center of the wheel.</span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We are the weavers, </span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">we are the woven ones</span></div>
</div>
<div id="yiv6309414430yui_3_7_2_42_1374882902206_89">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">we are the dreamers,</span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">we are the dream. </span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We are the weavers,</span></div>
</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_38_1374883799093_99">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">we are the woven ones,</span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">we are the dreamers,</span></div>
</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_38_1374883799093_100">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">we are the dream!"</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div id="yiv6309414430yui_3_7_2_42_1374882902206_87">
</div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVVUhX69PlLQ-qfHHOjgSr4vNM2jhkcE0U_zxwu7MHdOZ05sNkWciUqnTmweSm3wbu1zzBSgN_l2IdFO8t1VQXVyxHVg_Qfpj3y0smjWW1mqjfe4OObkVAtu55RdYAxZRi33un9BjuMG11/s1600/IMG_3220_zpsf84e9c8f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVVUhX69PlLQ-qfHHOjgSr4vNM2jhkcE0U_zxwu7MHdOZ05sNkWciUqnTmweSm3wbu1zzBSgN_l2IdFO8t1VQXVyxHVg_Qfpj3y0smjWW1mqjfe4OObkVAtu55RdYAxZRi33un9BjuMG11/s200/IMG_3220_zpsf84e9c8f.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
Wednesday was almost like a dream. It was the day of the 8-hour solo-fast, and the girls stood around the fire in the misty morning, clutching their masks. One by one, they stepped forward and let them go, releasing the stories of childhood they no longer wished to carry. Then, one-by-one, they were led along a path of their empty baskets and crossed the threshold to the woods where they would go, alone. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE_pLJpi4F8AphVWrXQalwJRf9q3PU9Lj9OEjAXalb0U08xLPm4nwzpjEvRZshddqT4nLnuiXC59w1X4s_yfIjaHSiK1d6x3FO1SXC6G-GH4JqufVdMT48s4vA9tpMdXlk_lZSEsg8FXYf/s1600/IMG_3212_zpsaf6fa352.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE_pLJpi4F8AphVWrXQalwJRf9q3PU9Lj9OEjAXalb0U08xLPm4nwzpjEvRZshddqT4nLnuiXC59w1X4s_yfIjaHSiK1d6x3FO1SXC6G-GH4JqufVdMT48s4vA9tpMdXlk_lZSEsg8FXYf/s200/IMG_3212_zpsaf6fa352.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
Eight hours later, around the same fire, we welcomed back 7 young women, each with a brightly-painted cast of their face, shining boldly with intentions for what they will carry in adolescence. The baskets that had been empty now carried of gifts for remembering and celebrating the freedoms and responsibilities of this new stage of life.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div id="yiv6309414430yui_3_7_2_42_1374882902206_99">
</div>
<div id="yiv6309414430yui_3_7_2_42_1374882902206_94">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And celebrate they did! The group enjoyed a relaxing evening and then a wild night of sweet treats, dancing, being goofy and letting loose together, beading necklaces and telling stories. The celebrating and fun continued the next day as the group spent the morning doing each other's hair and make-up in preparation for the Maidenhood ceremony where they would be honored and witnessed as young women. And after the ceremony there were even more treats and dancing, and (finally!) on Friday we all got to go to the beach to swim and play before heading back to Songaia the next morning. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNUPgiuN1BdMfawCCd7qM3UFc1JbfUw503jqF71lp2ECPYiEBKkSPIZURBlEz32DHtL6PNDxJFlJJDfvdyS9ujdyawTRXwS2hCQI5QL-atqnGWchXc_8i862vXb4UGo8A6tE9Z4-gHYjpp/s1600/DSC00269_zps0c68fc8a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNUPgiuN1BdMfawCCd7qM3UFc1JbfUw503jqF71lp2ECPYiEBKkSPIZURBlEz32DHtL6PNDxJFlJJDfvdyS9ujdyawTRXwS2hCQI5QL-atqnGWchXc_8i862vXb4UGo8A6tE9Z4-gHYjpp/s200/DSC00269_zps0c68fc8a.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></span></a></div>
<div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sound like a whirlwind? It was! But it was also timeless.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In a reflection about the trip one of the young women had this to say about her experience: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"I think when we're in our day to day lives, we really forget who we really are. All of the technology and mindless babble going on around us, it's hard to really concentrate on who <i>we </i>really are. But when you get the chance to spend so much<var></var> time alone with yourself... It's truly enlightening. You get the chance not only to remember who you are, but to discover who you aren't as well. You can see your strengths and weaknesses clearly. You know your flaws, and you can see your own beauty. And you get to understand how you can change yourself for the better, so that the person you've always wanted to be can become the person you know you truly are." </span></blockquote>
</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_38_1374883799093_117">
</div>
<div id="yiv6309414430yui_3_7_2_42_1374882902206_56">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">All seven bold young women took this journey to uncover and remember who they are and want to be, and began to weave that truth into something they can carry with them as they move forward in their adolescence.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnIqG4PK9fnyUE4hTBS4E8Qa2HQLvW_XeXSaWOM0nmjPZQZbg5Lxz3-vCN4PcHlFvm2HDRDk8ozTh2mSKQSL31FqNK3rA_97cjrWtdXw9g8Ecc5dNJ-M_GJ1VWv9iPG3aTxCXD_FFo1w-m/s1600/IMG_3267_zpsd6780cf6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnIqG4PK9fnyUE4hTBS4E8Qa2HQLvW_XeXSaWOM0nmjPZQZbg5Lxz3-vCN4PcHlFvm2HDRDk8ozTh2mSKQSL31FqNK3rA_97cjrWtdXw9g8Ecc5dNJ-M_GJ1VWv9iPG3aTxCXD_FFo1w-m/s200/IMG_3267_zpsd6780cf6.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">AWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!</span></b></i></div>
</div>
</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818029815727663354.post-13118936437040311522013-07-17T21:25:00.000-07:002015-03-26T09:56:44.900-07:00The Journeyers Return: Notes from Coming of Age for BoysPhew! We've just returned to sunny Songaia after three weeks of journeying through the wilderness of the Olympic Peninsula, and questing through the wilderness of our hearts. Seven boys and four guides set out to undertake the journey between childhood and adolescence. We've braved glacial rivers, torrential downpours, and invasive sand, seen black bears and eagles, and each grown through the fires and blessing of traveling through the wilds with a group of fellow seekers. Below you'll find a glimpse of our journey, written by the boys on one of their final days. Enjoy!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif3FkNsOtSW4kfgcDBnuyzl8sjoNxCsyUiwfjJ0LV02lokN-fMrEwtCHlpsoXNN8zdFGC0ryZl-DmhrkftfwfCisHPHMaW9vY2AQXOTHOkkE9yLnt-fbJl5fba6Sv6C-Qx4CRsnBG6QpOb/s1600/photo_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif3FkNsOtSW4kfgcDBnuyzl8sjoNxCsyUiwfjJ0LV02lokN-fMrEwtCHlpsoXNN8zdFGC0ryZl-DmhrkftfwfCisHPHMaW9vY2AQXOTHOkkE9yLnt-fbJl5fba6Sv6C-Qx4CRsnBG6QpOb/s320/photo_4.jpg" height="272" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<u>Hiking</u><br />
<br />
During this trip we did a lot of hiking. It started off really hard between the heavy packs and the very treacherous trails, but as the journey progressed and our muscles grew, our packs got lighter, the trails became easier, and hiking overall was tolerable. We woke up early in the morning to start hiking and that did nopt help hiking being enjoyable. The weather everyday affected our moods towards hiking. In the beginning, it was very sullen and rainy, but over time the sun came out and our moods started to brighten. Though the hiking was not fun, the sense of accomplishment of finishing a trail or getting to an awesome view made it all worthwhile.<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhadKiqNHSzdXWWoX7SvajnAfd8gcuhxeVQ6PgPY_YxdeCkdmy-R1VOFTEH2jHvMFGiOcFyvA8GfjN9MP7Hwxzf4Fddu-nVy87Jve_u6gd6IBY3g7o1Zq24kk39icuNfb1dsNC9zkM5W0wY/s1600/photo_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhadKiqNHSzdXWWoX7SvajnAfd8gcuhxeVQ6PgPY_YxdeCkdmy-R1VOFTEH2jHvMFGiOcFyvA8GfjN9MP7Hwxzf4Fddu-nVy87Jve_u6gd6IBY3g7o1Zq24kk39icuNfb1dsNC9zkM5W0wY/s640/photo_1.jpg" height="534" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The group poses in front of the largest Sitka spruce in the world!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<u>Enchanted Valley</u><br />
<div>
<br />
Enchanted Valley was very beautiful. We really liked waking up in front of waterfalls and amazing mountains. We went on a day hike and it was very fun. We were stopped halfway through because the waterfall had broken the bridge across. Instead, we went to the river and had lunch. Overall, we think enchanted valley was very "enchanting".<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzxELIP2GLMG8M0lRQsCOebsmFSjiU7X4SLHNrDu85fgTQiWLAyo8b9C-SsEMakchmg4Yme1rDwWbr3P12gx-xra-9BSQeYUzCPYJIsUtCcsgZJBXg45slcXRREzdVV9ZDqIdZ6_7-RfSM/s1600/photo_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzxELIP2GLMG8M0lRQsCOebsmFSjiU7X4SLHNrDu85fgTQiWLAyo8b9C-SsEMakchmg4Yme1rDwWbr3P12gx-xra-9BSQeYUzCPYJIsUtCcsgZJBXg45slcXRREzdVV9ZDqIdZ6_7-RfSM/s640/photo_2.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Morning View of Enchanted Valley</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<u>The Beach</u><br />
<br />
The beach was a significantly different experience from the woods. First of all we would fall asleep to the sound of crashing waves instead of rushing river. The sand got everywhere which was annoying! It was a lot harder to hike on the and and it was a lot colder because of the ocean breeze. Overall, it was harder but still fun.<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGp-cXXy982wF7xBcaNzKzu1ZyHjPFlF40r2CUzU2cHVQAiNGhJXzy84nE1KCbeYVUjERJHw5XA9fKYJDsO19Zbhpunn7eMjWzgYCjYVVxSYmloiOakcCJpzpY75kSzBeUbhM6_pRwQqrF/s1600/photo_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGp-cXXy982wF7xBcaNzKzu1ZyHjPFlF40r2CUzU2cHVQAiNGhJXzy84nE1KCbeYVUjERJHw5XA9fKYJDsO19Zbhpunn7eMjWzgYCjYVVxSYmloiOakcCJpzpY75kSzBeUbhM6_pRwQqrF/s640/photo_3.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Washington or Hawaii?</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<u>Solo</u><br />
<br />
The solo was the most challenging part of this trip. We started very early in the morning and it was extremely cold. It got worse as the day progressed. It got colder and we got hungry. There were fresh muscles in the water that we could have cooked but out of a sense of duty, we agonizingly refrained ourselves. As the day grew longer and colder, we started to get very bored and lonely. We started to become into a state where we were growing emotionally and the whole days was physically and emotionally straining. When we got back we ate oranges that tasted like heaven.<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4PmVZTTmc9IJhrrs9Z7OKP0s9pDPuadKz7jMVgo5wQkTTkBvYyasQvlWRCZoZYb5fvxk_az4a7AvXUzK4iTem8ZPU73YVQfkEgMJrElPXNZ5H7BTXiwZla4PEhlSIOkv5T5ooesVQIgq9/s1600/photo.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4PmVZTTmc9IJhrrs9Z7OKP0s9pDPuadKz7jMVgo5wQkTTkBvYyasQvlWRCZoZYb5fvxk_az4a7AvXUzK4iTem8ZPU73YVQfkEgMJrElPXNZ5H7BTXiwZla4PEhlSIOkv5T5ooesVQIgq9/s640/photo.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An Accomplished Group </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 21.75pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 21.75pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #282726; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 18pt;"> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 21.75pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #282726; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 18pt;">Prospective Immigrants
