How do I begin to sum up the end?
Round 4
Our last day at Camp Letts
After the chaos that constantly surrounded life in Camden our fourth and final round seemed like a walk in the park. We were sent to YMCA Camp Letts which is about ten miles from Annapolis, MD. Situated on a beautiful peninsula, Camp Letts offered so many things to keep us occupied. There were trails, boats, fields, tennis courts and archery to help us pass the days. All of our meals were provided by the camp, and more specifically by the angel of the kitchen Miss Betsy. Our main project was to develop and install thirteen fitness stations along a two mile trail loop. We began by clearing the trail and in some places blazing a new one then we installed all of the information signs along the trail and finally installed the elements themselves. Working along a trail is a very visually satisfying project because every day you walk past the work you already did and then go a little further. We were constantly able to see the improvements we were making at camp.
We also had the opportunity to act as group facilitators at the high and low ropes courses. My favorite task was being the “eyes in the sky” at the high ropes course. From a platform high in the canopy, the “eyes in the sky” helped to encourage participants to face their fears and move through the obstacles suspended between trees.
The round was smooth sailing until I got hit with the perfect storm (coming in from all different directions) in the last week. The worst of the problems involved an ATV accident in which four of my Corps Members were stuck inside the vehicle that had flipped on its side. It was by far the most terrifying moment I experienced as a Team Leader but luckily everyone turned out to be fine. The last week’s drama left me funning on fumes and ready to recharge back a Perry Point.
Tough Mudder
Chris Quirk texts almost every day preceding the event: “tough mudder, tough mudder, tough mudder....”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWTqQGNl8Cc
12 miles
30+ obstacles
26 team leaders at Hotel Hansen
a whole lot of booze
... yea we did that.
Graduation
I have always been hopeless at goodbyes. It’s something that no matter how often I have to do it, doesn’t get easier with practice. The teams graduated on November 17th and the Corps Members were taken to the airport or left with family members immediately following the reception.
Almost every moment of every day for nearly ten months was spent with the group of ten Corps Members on my team, Raven 4. That’s a pretty substantial sum of time that I wouldn’t trade for the world. I learned to appreciate every one on my team in their own unique ways. They pushed me to my limits but I grew tremendously by going through this year with them.
After the Corps left the the Raven TLs and Jen spent the weekend at a house in the Poconos where a page of notebook paper on the fridge nobly kept track of each individual’s party foul count. My tallies quickly added up after knocking over drink, being partially responsible for a flooded and freezing hot tub and and proudest of all for creating a waterfall of Sailor Jerry mixed with stomach acids across the bathroom floor. Woops. It was a great weekend though. I may be biased but the Raven TLs and UL are some of my favorite people in the world. There's been a lot of well deserved pride in our unit this year and I'm sure that some of the relationships made will cross space and time.
On Tuesday, all of the team leaders had to go their separate ways. After dropping off Griff and Katrina at the airport I had to drive home through tears, rain, fog and traffic. It was probably the most miserable drive of my life. Luckily I was able to recover at the Hoffnagle’s house and the next day I made my way up to Boston. Things got a lot brighter once I was surrounded with family, food and wine on Thanksgiving.
So, what’s next? I’ve decided to do what I should have done a long time ago and live by the wise word of Shakira... waka waka it’s time for AFRICA! I’m heading to South Africa tomorrow where I will spend some much needed time with myself. Ashley is out there chasing jackals so I’ll probably spend a big of time chasing her as well but for the most part I’ll be flying solo. After three weeks of summer I’ll head to Austria where I’ll spend Christmas and New Years in the Alps with the family. We’ve been planning this trip for years and now it seems surreal that it’s actually here. After returning to the USA on January 3rd, I’ll have but a few moments of rest before starting another NCCC year in Maryland the next morning. Let the fun begin!
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