Please Note </span></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: #faf9f9; line-height: 15.05pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
<i><span style="font-size: 10pt;">by Adrienne Rich</span></i></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: #faf9f9; line-height: 15.05pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
<i><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></i><span style="color: #282726; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 18pt;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"></span></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: #faf9f9; line-height: 15.05pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Either
you will</span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div align="center" style="background-color: #faf9f9; line-height: 15.05pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">go
through this door</span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div align="center" style="background-color: #faf9f9; line-height: 15.05pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">or you
will not go through.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div align="center" style="background-color: #faf9f9; line-height: 15.05pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">If you
go through</span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div align="center" style="background-color: #faf9f9; line-height: 15.05pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">there
is always the risk</span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div align="center" style="background-color: #faf9f9; line-height: 15.05pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">of
remembering your name.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div align="center" style="background-color: #faf9f9; line-height: 15.05pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Things
look at you doubly</span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div align="center" style="background-color: #faf9f9; line-height: 15.05pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">and you
must look back</span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div align="center" style="background-color: #faf9f9; line-height: 15.05pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">and let
them happen.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div align="center" style="background-color: #faf9f9; line-height: 15.05pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">If you
do not go through</span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div align="center" style="background-color: #faf9f9; line-height: 15.05pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">it is possible</span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div align="center" style="background-color: #faf9f9; line-height: 15.05pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">to live
worthily</span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div align="center" style="background-color: #faf9f9; line-height: 15.05pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">to
maintain your attitudes</span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div align="center" style="background-color: #faf9f9; line-height: 15.05pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">to hold
your position</span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div align="center" style="background-color: #faf9f9; line-height: 15.05pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">to die
bravely</span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div align="center" style="background-color: #faf9f9; line-height: 15.05pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">but
much will blind you,</span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div align="center" style="background-color: #faf9f9; line-height: 15.05pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">much
will evade you,</span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div align="center" style="background-color: #faf9f9; line-height: 15.05pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">at what
cost who knows?</span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div align="center" style="background-color: #faf9f9; line-height: 15.05pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">The
door itself makes no promises.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
It is
only a door.</span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818029815727663354.post-15323286453731535512013-07-16T14:57:00.000-07:002015-03-26T10:23:09.751-07:00Insights from Call to Adventure...rain, rain and more rain (with laughter along the way)<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">by Graham McLaren, Guide for Rite of Passage Journeys Call to Adventure - June 23 - 29, 2013</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The call to adventure of June 2013 brought together 9
intrepid explorers and three adventurous guides. We started off our first day getting
to know each other on a long drive to the Lake Ozette Campground. The group
arrived with the rain and quickly learned basic fire making skills. A hot dog
roast warmed bellies and eased the transition into the new group life
experience.</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZHQ7ksroBg0pPTrdjgUE4eURAnsiQaRdXH4t2uuf9SYDaXz01U5tKVwmGILLtTGTGjm522RT84oIDHdwj0v2M-OMkr5fslaNkxfPd5FbjAwW-t55vwtDHcmxmS5HJSpawpm1xzQFMmG6n/s1600/CTA1+2013+campfire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZHQ7ksroBg0pPTrdjgUE4eURAnsiQaRdXH4t2uuf9SYDaXz01U5tKVwmGILLtTGTGjm522RT84oIDHdwj0v2M-OMkr5fslaNkxfPd5FbjAwW-t55vwtDHcmxmS5HJSpawpm1xzQFMmG6n/s200/CTA1+2013+campfire.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the morning the group discovered the salmonberries
surrounding our site and this added a tasty distraction during the preparations
to hit the trail. There remained an air of uncertainty in the group as we
loaded and adjusted our gear and packs and even as we approached the trail. However,
once we were off the laughter and riddles began. Hiking though the old growth
forest to the coast turned out to be an easy first day for this group and we
were eager to explore the beach at Cape Alava, our first camping site. We
watched the tide roll in as we set up camp and prepared dinner. Bird alarms
warned us of an intruder and we caught site of a raccoon in a nearby tree.
Later we watched the raccoon sneaking around camp and investigating our bear
cans. We held our first council that night creating a safe container to share
and learn about our selves and to connect to each other on a deeper level. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The next day was our layover day. At low tide we explored
the tide pools all around Cannon Ball Island. We played games on the beach,
which were the highlight of the day for much of the group. The afternoon
included awareness exercises and activities designed to help us connect with the
natural world. We noticed dozens of great blue herons wading in the tide pools.
Then we had a sit spot along the beach, which allowed us to watch and then
experience a heavy rainstorm rolling in. The rain was truly our partner in this
adventure. It rained some (or a lot) every day. That evening students learned
that they could put together a skit for the reunion with their parents, and the
preparations began immediately. Each day during the trip they practiced and
performed new uproariously funny skits about life in the backcountry. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJUtlMsZgLRwCGTovyVV6wJBPyJcQCZ4WZLo6zFMpuAi-6K4tZMwHX9f8TQmJ8eNCIuKHlqTcF0oBxUQswvd6U6JFiVp_jYrHAiaiZ1LbZwwaL7eyZW3iMU6OggvEORz10DGESo3DUg5xz/s1600/CTA1+2013+in+water.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJUtlMsZgLRwCGTovyVV6wJBPyJcQCZ4WZLo6zFMpuAi-6K4tZMwHX9f8TQmJ8eNCIuKHlqTcF0oBxUQswvd6U6JFiVp_jYrHAiaiZ1LbZwwaL7eyZW3iMU6OggvEORz10DGESo3DUg5xz/s200/CTA1+2013+in+water.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6W2Di1RsNJJuSpPXbkeAy-kjOeBQEVZLi6mWaHPvkTc3p_w5mNcOrEHxldbY4wjLHLYMQSffg779eqMBQynZN5DJKVA3BlJAIwezCm_TI33ZICht4y7ZGL-AvMH8MEeb0s5QkuR0PuiMz/s1600/CTA1+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6W2Di1RsNJJuSpPXbkeAy-kjOeBQEVZLi6mWaHPvkTc3p_w5mNcOrEHxldbY4wjLHLYMQSffg779eqMBQynZN5DJKVA3BlJAIwezCm_TI33ZICht4y7ZGL-AvMH8MEeb0s5QkuR0PuiMz/s200/CTA1+2013.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The tides were a significant obstacle this trip and we had
to make an early start the next morning. Our goal was to head north and cross
the Ozette River in the morning at low tide. We made it across the swift,
ankle-high current and arrived at an extremely beautiful campsite. With the
culture of leadership roles established camp was set up quickly. When firewood
collection was thwarted by high tide we were reminded of how beautiful the
ocean scene was. After a time of sitting as a group watching the waves and the
seals, we ran with laughter and glee to play in the ocean waves. We saw the
ocean push back against the river causing her to rise higher and higher. We
transitioned to playing in the river and watched a river otter swimming and
chattering just a few yards a way. Then we relaxed, warming ourselves on the
beach rocks. During our after-dinner sit spot on the beach and we saw the
clouds break and we got our first glimpse of the sun as it began to get low in
the sky.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thought it rained much of the trip, the next day it <i>really
rained</i>. And it rained. And it rained some more. We had a tough morning getting
going and a tough hike along the coast. The sight of ravens flying off brought
our attention to a seal carcass. We marveled at the whiskers, flippers, size
and overall beauty of this animal, and then we noticed the eagle tracks in the
sand. We made it back to Cape Alava. But when we tried to push on further south
to our goal of Wedding Rocks, we were stopped by the high tide and couldn’t go
any further. And so we decided to stay at Cape Alava again. In moments the
adventurers had their tarps set and were underneath warming up in their sleeping
bags, joking and laughing. It was amazing to see how quickly this group learned
new skills, and adapted to the environment and each other in creating a
nurturing group experience. After dinner we sat around the fire and took turns
telling stories of significant events from our lives and it was clear the
safety and bonding each of us felt in that moment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUm_PNpNLAsyTKnjzSR6rD70W1UYG6VHFv4oC2IEmvXa9LC7QcdqpqZ4P6Rbbb_QxZgIgKrAmFVQoChKstDI7pUlN9ZKVFvB5HlTUh8prCZjScPR0D-YDEAWRZi-HaYXZcCCB1G2K667RV/s1600/CTA1+2013+whale+carcass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUm_PNpNLAsyTKnjzSR6rD70W1UYG6VHFv4oC2IEmvXa9LC7QcdqpqZ4P6Rbbb_QxZgIgKrAmFVQoChKstDI7pUlN9ZKVFvB5HlTUh8prCZjScPR0D-YDEAWRZi-HaYXZcCCB1G2K667RV/s200/CTA1+2013+whale+carcass.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The next day was mostly dry and we hiked to wedding rocks to
look for petroglyphs. The group was high energy this day and moved quickly all
day. We had heard of a whale carcass from other hikers and found it. We guessed
it to be 20 feet long and that was only the pelvis and some of the ribs and
vertebrae. It was amazing to see the skeleton of an animal whose ribs were
taller than any one in our group. Further down the beach the group also stalked
up close to observe a mule deer walking the edge of the beach and grassy slope.
After singing our farewell to the ocean we hiked back through the forest to
Lake Ozette. The laughter and singing of the group could be heard throughout
the campground that evening and in the morning as well. We had all grown
through the challenges, responsibilities, and by connecting with each other,
the natural world, and ourselves.<span style="font-size: x-small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDYlqawJSJZj3xE3YWQ2FqHQQjYIGl5ZFMWHlFhRzNeTHKSg_6q7T0SamhL3rxbHVnJSPJGjGZQTT3JepjS2yMgSJYHYJXRyaa6d7ukSRR8iLTSdEf4ZUakmSf5eFnBcm9am4e0npwBN1Y/s1600/CTA1+2013+groupshot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDYlqawJSJZj3xE3YWQ2FqHQQjYIGl5ZFMWHlFhRzNeTHKSg_6q7T0SamhL3rxbHVnJSPJGjGZQTT3JepjS2yMgSJYHYJXRyaa6d7ukSRR8iLTSdEf4ZUakmSf5eFnBcm9am4e0npwBN1Y/s320/CTA1+2013+groupshot.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818029815727663354.post-74912130366221922622012-11-04T15:44:00.000-08:002015-02-19T17:49:46.339-08:00Flickers: Reflections from the Adult Wilderness Quest<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wildfire reminds me to
accept. I can never decide if it should be celebrated or mourned. Whichever I
choose, the fires will burn. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">~~~</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The spark had been kindled in us long before we even knew,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And we each held it burning in our chests, in our bellies, in
our bowels</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Silently</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">until we gathered.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Like a gathering storm we come together,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Twelve questing people</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Four of us guiding</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Eight of us seeking</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All of us setting off together</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">for 9 days in the wilderness valley</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">of our souls.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Each with our own story,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">questions, wounds, and fears.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lost, angry, grieving</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ourselves and the earth;</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Feeling the intensity of this moment in time;</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Looking for healing, answers, solitude, community;</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Looking for each other</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Looking for ourselves</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Looking to ignite our visions </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and dance in the flames.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">~~~</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first day all together, preparing to depart for the
valley, we exchange beads with each other, weaving our lives and stories
together. We string our beads around our necks, and the little stones start to
knock against each other and spark; reminders of the little fires we are trying
to keep alive within ourselves.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That night, we circle around a fire pit stacked high with
wood. As per tradition, myself, the youngest, and Deanna, the eldest, each take
our sparks in our hands and cast them onto the pile. We—the bookends,
representing the range of adulthood and all the experience between—ignite the
flame of our collective quest.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And the fires start. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The fires start that night as we sit in our sweat lodge. We
sweat and spark the grandfather stones back to life and call in the elements
and the directions. In the pitch darkness we call in eagle and he flies us over
to the valley where the heart of our quest will take place. Our flight creates
static with the air and lightning strikes the ground like a match; we drop
sparks of prayer as we fly past. We return and circle around, and dive—spiraling
down into the womb of the earth. We sink into hypnosis as we stare deep into
the fire burning within our ancestors—the rocks burning hot to alchemize our pain
and longing, our stirring souls, into something new. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The fire burns.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The stars above me streak across the sky, and somewhere in a
valley far away lightning strikes 1000 times. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The morning crackles with anticipation as we pack our gear
and drive out over the mountains. Upon our arrival to the river valley, we
learn of lightning the night before and a wildfire that it had kindled in an
adjacent valley. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The forest burns. We cross the river.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">~~~</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have one full day at base camp before our solos. We spend
our time circling around the altar—spiraling closer to our intentions. We each
find our solo sites, where we will go for three days to fast, reflect, and
quest alone. The night before our departure to our sites we are called to the
altar for the death lodge. A voice tells us “you have to die to be reborn.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We resist, or accept. Either way, Death takes us one by one,
and we read our goodbyes out loud and burn them. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We each blow out our own candle, extinguishing everything we
know. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The fire dies.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We die.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Darkness engulfs.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The silence returns.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cold sets in. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">~~~</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For three long days we sit at our separate sites in a circle
of our prayers, in the ashes of ourselves, and we fast. We mourn, cry, celebrate,
sleep, circle, learn, listen, witness, carve, kill, create, write, paint,
build, break, shiver, shake, throw, scream, dance, chant, pray, and sing; we rediscover,
re-imagine, and re-envision ourselves; and finally, we reignite our souls. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the fourth morning, as the sun emerges to rekindle the
day with its light, we each emerge like the phoenix, and we return.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">~~~</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That day is a warm day, a campfire day, with hot soup, hot
showers, warm potatoes, and the warm company of each other. It is a slow day of
crafting and absorbing, expressing and releasing. We take our blank masks and
enliven them with the color of our new truth. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As we continue circling—spiraling now in our new directions—smoke
begins filling the valley. We share our stories. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The fire is spreading. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">~~~</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the last night we release our prayers onto the wind in a
purple bonfire at the riverside. They drift up to mingle with the smoke from
the wildfire. (Three days later, driving down I-90 in Seattle, my companion
notes the smoky air and says that the wind has carried the smoke all the way
out here from Wenatchee. “And the prayers,” I add.)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The fires blaze wild in the night.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">~~~</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the morning, the valley’s all a haze and there is new
urgency hanging in the air. As we prepare to close the space, uniformed men
come and tell us we have to evacuate by evening. The fire, started the night before
we came, has finally reached us, the day we plan to leave. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Holding our own stories and each others, we say goodbye to
this place, especially the trees who have been our guardians during those days.
We leave them behind with a blessing, and new questions flicker to life in our
minds: <i>What will become of this place? What does the forest think of wildfire?
Is it a feared enemy? A necessary evil? A welcome friend? Or simply a sign of
change? Do trees mourn their own deaths? Do they resist it?</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Before crossing the river, I stand facing a tree, my arm
extended so my palm caresses the bark. I feel the tree’s energy flowing through
me. I sense a hint of fear but mostly knowing, mostly understanding: the fire
comes not to destroy, but to renew. “You have to die to be reborn.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We cross the river. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the other side, winding up the dirt road, we see the
leaves have newly turned, burned with the cold. They are bursting flames of
red, standing out suddenly against the evergreen—initiated into their new
stage. The new season begins. The fire blazes around us. Our hearts burn with new
commitments to ourselves, to our people, and to our Earth. The fire blazes
within us. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">~~~</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As we drive out of the valley, the sun is hazed over in a
thick smoke, but our vision is clear. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Written by Alex Eisenberg, October 2012</span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818029815727663354.post-22868204241634339412012-09-27T08:46:00.001-07:002015-02-19T17:49:59.041-08:00The Journey Continues: We Spiraled In<object height="300" width="400"> <param name="flashvars" value="offsite=true&lang=en-us&page_show_url=%2Fphotos%2F49096457%40N04%2Fsets%2F72157631260120204%2Fshow%2F&page_show_back_url=%2Fphotos%2F49096457%40N04%2Fsets%2F72157631260120204%2F&set_id=72157631260120204&jump_to="></param>
<param name="movie" value="http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=109615"></param>
<param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param>
<embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=109615" allowFullScreen="true" flashvars="offsite=true&lang=en-us&page_show_url=%2Fphotos%2F49096457%40N04%2Fsets%2F72157631260120204%2Fshow%2F&page_show_back_url=%2Fphotos%2F49096457%40N04%2Fsets%2F72157631260120204%2F&set_id=72157631260120204&jump_to=" width="400" height="300"></embed></object>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We spiraled in:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Into the labyrinth at base camp in Bothell and across the Sound on the ferry,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Into the mountains, looking out across Olympic ranges from Deer Ridge, then down</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Into the valley of the Greywolf River at its three forks,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Got into some wild berries, intimate councils, and giggly games of psychiatrist,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hiking through old-growth forests, the river our constant companion, and up</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Into subalpine meadows of lupine and indian paintbrush and waddling marmots,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And finally into the basin of Cedar Lake,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Into solo time.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And there we sat in the still mountain air</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The silence broken by the occasional piercing whistle of a marmot.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The three participants sat on their own in quiet reflection</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Perhaps soaking up the life of the place around them</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Perhaps learning how to rest more deeply in themselves</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And the fog rolled in thick. It mad a sort of visual silence, a cool unknown</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And then rolled through as clouds swirled above the rocky ridge towering over us,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Letting the sun break out here and there in bursts of glorious warmth.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hours passed and we brought our brave journeyers back together around a little fire</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And they added a little glow as they spoke their first words emanating out of their quiet solitude.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And then we began spiraling back out:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First bites of post-quest food, almond butter noodles,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hiking down, more games and laughter,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hiking up (oh how we beasted that hill),</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And down again out of the mountains and across the Sound</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We sang our song to family and friends, and walked</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Out of the labyrinth and back into our lives, refreshed, re-inspired, ready. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By Cameron Whithey</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photos by Emily Pease</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818029815727663354.post-65709705370396746952012-09-27T08:18:00.001-07:002015-02-19T17:50:23.594-08:00Coming of Age for Boys 2012<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the summer of 2012, our group of eight boys set out on a three-week backpacking trip through Olympic National Park. Our objective was to begin to fill the shoes of young men and step out of our childhood neediness. We began our journey as complete strangers, yet grew to become close friends. Along the way we faced many obstacles; such as strenuous hiking, learning how to work together, and getting adjusted to the new routine. We overcame these obstacles only with the help of our friendship and guides.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIRNqZ7dtkO-gCnpRfwoihGmN8OdiDOqVLza8iQ_lpsi5L_s3SAHFQrYDZ0NvXQ1esRk7PBmbSzGRUXwylRhhMH4wBj_S8bAav5yee49tk22OQ1n5BxCE4x6cKIFPy9n-qzqCzOK8ifHBK/s1600/P8060085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIRNqZ7dtkO-gCnpRfwoihGmN8OdiDOqVLza8iQ_lpsi5L_s3SAHFQrYDZ0NvXQ1esRk7PBmbSzGRUXwylRhhMH4wBj_S8bAav5yee49tk22OQ1n5BxCE4x6cKIFPy9n-qzqCzOK8ifHBK/s320/P8060085.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of our biggest challenges was becoming mature enough for our guides to step back and let us take control of the trip. Pulled together by the great leaders in our midst, we did a good job beginning to take on the responsibilities setting and breaking camp. Breaking camp was difficult for us, and this resulted in the opportunity to do community service trash pick-ups and a lot of exasperation. Fortunately, we learned from our mistakes and improved our clean-up skills.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The physical element of the trip was yet another challenge we faced, and took a great deal of courage to surmount. We hiked a full mile (over 5000 feet!) of vertical and crossed raging rivers, babbling brooks, lush meadows of wildflowers, and flitted across vast fields of glowing snow, then we traveled to the beach and traversed b beaches and scaled sandy bluffs. To culminate this adventure we spent 24 hours of solo time on the beach while fasting and partook in a sweat lodge ritual.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuZL8O9Wg5FTKr-k2bNN5_1RrERlpxLstG1uDY6tzNgS-2ebQWwgSTk3afTDgmk3nhrSyFUndYb1jJHWUhpCT75bncssWmC2hj5GIdLBbfV0_V4Lu5RamTEQpr5aHMHs7NVJKHTpX9d9Sr/s1600/IMG_3207.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuZL8O9Wg5FTKr-k2bNN5_1RrERlpxLstG1uDY6tzNgS-2ebQWwgSTk3afTDgmk3nhrSyFUndYb1jJHWUhpCT75bncssWmC2hj5GIdLBbfV0_V4Lu5RamTEQpr5aHMHs7NVJKHTpX9d9Sr/s320/IMG_3207.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This journey taught us about nature, ourselves, and being a young man in today's society. It helped us let go of our childhood neediness and dependency, find out about our strengths and weaknesses, and use this enlightenment to step into the role of a young man and start giving back to the people who raised us and cared for us through childhood.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">--written by Isaac Zinda and Rowan Gallagher</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818029815727663354.post-87120781473580848672012-08-21T21:32:00.000-07:002015-02-19T17:50:35.644-08:00Coming of Age for Girls 2012<br />
<div class="ii gt adP adO" id=":59" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 15px; margin-top: 5px; padding-bottom: 5px; position: relative; z-index: 2;">
<div id=":5a">
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
We just returned home from an amazing three week trip in the Olympics with four wonderful young women and three magnificent mentors.<br />
<br />
By day, we challenged our bodies, pushing ourselves to keep going even when we felt like we could not make it up one more switchback. By night, we pushed our hearts and minds to open, sharing our deepest selves in council.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVcRzQSKQRmIYkidtUXK7rootbwvMGOfExQRKo0ul4pbM8L2YkkKuodAFY14I6pZEAvgMGBubmcycr_nl4hrcWAYOWnYqNoeeQHm4uaOrIn3EtkQYIKCgvCE3v7BQjPuZLcy8RkQYFgpeV/s1600/DSC08749.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVcRzQSKQRmIYkidtUXK7rootbwvMGOfExQRKo0ul4pbM8L2YkkKuodAFY14I6pZEAvgMGBubmcycr_nl4hrcWAYOWnYqNoeeQHm4uaOrIn3EtkQYIKCgvCE3v7BQjPuZLcy8RkQYFgpeV/s320/DSC08749.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
We climbed from sea level to almost 5000 feet, all the way up to Anderson glacier, where the vista opened up in every direction, our eyes feasting upon peak after peak, up into the wide blue sky, and down into tree covered valleys.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt_GlbGtFHQ_sRVJoyip_aVfHci2oQBy6JvNe_sIUsUOkPGNJypLxlWImqNZoXdJfMRpwzVoM7ykyv61hXy_AXnJmrTxIC1gODkwquwAj_ebAoJuk1M-9btexrCPb_z59PWEaBsVX5InO7/s1600/DSC08700.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt_GlbGtFHQ_sRVJoyip_aVfHci2oQBy6JvNe_sIUsUOkPGNJypLxlWImqNZoXdJfMRpwzVoM7ykyv61hXy_AXnJmrTxIC1gODkwquwAj_ebAoJuk1M-9btexrCPb_z59PWEaBsVX5InO7/s320/DSC08700.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwXk0ZBQEkTDCaaPUAGkyCijzLiZgAAFbB4mY1ILa7XFLobeW-tByys1-Gy6IUVRyjc6bk0wa2cwhTcxQ_YrMJZUhDtEnannXarEIeReXYiN46AivHFC7Fpb-uVWUvq6RFgxtp4PR9_70E/s1600/DSC08717.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwXk0ZBQEkTDCaaPUAGkyCijzLiZgAAFbB4mY1ILa7XFLobeW-tByys1-Gy6IUVRyjc6bk0wa2cwhTcxQ_YrMJZUhDtEnannXarEIeReXYiN46AivHFC7Fpb-uVWUvq6RFgxtp4PR9_70E/s320/DSC08717.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
At the top, near Anderson Glacier, we took a break for sledding in a snow bowl.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dybnEPmJKxob-Bqma-BOm8BIHTlVewWMxVuDrsH6NF1jbXuF4G0dvUJMVc43l72sCBlcESalnR25YvQHwmGgw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
We spent a week exploring the beach, climbing beach ladders and giant rocks, watching otters and seals play in the surf, discovering crabs, starfish, and anemone in the tidepools, and relaxing in the warm sand.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqCK0UHEufMAKYSrbr8BM1JnRHbfrAZ4XFfroAq2eW-EJIk7apgkI5KhwEPmaeSCXgj1zzEK-UHPwx-dO59xvYbiNyEMTLfSpVyvzq7brkIQr0dGRbExFm-RB5U39HeowQmbPSGNTs1xPW/s1600/DSC08840.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqCK0UHEufMAKYSrbr8BM1JnRHbfrAZ4XFfroAq2eW-EJIk7apgkI5KhwEPmaeSCXgj1zzEK-UHPwx-dO59xvYbiNyEMTLfSpVyvzq7brkIQr0dGRbExFm-RB5U39HeowQmbPSGNTs1xPW/s320/DSC08840.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIJuOzw6uSPfkS5C_ni7gu8WuVnNvHKNEVBzhQwgL9cTlAPXpyvoclqIOkkxB8ynX8Apky7uDzrkTOf7e3o07oHyUSeC7mwqtMUQPJJGEnHesHI7dBmyZiio_eW66iTJxHSqeYofjce_Jk/s1600/DSC08851.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIJuOzw6uSPfkS5C_ni7gu8WuVnNvHKNEVBzhQwgL9cTlAPXpyvoclqIOkkxB8ynX8Apky7uDzrkTOf7e3o07oHyUSeC7mwqtMUQPJJGEnHesHI7dBmyZiio_eW66iTJxHSqeYofjce_Jk/s320/DSC08851.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjkaSzEDzaxYCp5uQbPVSwz8jyD6kSgDlFADRCiPlX59_Tw06MrqxyLelRHbBo6mb-Z8L3gTzIOjdmvRr7J2Kn6KueyQCPdgG-22DNnHxY_Y564VexRlpVfrpcUkhlJBjFPePSHkVlNVx1/s1600/DSC08854.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjkaSzEDzaxYCp5uQbPVSwz8jyD6kSgDlFADRCiPlX59_Tw06MrqxyLelRHbBo6mb-Z8L3gTzIOjdmvRr7J2Kn6KueyQCPdgG-22DNnHxY_Y564VexRlpVfrpcUkhlJBjFPePSHkVlNVx1/s320/DSC08854.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
After hiking almost 50 miles, singing, laughing and supporting each other the whole way, we got to rejuvenate and celebrate at magical <a href="http://www.sacredgroves.com/" target="_blank">Sacred Groves</a>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEZnlLjqRoQ0dI7Um6AcI401gpyLX2u_b9zUmeB4RYVyMHSNVVQzyYQugPvjHYCUWGvgBShIJOoYrZGBAkrjjuGnfa5Ln1Mo6Z6IUxD9uijffATpvJlTvO85fgm4Bs6kOWllI3ifTSfRYc/s1600/DSC09006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEZnlLjqRoQ0dI7Um6AcI401gpyLX2u_b9zUmeB4RYVyMHSNVVQzyYQugPvjHYCUWGvgBShIJOoYrZGBAkrjjuGnfa5Ln1Mo6Z6IUxD9uijffATpvJlTvO85fgm4Bs6kOWllI3ifTSfRYc/s320/DSC09006.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Here is a song the young women wrote on the Journey (First verse by Cameron Withey).</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzpJQ_U5ceBGNGnPXB-AftpvHrpsah-f4NvrYx99rHT4t9sfj6x0jK309y0o3ERjQAN0D0BVVa6dMcjCqFM3g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="yj6qo">
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="hq gt" id=":4y" style="border-collapse: collapse; clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 15px;">
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818029815727663354.post-6393646691364119742012-08-14T10:04:00.000-07:002015-02-19T17:51:02.290-08:00Call To Adventure 2012<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">As Stan Crow (founder of Journeys) says "The Call To Adventure is a call to release the daredevil in each of us, to reach out for the next stage of our lives. The call is the mysterious and intoxicating voice that calls us from the sleep of our routine lives - a charismatic call from within to risk and discover what comes next". </span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz8CISY9YrYlYTKpuG3O1G0pc9axpGH_5bNvFzMsghyjtqA-FlzSigbbdEEnkRP26-EPvtPR4wf0xAbacyE1pPLT3-iLSMwcxVBKvqq6oqhS14Uy9OAJzwH2qOcOtsLXeUpPe8DRbJ553N/s1600/DSC02503.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz8CISY9YrYlYTKpuG3O1G0pc9axpGH_5bNvFzMsghyjtqA-FlzSigbbdEEnkRP26-EPvtPR4wf0xAbacyE1pPLT3-iLSMwcxVBKvqq6oqhS14Uy9OAJzwH2qOcOtsLXeUpPe8DRbJ553N/s320/DSC02503.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Well, it just so happens 9 intrepid adventure's and 3
brave mentors heard this call, what followed was a trip along the
Olympic Coast that will remain in their hearts forever. This trip
tested us on many levels, conjured up deep belly laughter, and allowed
us all to connect to ourselves, each other, and the natural world
around us in meaningful lasting ways.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-diyzXlqFzo4G3veZQLv6zVj71t0KAKaKjsjWd55s2Qh-Fjys1eobOZtN1xyTlsEAcXztQLfMvrAwCIlCutbostyJEdZXWkhK2o_RpEd6PqwRbD2zH3BYIGmRbS6x2isa6LtrDysl2OR9/s1600/DSC02494.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-diyzXlqFzo4G3veZQLv6zVj71t0KAKaKjsjWd55s2Qh-Fjys1eobOZtN1xyTlsEAcXztQLfMvrAwCIlCutbostyJEdZXWkhK2o_RpEd6PqwRbD2zH3BYIGmRbS6x2isa6LtrDysl2OR9/s320/DSC02494.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw-IbypqOthZf4_aY6AaQw3bVVbejAcb9jfjwsMjdAmfhuO2a-nQ9zBTBs0u6czTD7UjyJnN7EZPZgg9Uh-_XID2aoL6lIjSXdwiPlaIDJ96aucVKVsUDJ7mmbiSq4HYRI2lHGOlOzQgze/s1600/DSC02507.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw-IbypqOthZf4_aY6AaQw3bVVbejAcb9jfjwsMjdAmfhuO2a-nQ9zBTBs0u6czTD7UjyJnN7EZPZgg9Uh-_XID2aoL6lIjSXdwiPlaIDJ96aucVKVsUDJ7mmbiSq4HYRI2lHGOlOzQgze/s320/DSC02507.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLzSG7SfFljBmWKZXcUw9vi3pPu1afSs0Y6YvW0crbLnL3RQgltvdSn2tY6ZFH9LIB457s_xhgRp3W3iaYEgAuwINA4g9TfsGruUlAVmk6WqAShvfvtcsj6CkBCPeeffRDQIZ891tQIaHs/s1600/DSC02513.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLzSG7SfFljBmWKZXcUw9vi3pPu1afSs0Y6YvW0crbLnL3RQgltvdSn2tY6ZFH9LIB457s_xhgRp3W3iaYEgAuwINA4g9TfsGruUlAVmk6WqAShvfvtcsj6CkBCPeeffRDQIZ891tQIaHs/s320/DSC02513.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuMiXgosMCV-NtcJh22Nw4PZHTE-KiDgfmsCfMfbc_A-93r-Q_Eu2aCXugDaUj55wkTYQORiFoanro0bGS17ufJPCoMElWUKe_Uh_IDsv2pXH8hJj7nU1KjxutqCTvQc6pEDnnudKfK-ox/s1600/DSC02527.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuMiXgosMCV-NtcJh22Nw4PZHTE-KiDgfmsCfMfbc_A-93r-Q_Eu2aCXugDaUj55wkTYQORiFoanro0bGS17ufJPCoMElWUKe_Uh_IDsv2pXH8hJj7nU1KjxutqCTvQc6pEDnnudKfK-ox/s320/DSC02527.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw9gXksbzsujE2GU49WCQN3sblacImE88JxhaXuSqja-zqwRCawW_wL0Gkela00frRsu6-z_6K2yrQJlxhLn4TO_ah098wYt1F-Uj5zgmI-5vOqHZxe-7AJi5Db2yYWL514VjHn1sS4KGg/s1600/DSC02678.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw9gXksbzsujE2GU49WCQN3sblacImE88JxhaXuSqja-zqwRCawW_wL0Gkela00frRsu6-z_6K2yrQJlxhLn4TO_ah098wYt1F-Uj5zgmI-5vOqHZxe-7AJi5Db2yYWL514VjHn1sS4KGg/s320/DSC02678.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7loc_Cqm3E67fpnDing19xcV0FNEme6mKwR3jxB-V_Hjo9J9I2Hm9OYD_D5bQsz1UZpH0qS1Qby1_YKvkfpO_nV_jFr_zGauWmUupXxV5YSv_ZU8xxMBfVSEIrEajqZi2dkk04aQ_xjYU/s1600/DSC02544.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7loc_Cqm3E67fpnDing19xcV0FNEme6mKwR3jxB-V_Hjo9J9I2Hm9OYD_D5bQsz1UZpH0qS1Qby1_YKvkfpO_nV_jFr_zGauWmUupXxV5YSv_ZU8xxMBfVSEIrEajqZi2dkk04aQ_xjYU/s320/DSC02544.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnmhfW9L621Beegff0u7M9flyYCHSp5NefQPcMQ7xo1zvX1Iffxh52NT6Rg7KHPZEm3RnjQQSf-gCkQfmzp1ohpcuaWNY2IpfCqg1qDlG95dBQL9uuKrTpIhJYZtt78yWIa4l0ZdzEj0lE/s1600/DSC02568.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnmhfW9L621Beegff0u7M9flyYCHSp5NefQPcMQ7xo1zvX1Iffxh52NT6Rg7KHPZEm3RnjQQSf-gCkQfmzp1ohpcuaWNY2IpfCqg1qDlG95dBQL9uuKrTpIhJYZtt78yWIa4l0ZdzEj0lE/s320/DSC02568.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbda9p7Q2VUGDnhIfuoyRmG6k3Z6TGAxlcmN6ip182GkSrdWIvqA_n2S2_s4TdV7xbGrTdCcceQHA83Cyfmiqrfbj7-27yhZuucmg6y7rNZeAXjLSu7eflkj1tGDzpz2DlU7k_TVFYHq33/s1600/DSC02669.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbda9p7Q2VUGDnhIfuoyRmG6k3Z6TGAxlcmN6ip182GkSrdWIvqA_n2S2_s4TdV7xbGrTdCcceQHA83Cyfmiqrfbj7-27yhZuucmg6y7rNZeAXjLSu7eflkj1tGDzpz2DlU7k_TVFYHq33/s320/DSC02669.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt-vRfgkMQ2ZbDy8tJ36bkgFZp8XUCLoZxwA645JMiYhdg60HPtWWRCbssW6BPSBMGoPQbnMpFsvmVvEt57uDRlhOnwIL1g_iiv_Mpm4dIR5XILgCc-c-8n2-2IXdM76WEzwziXUTBrWKm/s1600/DSC02589.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt-vRfgkMQ2ZbDy8tJ36bkgFZp8XUCLoZxwA645JMiYhdg60HPtWWRCbssW6BPSBMGoPQbnMpFsvmVvEt57uDRlhOnwIL1g_iiv_Mpm4dIR5XILgCc-c-8n2-2IXdM76WEzwziXUTBrWKm/s320/DSC02589.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRCCnsd3hwwW5eAAirIwxti4M9n7Td9GPZtvJDXFYWEXGYV4fHrReClqPsaaLmSgQufFUrDeKv1CgP6H5cro5Z_SYgpL83oHJUmryN0Z40ZJLztCNB0L39S3bDe4H6oaF-DiBZz044jav9/s1600/DSC02717.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRCCnsd3hwwW5eAAirIwxti4M9n7Td9GPZtvJDXFYWEXGYV4fHrReClqPsaaLmSgQufFUrDeKv1CgP6H5cro5Z_SYgpL83oHJUmryN0Z40ZJLztCNB0L39S3bDe4H6oaF-DiBZz044jav9/s320/DSC02717.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Long arduous walks through old growth forest covered with mighty giant Sitka Spruce's, Doug Fir's, Cedars and Hemlocks. Beaches with hundreds of tide pools to explore, Bald Eagles flying overhead, juveniles swooping down gracing us with their presence, jagged rocky shorelines, the ebb and flow of the tides, and one solid group merging together as a cohesive unit to marvel at all the wonders the coast had to offer us.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Starting at Lake Ozette our tribe headed out with our heavy packs carrying everything needed for our week long adventure. Bear cans filled, water bottles topped, and 12 people trying to defy the law of gravity and rise towards the sky as our packs pulled us towards the ground.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Our first night was spent at Cape Alava,
the quintessential campground along the route, a campground and area
that was once inhabited by the coastal Indians who flourished there
with the bounty and beauty of the sea. What filled our nights?
Cooking simple (now stretch your imagination and shrink your taste
buds) .......and delicious back country meals! What's more......
campfires, songs, stories, games, laughter, fun, and camp chores filled
our evenings.</span><br />
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoXSmPIeowxwxuJj9gHxSHBkQuQKd-w6-Uh2XG7kwzxbc1XhA5PafI9A73HuWI27VxKztJBo4uwHvoUnxuQpql6feWMauyISthsrXcLDEbUwGwWs8fW164dK2LFy4bAMcvnXRgGBXYdajt/s1600/DSC02476.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoXSmPIeowxwxuJj9gHxSHBkQuQKd-w6-Uh2XG7kwzxbc1XhA5PafI9A73HuWI27VxKztJBo4uwHvoUnxuQpql6feWMauyISthsrXcLDEbUwGwWs8fW164dK2LFy4bAMcvnXRgGBXYdajt/s320/DSC02476.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiek2-LCtljnkIH8ucJGWbasnbmsEc1N_i9DOOIm26jge6TUGVwml8QNxGhLeBr7sTjHxdWjmVMX3t4P6kIqUBEgX8SyDtQ5c9khYlqj74KQh6OtVc2a0fgs645GITZEKnFYwrzHeDH8q-k/s1600/DSC02518.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiek2-LCtljnkIH8ucJGWbasnbmsEc1N_i9DOOIm26jge6TUGVwml8QNxGhLeBr7sTjHxdWjmVMX3t4P6kIqUBEgX8SyDtQ5c9khYlqj74KQh6OtVc2a0fgs645GITZEKnFYwrzHeDH8q-k/s320/DSC02518.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN3kVCHhVfBwUeANPLqGu22G9jQcxOokHvJsCpCocAlt8cdPZLx4b7PwpZiB2hfjPVxrO7WoqEauQtQNDssIK0D-ypi83R__E3Awy7WkVZlq6NRaggOBMDpEvtx4qBTwZXVGfv4OpBl9t_/s1600/DSC02523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN3kVCHhVfBwUeANPLqGu22G9jQcxOokHvJsCpCocAlt8cdPZLx4b7PwpZiB2hfjPVxrO7WoqEauQtQNDssIK0D-ypi83R__E3Awy7WkVZlq6NRaggOBMDpEvtx4qBTwZXVGfv4OpBl9t_/s320/DSC02523.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cape Alava</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">As the week progressed our incredible group of 9 daring adventurers continued to trek along the coast, carrying their lives on their backs and believe it or not having fun without the use of electronics or other modern conveniences! Most of our days were spent moving along the coast with many breaks along the way for exploring, resting, and playing games. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDmEqd1P6F_9CdLM_OgLQ97D7ShJ64PYiR-aEDAN7pYHeCXVVmCDhF77a2QueC8jOsYmzUZOnljE2PFhq1Wtw5_xvKN8F3Ioki4aBMl9QOOvFPcSbUmrEJH7AaZQjeFDipAW6b2lxssgjq/s1600/DSC02538.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDmEqd1P6F_9CdLM_OgLQ97D7ShJ64PYiR-aEDAN7pYHeCXVVmCDhF77a2QueC8jOsYmzUZOnljE2PFhq1Wtw5_xvKN8F3Ioki4aBMl9QOOvFPcSbUmrEJH7AaZQjeFDipAW6b2lxssgjq/s320/DSC02538.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ2Z4WEfs9Xcfad3wtpDj70mzLpDqxijdSUUaqTWkj4S7UlpYxVf2Ww0hevqjd0LKSU6RFvgFX9APgcYXd6havJT8DswYyZQOHkrCgm0aMQRNCnurS6VHEX0__tnzqIN0oFsB0uyZ3XINq/s1600/DSC02561.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ2Z4WEfs9Xcfad3wtpDj70mzLpDqxijdSUUaqTWkj4S7UlpYxVf2Ww0hevqjd0LKSU6RFvgFX9APgcYXd6havJT8DswYyZQOHkrCgm0aMQRNCnurS6VHEX0__tnzqIN0oFsB0uyZ3XINq/s320/DSC02561.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpGMNIvEzhPZeYeSifzXd8qAzpsRVvUiVFLPe7DB8DH0L8czdlFNyJuAdYoMlE3cBqlRDxtsjV6-cRIrYs32rJx6sct1kHJm3JxYjallIvWesluk63Yj-pZNk6fNjZ9EeXe1muGFD5pzFW/s1600/DSC02571.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpGMNIvEzhPZeYeSifzXd8qAzpsRVvUiVFLPe7DB8DH0L8czdlFNyJuAdYoMlE3cBqlRDxtsjV6-cRIrYs32rJx6sct1kHJm3JxYjallIvWesluk63Yj-pZNk6fNjZ9EeXe1muGFD5pzFW/s320/DSC02571.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaFxfnKYz1WNqeFU8X7SukgDIgNE2YiXWes7MtxOH1ahqxm9EjQf8wPNX4MU4kUNb7By6iclcgjxyG3_jXsGtcG7JtVdZ-nQMYad4dmv8uQWaWx04XzaABksAMilVrtZ2J_iO9UBydeOEj/s1600/DSC02559.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaFxfnKYz1WNqeFU8X7SukgDIgNE2YiXWes7MtxOH1ahqxm9EjQf8wPNX4MU4kUNb7By6iclcgjxyG3_jXsGtcG7JtVdZ-nQMYad4dmv8uQWaWx04XzaABksAMilVrtZ2J_iO9UBydeOEj/s320/DSC02559.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxarqMYseiLvSG8PMEIRv6GsPD2bpLaCwdG3oMzl4M1ur5cmA9HRDbQZQ0dieB2hcARoWThw_JWvzJRavJR5vLIjnpHOGBZglIDIcoAJifq_B5fSCn570wVCigoOuC49KyHUXWPvGe9F0W/s1600/DSC02649.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxarqMYseiLvSG8PMEIRv6GsPD2bpLaCwdG3oMzl4M1ur5cmA9HRDbQZQ0dieB2hcARoWThw_JWvzJRavJR5vLIjnpHOGBZglIDIcoAJifq_B5fSCn570wVCigoOuC49KyHUXWPvGe9F0W/s320/DSC02649.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> Our week was filled with all kinds of sunshine and all kinds of rain.....in fact we made up a verse to a song we sang "Rain Rain Rain Rain, when I dream I dream of rain, drizzling, misting, downpouring sideways let the rain come" and come it did! Our culminating experience was marked with massive amounts of persistent rain which forced us to befriend the rain, become comfortable with being wet AND plan an early departure out of the park to a front country campground where we would spend our last evening as a tribe. So, 13 wet soakateers headed back to Lake Ozette. The only thing between their current location and the van at Lake Ozette was a 5.5 mile walk, sandy beaches, lush forest, and animals camouflaged along the way.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">With tired thighs, sore backs, wet clothes, grumbling tummies and ecstatic smiles for real bathrooms we made it back to the Lake and headed to a nearby campground. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiXVwGR2Ku-JdwYbeXvNDGQoABxxkUCXAdO7BupqgOl0XX5_wAffUmCqBizQtwYD0PEwVOrlMOw0COWiTVZalFilpD6C6H_WGxnlTUbkKM_OT_TmljCqy1GYYoGoGjdyvKSS-ZLXhFIm53/s1600/DSC02715.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiXVwGR2Ku-JdwYbeXvNDGQoABxxkUCXAdO7BupqgOl0XX5_wAffUmCqBizQtwYD0PEwVOrlMOw0COWiTVZalFilpD6C6H_WGxnlTUbkKM_OT_TmljCqy1GYYoGoGjdyvKSS-ZLXhFIm53/s320/DSC02715.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We did it!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjismPiGB3DbB8aXrT68Z2v6LNCz3KyVPWKVNBJ_ifnU6-nlU2QHAcd9vcARZQKIOEG2QNCwomqt84g4isHfaFnXhaOJH3NaTmLq5GIQFh1UVAGsKc47oMFYfFmIByQqq1gn_TpAiI8g_CQ/s1600/DSC02697.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjismPiGB3DbB8aXrT68Z2v6LNCz3KyVPWKVNBJ_ifnU6-nlU2QHAcd9vcARZQKIOEG2QNCwomqt84g4isHfaFnXhaOJH3NaTmLq5GIQFh1UVAGsKc47oMFYfFmIByQqq1gn_TpAiI8g_CQ/s320/DSC02697.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivCIz6NXolZh4rB0eZDoJXEHZbu7qtk7Oyzkk2PUhOPJsTYJZGfU2tpnACyJCh_AUyxYi6MnHrDPeY-ol_mezIDPKtMmDDjJDj3UOGqNXrJnxwdopIkcVIOFYWBN5WIPs5MuysTTdHMnvX/s1600/DSC02670.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivCIz6NXolZh4rB0eZDoJXEHZbu7qtk7Oyzkk2PUhOPJsTYJZGfU2tpnACyJCh_AUyxYi6MnHrDPeY-ol_mezIDPKtMmDDjJDj3UOGqNXrJnxwdopIkcVIOFYWBN5WIPs5MuysTTdHMnvX/s320/DSC02670.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Our last evening together before going back to </span>Songaia<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> was filled with sharing memorable moments from our trip, appreciating one another, laughs around the fire, and two Barred owls talking to us for a good portion of the evening. Back at </span>Songaia<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> the participants met their families with open arms, smiles, stories, and a poignant song,"Fly Like an Eagle" that kept our spirits lifted as we lived for a week as a unified tribe in the back country and along the coast of the Olympic Peninsula!</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhc_K2Zq6Bpxx_kowWrO72PWmn0pcY6UcXu_icChebpzxXCgRZe0i5sYUEmsXJo3F0KxSbYklN1yW_YFz_RHyRGSW3uFFE3uQaZhUJkCSLd2ro7OL94ry85Tf5Fjjjl9-s-mleMvr5OTmq/s1600/DSC02731.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhc_K2Zq6Bpxx_kowWrO72PWmn0pcY6UcXu_icChebpzxXCgRZe0i5sYUEmsXJo3F0KxSbYklN1yW_YFz_RHyRGSW3uFFE3uQaZhUJkCSLd2ro7OL94ry85Tf5Fjjjl9-s-mleMvr5OTmq/s320/DSC02731.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back at Songaia</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818029815727663354.post-8410454800797329152012-08-10T10:57:00.002-07:002015-02-19T17:51:26.553-08:00Solo Crossing 2012: The Way of the Hummingbird<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Over the course of three weeks, in our tribe of twelve, we were kept company by Hummingbird. Incredibly, this magical little bird visited us almost everyday! It had something </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">to tell us about our time together, and we listened...</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>First Leg: The Challenge of Rugged North Fork</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our first leg, five days on the rugged North Fork trail, was certainly the most physically challenging of our trip. Our second day on the trail, we hiked almost 10 miles, much of it uphill. While it was challenging for everyone, it certainly helped get our mountain legs on in a flash! The highlights of this trip for everyone was our day hike to Low Divide. We had our lunch on a huge boulder in the midst of a verdant valley, surrounded by waterfalls and snow-capped mountains. We watched a bear as it played on the snow, eventually plopping down and taking a nap. We sat in a group sit-spot, meditating on and deeply feeling the beauty around us. Those few hours in the gorgeous surrounding continued to affect the group for the remainder of the trip, with many citing it as their favorite moment of the trip.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Second Leg: The Splendor of Enchanted Valley</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We spent our next leg in the lush beauty of Enchanted Valley. The trail felt easy as pie compared to North Fork, and we zoomed through most of the hiking. Enchanted Valley was exquisitely beautiful. We sat enthralled by the many waterfalls, moss-covered trees, and elk grazing across the creek. Some of us were fortunate enough to come close to a doe and her fawn. We got a tour of the historic ranger station by the kind Wes Gaston, and learned about the history of the area. During our last night, we held a men's and a women's council separately. We spoke of the difficulties of growing into men and women and how to act with integrity during that process.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Third Leg: Fun and Solos on the Beach</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Before we embarked on our last leg, we were able to shower. What a pleasure after two weeks of grittiness! We all noticed how much more we appreciated the simple things, like fresh food and warm water, after our time in the wilderness. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first day of our last leg was pure fun. We hiked a short 1.5 miles to the beach and immediately kicked off our shoes. The sun was out, the sand warm, the water perfect for wading. We spent many hours just playing together. From there we moved into preparation for the 48-hour solos. The majestic Olympic coast was an apt place to be doing such deep soul work. Coming back from the solos we transitioned back into play, enjoying many rounds of "Mafia" together.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>The Wisdom of the Hummingbird</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Hummingbird is a joyous bird that revels in the beauty of the natural world. It flits from flower to flower, spreading its love of life to others. Hummingbird is also impossible to cage. It must be free in the wild, otherwise it dies. </i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As we explored outer and inner wilderness together, we embodied the spirit of Hummingbird. We experienced awe and appreciation for the natural world together and alone. Our days on the beach, at Low Divide, and in Enchanted Valley will stay with us forever. Just as we felt closer to the wilderness outside, we also felt closer to our inner wilderness. We felt our own wild selves, the parts of ourselves that must be free to flourish, that cannot be caged. Each of us found something on this trip that we could stand up for and take a stance on, something that we cared about deeply. Hummingbird provided us with so much wisdom, and we are grateful to it for blessing our trip.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818029815727663354.post-47125372493030005142012-07-16T18:47:00.000-07:002015-02-19T17:51:47.995-08:00Becoming a Young Woman 2012<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjCYG2dOCx5DPpiUdy0llmrehkszxNLHgDv3dDm8jJuOS_3J6ycYbDxTU2qz1vZPUwBtFKLqOKeWN-KGxUhZ6as9re6pUjFIDe7nL1EyQ2JR-AgO75Vv5-52VNJH2bFuK6h_LWeF14KBxM/s1600/IMG_2870.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjCYG2dOCx5DPpiUdy0llmrehkszxNLHgDv3dDm8jJuOS_3J6ycYbDxTU2qz1vZPUwBtFKLqOKeWN-KGxUhZ6as9re6pUjFIDe7nL1EyQ2JR-AgO75Vv5-52VNJH2bFuK6h_LWeF14KBxM/s200/IMG_2870.JPG" height="133" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the
first evening of our time together, around the crackling fire, an old story was shared. It was the
story of a village that barely survived a cold and hard winter long ago. The people of
that village believed that if they went through one more cold winter that they
would not be able to survive, so they lived in fear. As another winter
approached the people asked nature to be kind, but the winter was hard yet
again and the people barely survived. So, as in many good stories about the
past, some of the villagers walked to the outer edge of the village to ask the
wise old woman what they were to do. Her answer was to send a young warrior
into the woods to look into the eyes of a wild animal and through that look a
message would be communicated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Many of
the people of the village were not compelled to look a wild animal into the
eyes and they shrugged away from the idea, they went about their regular
business. But there was one young girl who accepted the challenge. She was
nervous but she knew that her people needed her to face this challenge
courageously. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXp08EnkG2CylefiA2HPO__LOYXWl_N54meGXAnDM6anFgyjgLTP9Aglx83IiXwkcdgsXNLXh0PT_tJ7dx-Af8-Do-EVBodbJHfTvLJBoH-PZmCW7rQ6UEojEs6VUh69y8sswhDVCJkIuH/s1600/IMG_2760.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXp08EnkG2CylefiA2HPO__LOYXWl_N54meGXAnDM6anFgyjgLTP9Aglx83IiXwkcdgsXNLXh0PT_tJ7dx-Af8-Do-EVBodbJHfTvLJBoH-PZmCW7rQ6UEojEs6VUh69y8sswhDVCJkIuH/s200/IMG_2760.JPG" height="133" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I won’t
share the rest of the story now… but as the dark of the evening set in we all,
three mentors and nine girls chose to look into the eyes of the wild
courageously for our week together. We each tossed a piece of cedar into the
fire as we spoke about an “edge” that we are facing during the week: challenges
like making new friends, solo time, and sweat lodge. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKSuvAHMocaRupzY-3i0g6966r7ZePhX0EawUbNclR0w7zaAQXNIcEWyq06IUdK8iAqKH9GA-hUYsdZyvyrMS-4qWo_RvBsow1KVGxOjE8WaW4pQkafu-gV_NlsK-fmRJY3_cNuYCGH7o5/s1600/IMG_2876.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKSuvAHMocaRupzY-3i0g6966r7ZePhX0EawUbNclR0w7zaAQXNIcEWyq06IUdK8iAqKH9GA-hUYsdZyvyrMS-4qWo_RvBsow1KVGxOjE8WaW4pQkafu-gV_NlsK-fmRJY3_cNuYCGH7o5/s200/IMG_2876.JPG" height="200" width="133" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As the
night faded into the next day we started to find connections within our group.
Friendships began to form and we played goofy group building and awareness
awakening games together. Laughter began to erupt across the Meadow of Sacred
Groves on Bainbridge Island. One girl said, “Is this my life?!” and another
said, “This camp should be named the Awesomist-Awesome-Camp!” and we were
introduced to what would become our camp motto, “YOLO!” (or “You only live
once!”). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the
days that followed we participated in meaningful ceremonies, learned some
primitive skills (like starting a fire with a bow-drill, cooking directly on
the coals, and making herbal medicine), and stepped into the woods for solo
time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDX9pFJeEwlQzhf6p4bDSkyPnlQ6bFwtkb_dsGCUXQxQSyIQpBNLOOwE3dS7lamAl49tIab7kIi5TxoG4cCwSXauc4xa-4dQPjYVjp_RnrqFTt860m9VbJanyjm7fQb5RZjtpFAHncFgfu/s1600/IMG_2880.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDX9pFJeEwlQzhf6p4bDSkyPnlQ6bFwtkb_dsGCUXQxQSyIQpBNLOOwE3dS7lamAl49tIab7kIi5TxoG4cCwSXauc4xa-4dQPjYVjp_RnrqFTt860m9VbJanyjm7fQb5RZjtpFAHncFgfu/s200/IMG_2880.JPG" height="133" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On July 4<sup>th</sup>,
Independence Day, the girls were sent off for their 8-hour solo time in the
woods. As they faced a long day alone in the woods, something that many young
people and adults never experience, the mentors maintained a Sacred Fire in honor
of the girls. The 8 hours may have passed slowly in the woods but all of the
girls met the challenge with grace. And as they returned to the Meadow to the
sound of a celebratory song each girl smiled with pride. After the song ended
and the silence was broken the girls began to chatter, excited to return to
their new friends. The group became a community that night. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv_u7W-LtfZ9l4SQMbD9zk05GwAWtqHfWoh4ryyujYVr23D_zMZL5MemnKDvzJLG-Odgl1h2tx8nsshJK7fFMRrKWVQ7r7Ig8CiRKNNbf8DJvumgIMfUNN4agkWjcjoAtfdX-BSXNRdOvO/s1600/IMG_2911.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv_u7W-LtfZ9l4SQMbD9zk05GwAWtqHfWoh4ryyujYVr23D_zMZL5MemnKDvzJLG-Odgl1h2tx8nsshJK7fFMRrKWVQ7r7Ig8CiRKNNbf8DJvumgIMfUNN4agkWjcjoAtfdX-BSXNRdOvO/s200/IMG_2911.JPG" height="133" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The next
morning we shared solo day stories, this poem called The Forest was written by
Sophie Altaras (age 12):<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I sing as
I tiptoe in my mind through the forest softer than you’ll ever know<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I can’t
really describe it, the feeling I get when I come here<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>It’s sort
of a calmness, like in the eyes of a mother deer<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>The
sunlight shining through the trees makes me come alive<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Because
it’s been a long winter when it takes power just to survive</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm0HCmLHk7NJaFG_i87sw3prv3sT5p40Y-_-YcNYdMPoMIFJmFNGpFB6mjHT2NjeYcqB_hzWZlj297aU_tDs1ED0JTR2igR0_12Vl1s3oGoZDD0_NNNwcb0PY8EzheqYdCG8LPcU4cyGYj/s1600/IMG_2919.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm0HCmLHk7NJaFG_i87sw3prv3sT5p40Y-_-YcNYdMPoMIFJmFNGpFB6mjHT2NjeYcqB_hzWZlj297aU_tDs1ED0JTR2igR0_12Vl1s3oGoZDD0_NNNwcb0PY8EzheqYdCG8LPcU4cyGYj/s200/IMG_2919.JPG" height="133" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The rest
of the week sailed by quickly. And soon it was time to return to the “village”
of Seattle. Each girl was given the new title of Young Woman and handed a few
small gifts and insights that she could carry into her future. Just as in the
story that we shared on the first day of our time together… through facing the
challenge of staring into the eyes of the wild, a gift was bestowed and has now
been brought back to the village. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">YOLO!</span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818029815727663354.post-72369493910430556192012-07-13T12:06:00.001-07:002015-02-19T17:52:09.364-08:00I'm a Little Hiker (Apprentice Journey 2012)<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Nearly two weeks after our Journey to Staircase Campground I can still hear the laughter of our 9 courageous and hilarious young hikers (Did you know that our Apprentice Journey participants are between the ages of 8 and 10?!). We shared a number of wonderful moments... but some of my highlights, as a guide, were the following:</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Playing blindfold "trust" games in the field at Staircase --- have you ever played "Hug a Tree" or done a "Sing-Song-Stalk" (the vocal version of a drum-stalk)? The Song-Stalk got our group laughing so hard at the zombie-like behaviors of blindfolded "stalkers." </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Having "Secret Spot" time at dusk in between large ferns, under elder evergreens, and next to "faerie-dust" white flowers. The forest was very magical as we sat in silence and enjoyed bird songs and the coolness of a light breeze. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Hiking the 3.5 Miles into Olympic National Park's Spike Camp. Yes, 3.5 miles with Backpacks on! And with good spirits... especially during our sunny lunch break along the Skokomish River. Then after lunch hiking slowly up-hill until finding a Doe standing at the junction to our campsite...</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Spotting the Doe was a highlight for the whole group. She stood at the spot marking our hike completion and stayed with us as we set up our campsites. The participants sat in silence watching the Doe eat leaves for a long while. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Story time at night! One of the best story nights happened at Spike Camp where we huddled away from the rain underneath a tiny gear tarp. Tara read us a book by Byrd Baylor, "The Table Where Rich People Sit." And we talked about all the "wealth" in our lives... like New Friends, Spotting a Doe, Living for a week at Staircase in the beautiful woods... we realized that we were (and are) all VERY wealthy.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">And preparing this song for the folks back home...</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://3.gvt0.com/vi/DQfjrA_7rzs/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/DQfjrA_7rzs&fs=1&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/DQfjrA_7rzs&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I'm a little hiker. HIKER! Hiker. HIKER! </span><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I'm a little hiker strong and small.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Here is my backpack here is my stick.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Tie my laces and send me out!</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I'm a little hiker, hear me SHOUT! (Yea!)</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I'm a little hiker. HIKER! Hiker. HIKER! </span><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Twinkle Twinkle little star,</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">How I wonder where you are?</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">It's been pouring down on us,</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">But we don't put up a big fuss!</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I'm a little hiker. HIKER! Hiker. HIKER!</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">We saw a doe, pretty and lean.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">She's the prettiest do we've ever seen...</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Hey. What's a doe?"</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Doe a deer, a female deer</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Re a drop of golden sun</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Mi a name, I call myself</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Fa a long long way to HIKE</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">So a needle pulling thread</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">La a note to follow so</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Ti a drink of jam and bread</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">and that will bring us back to HOME HOME HOME HOME. </span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818029815727663354.post-16071351751250906892011-09-02T14:41:00.000-07:002015-02-19T17:52:33.901-08:00The Journey Continues 2011<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGhzfCRlehH4Cooy4JRO-czYLfi69Lb9sUMflEowC_m7lJ_F2yhzgAN_FiNpzWDIps9id0xHylyKul-Bo5983HA5SkwHKfgtC8sZIDdGkmNdEJltwaHeASDsR_9WOgHpkcA16jqQ-UQZ1f/s1600/The+JC+crew+atop+Desolation+Lookout.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGhzfCRlehH4Cooy4JRO-czYLfi69Lb9sUMflEowC_m7lJ_F2yhzgAN_FiNpzWDIps9id0xHylyKul-Bo5983HA5SkwHKfgtC8sZIDdGkmNdEJltwaHeASDsR_9WOgHpkcA16jqQ-UQZ1f/s320/The+JC+crew+atop+Desolation+Lookout.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647913577537132162" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>
<br />
For one week, we traveled in our tribe of six. Reconnecting with parts of ourselves we had discovered out in the woods and within our hearts. Below are a few words from each participant about their experience.
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">In the words of Mara</span>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-style: italic;">There is a Hunger in my Ocean,
<br />as the swells stretch for shore.
<br />
<br />There is a Hunger in my Mountain,
<br />where the peaks silently soar.
<br />
<br />There is a Hunger in my Flower,
<br />dried, aching for more.
<br />
<br />So sail me to freedom,
<br />I'll let my Hunger Roar.
<br />
<br />There is a Hunger in my Dagger,
<br />see the holes it bore?
<br />
<br />There is a Hunger in my People,
<br />who, once rich, are now poor.
<br />
<br />There is a Hunger in my Soul,
<br />it's searching for a door.
<br />
<br />So sail with me to freedom,
<br />we'll let our Hunger Roar.
<br />
<br />-Mara, 16</span>
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1iMG8Tr_L24f6HNv1OBhZgiEm7qZspkw0rs0o1bybp1gvm3pQ5BQtweqfqupS-o5b9b7l2X_CRVT3C0ePmb7fu-bCWQgUeVrt1HnXkDqpAxHZjj50QsQXQtNsG9tPt2g72vUC9ZlAadRM/s1600/Mara+%2526+the+perfect+nap+spot.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1iMG8Tr_L24f6HNv1OBhZgiEm7qZspkw0rs0o1bybp1gvm3pQ5BQtweqfqupS-o5b9b7l2X_CRVT3C0ePmb7fu-bCWQgUeVrt1HnXkDqpAxHZjj50QsQXQtNsG9tPt2g72vUC9ZlAadRM/s320/Mara+%2526+the+perfect+nap+spot.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647913989200000930" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijhl5YyE0Umm4Id9_3HzlbBM-KrCuThcc4nCBmRz9EyscQYpl8ZiuHk_PtahsAE96z9SlQgLcmzNq-tfu7gUjv0FE0DpSs7E6Y9jxlJqP35xWvJX86ocsmcVcm2iG6bLvOp9DYO00jm3Ty/s1600/JC+Guys%253B+Micah%252C+Cameron%252C+Jonah+%2526+Tristan.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijhl5YyE0Umm4Id9_3HzlbBM-KrCuThcc4nCBmRz9EyscQYpl8ZiuHk_PtahsAE96z9SlQgLcmzNq-tfu7gUjv0FE0DpSs7E6Y9jxlJqP35xWvJX86ocsmcVcm2iG6bLvOp9DYO00jm3Ty/s320/JC+Guys%253B+Micah%252C+Cameron%252C+Jonah+%2526+Tristan.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647914959352456002" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">"The Journey is a Privilege, especially alone & together."<span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span>
<br />
<br />
- Micah, 17
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihaGLaRi9osq4RRWQNverDFPWtWp7n9xIMO9km6zn97xZpIZNT5ReWQbMLke2U8jEkl5j5JaYor2cBd59f4APPaLvX1Ylio9dmm4hOuM6AvSb1hO9dwafW9pgxhmFyYWLA7EwAzjCGsaZy/s1600/Jonah+Water+Taxi.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihaGLaRi9osq4RRWQNverDFPWtWp7n9xIMO9km6zn97xZpIZNT5ReWQbMLke2U8jEkl5j5JaYor2cBd59f4APPaLvX1Ylio9dmm4hOuM6AvSb1hO9dwafW9pgxhmFyYWLA7EwAzjCGsaZy/s320/Jonah+Water+Taxi.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647915544535404610" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a>
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Jonah tells about a favorite moment</span>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-style: italic;">"We were hiking up to Desolation Lookout, trudging up the 4.25 miles of steep switchbacks. The sun right above our heads, we kept cool in the shadows of the trees. Our eyes were focused on the rocky path beneath our feet, one foot in front of the other. We were hiking for quite some time when Micah, our leader for the day, said "Stop! Deer!" Right in front of him, so close he could reach out and touch her, was a doe. She just stood there for a few moments on the trail looking directly at us as if she were surprised to see us there. Then, slowly, she walked into the trees. It was an amazing experience to be so close to something so rooted in nature. It made my day."</span>
<br />
<br />
- Jonah, 14
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY6Jc7_gwqZ_tCdgUREAl1-lpBeZCzCp1dygFaoS_iFuDzN8gwGG-k3g2L4FkXUJ48h1VpHOeCN9AJcldPfl8aNNk8-iIrw3DoNaZI8gHhYQU4W1BR_UmNN5oTKvDX4465tg4iBxEmz1uM/s1600/Tristan+finds+the+best+viewspot.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY6Jc7_gwqZ_tCdgUREAl1-lpBeZCzCp1dygFaoS_iFuDzN8gwGG-k3g2L4FkXUJ48h1VpHOeCN9AJcldPfl8aNNk8-iIrw3DoNaZI8gHhYQU4W1BR_UmNN5oTKvDX4465tg4iBxEmz1uM/s320/Tristan+finds+the+best+viewspot.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647905818378563442" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a>
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Tristan Shares his Gratitude</span>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-style: italic;">As this week-long Journey begins to end, and I sit in the car on the long drive back to Songaia, my mind and heart are stretching as they try to hold onto all that has happened, while becoming excited for the future, and most importantly, trying to remain in the now.
<br />
<br />The simplest acts of walking, talking, eating and sleeping have created so many good things for me. My five new friends I never knew existed, have given me so much of themselves that I have been able to look myself in the eye and search for what I can give back.
<br />
<br />Walking through the columns of the forest, standing high in the wind looking all around at snow peaked mountains, swimming in the crisp, clear lake, surrendering to the cold.
<br />
<br />I was given time to feel comfortable with myself and then I felt at home in Nature. By having the space and time to de-clutter my mind, I was able to turn my attention to all the little things around me and to begin to see things as they really are and not in the same mundane way I was used to.
<br />
<br />Suddenly, I found great joy in looking at the smallest things; the body of a mosquito perched on my arm, a bundle of needles from some great tree . . . for that, I am grateful.
</span>
<br />
- Tristan, 15
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3JMrqc00EIGiVAUjhJMnUVuV5rQdT_y03RqlAU9Q8yzcFaqjgU8Bx52rR_nnY5R4AXXlJXQs5fr1nrJw-hQXS4rHfROlAsEqwrYGigNzfMtf1qlp7Uw9WPbyoyI5obfWrpQCsKDoOJKl-/s1600/The+whole+JC+crew+-last+day%2521.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3JMrqc00EIGiVAUjhJMnUVuV5rQdT_y03RqlAU9Q8yzcFaqjgU8Bx52rR_nnY5R4AXXlJXQs5fr1nrJw-hQXS4rHfROlAsEqwrYGigNzfMtf1qlp7Uw9WPbyoyI5obfWrpQCsKDoOJKl-/s320/The+whole+JC+crew+-last+day%2521.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647907932763303026" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>
<br />
<span style="font-style: italic;">
<br />"The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you.
<br />Don't go back to sleep.
<br />You must ask for what you really want.
<br />Don't go back to sleep.
<br />People are going back and forth across the doorsill
<br />where the two worlds touch.
<br />The door is round and open.
<br />Don't go back to sleep."
<br />
<br /> - Rumi<span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818029815727663354.post-77296168082527583442011-08-28T18:00:00.000-07:002015-02-19T17:53:12.284-08:00Reflections on the Solo Crossing<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpdFtrvZk6RBN9BulaAoetAb_Ulek9SCvZEZImEFmTlRnOXPGWN4IYOOVOQEFMZP_V2TMVvlMhyv4HFhAaiMC3WKnOmrhUpsLanmmOXk7154ddK7_LXU4pQYlI_PkBuoJa7ZSTMMk1YKkv/s1600/SX2011.GR01CA.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpdFtrvZk6RBN9BulaAoetAb_Ulek9SCvZEZImEFmTlRnOXPGWN4IYOOVOQEFMZP_V2TMVvlMhyv4HFhAaiMC3WKnOmrhUpsLanmmOXk7154ddK7_LXU4pQYlI_PkBuoJa7ZSTMMk1YKkv/s200/SX2011.GR01CA.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647232894789696834" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 200px;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">These trips I’ve been going on these last couple years have been getting only better and better. I have so much love in my heart for this program, its mentors, staff and every participant I’ve met so far. I live life to love everyone and everything and this trip has been just an amazing opportunity to exercise and carry out that quality as well as receiving it. I come home excited to greet the world with the new me and I plan to do it proudly. I feel very blessed to have been able to see the things I’ve seen, feel the things I've felt and sleep in the places I've slept and prayed. And I pray and hope someone else will be as fortunate to embark on the wonderful journey I've just come home from. I look forward to many more trips with journeys and I most definitely recommend these trips to everyone. And</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">send my love to everyone who will or will not be going on this trip.</span></span></span></a> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">With love, <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Jesse “LJ” Larson</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">
<br /><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">This trip was something that I will remember for many years to come, and hopefully I will never forget the lessons I learned. The people I have met on this trip are some of the nicest, deepest, and generally some of the coolest people I have met, and I hope to stay in touch with them. I cannot convey through words the incredible things I have experienced. Among them are the views I saw, the lessons I learned, the insights I had, and I will </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">never</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"> be able to describe how amazing food tastes after a long hike. To the person reading this, whoever you are, I recommend that you go on a Rite of Passage Journey, as it will be worth it and you will learn things about yourself and realize things you may never have imagined.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">With the utmost love and sincerity, <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Kory “Da Man” Schneider</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">
<br /><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">My rite of passage journey was an experience that will stay with me for the rest of my life.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">The potency of the bonds I’ve made on this trip with the participants as well as mentors are strong and will be in my heart for many more years to come. All the great fun and laughs around campfires and strenuous times pushing up massive hills have been engraved into my memory, and shall take a long expanse of time from now until they blur and become foggy and hard to remember. Learning about myself and what kind of adult I want to become in my life was a priceless treasure to me that was an honor to have. The wisdom the mentors passed down to me will help me though out my life and in harder times help me find within myself the right</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">answers and decision to make. Out of all the skills I’ve learned one of the ones that comes to mind is the skill of meta, being able to take a step back and look at what I’m doing and where I am in my life without distorting what I see. So over all the trip has permanently changed me In dozens of positive ways and even some that I haven’t discovered yet. Id recommend this journey to any youth who wants to test themselves physically as well as take a glimpse into the future and see what kind of man/woman they are growing into. ~ </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Cullen Recktenwald</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">
<br /><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">The sky is the limit. That was only one of the many things I learned while I was on my solo crossing. Another thing I was able to learn was how to be more direct when speaking to people and how to use my voice to not only share why I’m angry, sad, hurt, etc. but, also how I feel about it. This journey’s trip has been packed to the brim with laughter, fun, good times, memories, learning experiences, amazing people, a few disagreements, nature, broken stoves, and bear cans. Everything I carried throughout the trip only made me stronger. Not only physically but, also mentally. I learned things that will stay with me my whole life, and things that will also make my life the best life I could ever dream up. And I’ll get through it with everyone around me and with the knowledge that I can do whatever I want, be whoever I want, and no one can ever tell me I can’t. From now on I determine my life and future. Sure, my parents and guardians can tell me not to eat this or go there but, basically it’s all me. That’s my power, and part of what the sky is the limit means to me. I’m never going to stop striving for what I want, in all aspects of my life. On the second night of my solo vigil I watched as the sky turned from a plain baby blue to being speckled with stars twinkling, glimmering, and floating in a darkened night sky. And I told myself that if I wanted I could be that brightest, biggest star in the sky. If I want to write a bestseller I will, and if I want to be an amazing softball player I will do that too.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">It’s all up to me. ~</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Ella Lanphear</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">
<br /><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: left;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Journeys’ Rap<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoSubtitle" style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">I got a double sized pack<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">So hold the bear can<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">That might not be fun<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">But hold on son<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">We be up in this woods<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Order for eight<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Got a craving for adventure<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">And I just ate<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Macaroni and cheese, tuna-peanut-butter-jelly<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">But all that hiking we be doing will<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Have it burning off yo belly<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Naptime<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">-By Fred Kayes</span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment--> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818029815727663354.post-53440438081571525272011-08-23T11:28:00.000-07:002015-02-19T17:53:31.194-08:00Coming of Age for Boys II 2011 Mythic Story<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZHRAapN-prxxG8T7h3JdT7v4wSCTjvaGed-dO1rtQExWAwN55W4cJi0M9vpcGqzmQEEBBeKd9k_GWuyPqXxzFr9p59XkB9vdrTlIAMPE__WuIQyYaSnsNW1Mx8eL3Sn9GHWzCTNvvQc5O/s1600/COAB2.2011.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZHRAapN-prxxG8T7h3JdT7v4wSCTjvaGed-dO1rtQExWAwN55W4cJi0M9vpcGqzmQEEBBeKd9k_GWuyPqXxzFr9p59XkB9vdrTlIAMPE__WuIQyYaSnsNW1Mx8eL3Sn9GHWzCTNvvQc5O/s200/COAB2.2011.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644155770826572354" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 200px;" /></a><!--StartFragment--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Once upon a time,
<br />once below a time,
<br />once above a time,
<br />once beside a time,
<br />once beneath a time.</span></span><br />
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">
</span></span><br />
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"> In a time that there was no time and yet there was.
<br />A group of nine boys set out on a journey into the wilderness.
<br />They came from many different places, some knew each other and some did not.
<br />In the beginning they learned about teamwork, trust and respect and formed a friendship together.
<br />But, as the journey progressed, their number came to eight when one boy left to follow his own path.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">
<br />They met a master storyteller.
<br />A man of wisdom, he told them of the importance of listening.
<br />He told stories of great warriors, epic journeys, and insurmountable challenges.
<br />After listening to his stories they feasted on meat and bread.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">
<br />Then they set out to the wilderness.
<br />They trekked for many days and through many camps to a great peak.
<br />There they saw a powerful beast traveling in the valley below.
<br />In their descent, they enjoyed the snow and explored by the river.
<br />They returned to the road and they traveled to a massive ocean.
<br />They saw proud creatures of the sea and the forest.
<br />They sheltered there before trekking over sand and through the woods.
<br />They were tested in teamwork and trust when they were tasked with carrying an injured comrade's burden in addition to their own.
<br />Luckily they received help from fellow travelers who helped distribute the weight between the boys.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">
<br />They arrived at a time where they were not boys and not men.
<br />They were no one.
<br />They fasted and meditated on what they were and who they wanted to be.
<br />They washed away their childhood and were welcomed into a new way of life.
<br />They were welcomed back as young men.
<br />They left mentors and started a camp of their own.
<br />At first they argued and quarreled.
<br />But they sorted out their differences and agreed to a pact.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">
<br />A pact of respect and shared responsibility.
<br />They then returned to the land from which they left to continue their adventures individually.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span><!--EndFragment--></div>
</div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">
</span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Written by the Young Men of our Coming of Age for Boys II, 2011. </span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0